11 Month Eating Cardboard

Hi- my son (11mths) does the same thing so I keep these things away from him until I can read with him. When he does it, I tell him No in the mouth and I pat my mouth. He still attempts to eat them but looks at me and stops when I pat my mouth and say no.

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S., My twins went through the exact same thing, which was made worse by the fact that prior to having them and becoming a stay at home mom, I spent a very successful career in book publishing! I completely know how you feel--it was truly the one thing my babies did that threw me over the edge, to the point that I actually asked my doctor if it was abnormal, and whether paper/cardboard could cause a bowel obstruction! The good and bad news is, there isn't a whole lot you can do about it. It will pass with time, it's just part of the teething/mouthing process (and no, mine didn't want teething rings or toys, they just wanted to bite and RIP the spines of their books, then eat the paper).

My twins are 20 months old now, and I can safely say they read their books more often than they eat them--and that's with their eye teeth poking through and sending them into fits of pain. The best advice I can give you for coping is to put the books in something that has a lid--we used a coffee table-type cube. Open the cube and say, let's read our books, not eat them. When they start to chew, tell them again, and then tell them they have two more tries. When they get to three times, they're out, mainly because you will be at your edge and it will be better for everyone to just put the books away and try again later. Hope this helps. L. M.

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It's so hard when they get in a phase like this-- eating books is one of my least favorite, as is the dumping phase. It sounds like you are doing what you need to do-- I would just put all cardboard things away for a while. Know that this too, shall pass. Good luck.

Nothing is wrong with him....He is quite normal! I think every baby pretty much does the same thing. Just put them away for now and it will soon pass.

Mine did the same thing, this too will pass. My daycare provider and I joke about it now. Most of her books are chewed because of my child. We just responded with "Icky" and she eventually stopped.

As others have said, it's probably normal and will pass. But you should check with your pediatrician. I have a niece who was eating paper and dirt, and it turns out she had an iron deficiency. Discover Magazine also had an article (http://discovermagazine.com/2008/mar/31-eating-paper-in-s...) about how eating paper can be a sign of nutrient deficiency. Babies do love to put just about anything in their mouths, so there probably is not an issue. Still, it couldn't hurt to get it checked out.

As others have said - I think it's normal, mine did the same thing. Just bring out the books under supervision and restrict the boxes for a while.

Yup, just put the cardboard books away for now. There are fabric type books that you could use in the meantime. Maybe too he is teething and just wants to chew!!
Have fun.

I believe it is a teething thing. He must be getting some teeth. Both my kids destroyed several of those chunky cardboard books when teething. They refused teething rings, etc., but loved the chunky cardboard. Just watch when it gets too soft and pulpy and take it away so he won't choke. What's the harm if it gives him comfort?

It will pass! I would just give him the books while you are watching him and take any other cardboard away from him for now. But he will grow out of it!

Stop giving giving the baby cardboard.

take them away and only give them to her under supervision.. she may like the feel on her gums because of teething so try to give her something that she can chew on that's safer.

I laughed when I saw your post. All of our cardboard books & puzzles are missing pieces. He'll outgrow it, I wouldn't worry.

My son liked to eat the corners off the board books, thankfully he grew out of it (he's 20 now!). There is a condition called PICA, where children eat non food items (not just putting things in their mouths). Something to keep in mind when you visit your doctor.
M.