...whose son eats paper. he's 15 months (but born 7 weeks early), is still nursing, eats well (though i'm his main source of nutrients), but can't walk past a piece of mail without trying to chew it up. i'm anemic, and have read that excessive paper eating can signal an iron deficiency in tots, but i'd prefer not worrying if other moms have also seen it. he has no other signs of malnourishment: has great skin, strong teeth and nails, good appetite for my milk and other foods - but he's chewed most of his books to the point that i've just thrown them away.

any comments or advice - except "take him to the doctor" - will be really helpful.

More than one of mine have eaten paper any chance they get. I never thought of it signalling any deficiency....

thank you!!!!

when no one replied, i started confessing his habit to friends, and everyone seems to have gone through the same thing. one less thing to worry about...

I don't think it is anything to worry about. I would just try to keep paper out of his reach:) My 13 month old likes to eat crayons. Whenever my 4 year old is coloring there he is trying to eat the crayons.

yep..my son is 14 months almost, and he LOVES paper, cardboard boxes, anything like that..lol.

All FOUR of my girls enjoyed eating paper....I thought all kids ate paper at some point or another - seriously, it never occurred to me that it was unusual - all around the 12-24 month age.