Why do babies love to eat paper?

Many mothers will love their babies very much after giving birth, and will take good care of their babies in every aspect of their lives. However, in this situation, some mothers find that their babies have the habit of eating paper. Many mothers are very worried about this behavior of their babies, but many mothers who encounter this situation do not know the reason. So, why do babies love to eat paper?

First, why does the baby like to eat paper? It may be pica. A trace element test needs to rule out zinc deficiency. Pica refers to the liking to eat some inedible things, such as mud, sand, salt grains, wool ends, etc., and the baby feels happy about the pica and will feel uncomfortable if he does not eat it. The main cause of pica is psychological factors. It is a kind of mentally disordered compulsive behavior. Children are ignorant and put everything in their mouths. If they are not properly cared for and allowed to develop, it will become a habit. In addition, some vitamin deficiencies can also lead to pica, such as zinc deficiency and iron deficiency.

For children with pica, the first thing to do is to find out the cause, and then provide active education and treatment, correct anemia, supplement zinc and iron, etc. Pica is often related to parental neglect of children or an abnormal environment. Once parents discover that their children have such abnormal behavior, it is best to provide more psychological counseling while treating the child to help the child restore normal eating habits.

Second, if the baby's body lacks certain trace elements, such as zinc, it can easily lead to pica, which manifests as eating things that should not be eaten, such as eating paper. It is recommended to take your baby to the hospital for a professional trace element test to determine whether he is zinc deficient. If he is zinc deficient, you can take appropriate zinc supplements under the guidance of a doctor. When babies are in the stage of eruption of deciduous teeth, their gums become itchy and swollen. To relieve these uncomfortable feelings, babies will often look for things to chew and bite. So some newspapers and books become items for babies to release physical pressure. They often tear these papers into pieces and put them in their mouths to chew.

Why do babies like to eat paper? Babies under one year old are in the oral stage and often like to use their mouths to taste various objects around them. Licking with the tongue or biting with the teeth is a normal way for babies to explore the world around them. Babies treat paper as toys, and eating paper is a way for them to explore and understand themselves and the world outside themselves. Keep newspapers and other items away at all times, stop your baby from eating dirty things he or she picks up, and tell your baby "no" and "it's dirty." The face makes a frowning expression of pain. Gradually, the baby will understand that these things cannot be eaten. You will get sick if you eat it.

<<: What are the side effects of desensitization therapy in children?

>>: What are the reasons for the rumbling sound in the baby's stomach?