Updated: March 24, 2021
Originally Published: March 4, 2017
When it comes to treats, my children have distinct preferences. One of them despises frosting and diligently scrapes it off (not a trait he got from me), while another devours only the frosting, leaving the cake untouched. And then there’s my youngest, who consumes everything — by “everything,” I mean the cupcake in its entirety, wrapper included. If he has a lollipop, he doesn’t stop at the candy; he chomps on the stick too.
The upside? He generates very little waste. The downside? It’s just a little strange. I’m not one to judge anyone’s snack choices, but even the oddest of culinary selections are still, well, food. Meanwhile, my son is over here munching on a pizza coupon as if it were a slice of pizza.
I first noticed this unusual habit when he was about 2 1/2 years old. One day, I walked into the bathroom to find him taking bites out of a roll of toilet paper. I was both astonished by his strong little jaws (seriously, who can bite into a toilet paper roll like it’s an apple?!) and horrified that my toddler was indulging in toilet paper instead of the myriad of snacks I had on hand.
I pried his mouth open, but it was too late — the toilet paper was already on its way down. Scolding him, I insisted we don’t eat paper and thought that would be the end of it. Little kids often put things in their mouths; it’s a normal phase, right?
Not long after, I caught him munching on a Kleenex. Then, while watching TV on the couch, he began tearing off bits of a baby wipe and snacking on them as if they were popcorn. Concerned, I called his pediatrician, who recommended a full series of blood tests to check for nutritional deficiencies.
After a thorough examination, the results were surprisingly normal; he was perfectly healthy, with his vitamin and mineral levels just as they should be. The pediatrician explained that this behavior, known as pica, is a compulsion to consume non-food items — often paper, dirt, or even chalk. While pica is frequently associated with malnutrition, since my son wasn’t malnourished, he suggested it was likely a behavioral issue he would outgrow by age four. My son was probably just looking for attention, he said.
I disagreed with that assessment. This behavior was never about seeking attention; he never once thought, “Look at me! I’m eating paper!” It seemed more like a natural, absentminded habit — akin to how some people twirl their hair or nibble their nails. He did it whether he was alone or surrounded by others.
From soft products like napkins and baby wipes, he moved on to regular paper — book pages, notebook edges, and junk mail. As long as it didn’t affect his regular diet (it didn’t) and he wasn’t at risk of choking (he was eating tiny bits), I chose to ignore it, holding on to the doctor’s belief he would outgrow it.
Eventually, it became so commonplace that I hardly noticed. One time at a restaurant, he ordered chicken strips, which came served in a basket lined with checkered paper. Guess what he dove into first? Hint: it wasn’t the chicken strips.
Just as he started on a straw wrapper, a woman approached our table, looking concerned. “Excuse me,” she said, pointing in alarm, “but your son is eating that straw paper.”
“Oh, thanks!” I replied, as if she had rescued him from a dire situation, while discreetly taking the paper from his mouth. But once she walked away, I handed it back to him. If only she knew, I chuckled to myself. It’s like having a little goat at home.
Now, at 11 years old, his paper-eating has subsided to a more tolerable level (if you can really call munching on cupcake wrappers and sucker sticks “tolerable”). Yes, you read that right: eleven. Seven years after the pediatrician predicted he would outgrow this quirk, he’s still indulging in his unique form of recycling.
Although he hasn’t entirely abandoned this habit, it’s certainly diminished over the years. I like to think it’s finally winding down. Because even though “my brother ate my homework” could be a perfectly valid excuse in our house, no teacher would ever take it seriously.
Resources for Parents
For those who might find themselves in a similar situation or are curious about home insemination options, you can explore more about home insemination kits and discover resources on the subject here. Additionally, check out this excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination here.
Summary
This humorous narrative shares the experiences of a mother, Lydia, whose son has an unusual habit of eating paper and other non-food items. Initially alarming, it becomes a quirky aspect of their family life, with the child eventually eating less paper as he matures. The story highlights the importance of understanding child behavior and offers links to resources related to parenting and home insemination.