Eating books...how to stop?

[Petala]

Does anyone have any ideas about how I might encourage my DD to stop eating her cardboard books? She loves books and does have a couple of bath books and cloth books but she does enjoy the board books too, just don't think she should be eating quite so much of them.

[AnyDream]

I wouldn't worry about it too much. Modelling good book behaviour will come as a natural by product of her sitting on your lap while you read books, talk about the pictures, turn the pages (and lift the flaps). Sooner or later she will start enjoying the story & and the reading more than the taste & texture!

[MantaRay]

I agree with Marydean. Both my boys ate their books all the time (actually Tom still does but less often than before). But now Jack loves books and Tom is starting to show the same interest. I think it is better to let the books get a bit chewed (not the good ones though!!) than to take the books away. I think it part of them getting familiar with what a book is. Also if you are uptight and stressed about the book getting damaged, it takes away from their enjoyment and I think it would leave a bad impression on them. And they do grow out of it - sooner or later!

[Lucy]

I think it is better to let the books get a bit chewed

Yep, me too. Olivia went through this stage, as did Charlie and now Lexie is too.

I now have a basket of books that are available for Lexie to play with/chew......a mixture of board books (all with teeth marks and a bit on the shredded side!) cloth books and bath books.....they are the ones that can be chewed/strewn/played with to her hearts content.....they are the decoys!

I know it is a stage that passes.......Lexie tries to chew the "nice" books that I read to her, but in a few months time, she will have hopefully have had her fill of chewing them, and will then get more into the concept of story time.

(Charlie is just 2 and hasn't spoiled a book for about a year.....he has lift the flap books in his cot even, and shows amazing restrainst!)

[Annikas_Mamma]

At this age, books are more about the 'enjoyment' rather than the actual reading. I wouldn't worry about it too much, just get durable books. Annika gums all of hers, so I tend to just buy cheapish ones for now, Reject Shop is a good place to find them. She'll grow out of it eventually, by watching you model behaviour, but for the meantime, let her explore!

[Pandora]

DS used to eat his board books too.
Eventually he figured out the taste just wasn't worth it

[kungfubecca]

Me personally, not at this stage yet, however my nieces have both done this. I don't think you can stop it, and agree with the others.

Your just at that stage were bubs uses taste as their main sense to test out new things. Eventually sound touch and sight will be far more important. Especially when she realises that there are so many things that taste better than cardboard.