Licking Books

My daughter who is going to be 2 y/o, has a thing about licking newspapers and books.  We keep newspaper away from her, but she'll grab a book and hide,  she insists on licking the inside pages of books.  Besides the fact that it's just weird, I think it's a bad dirty habit.  Is it possible she might have some sort of a defficency? Or is it just a phase?     Anyone's help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Such behavior is much more common among children who display a range of developmental disorders than among their peers who are developing in a normal fashion. If your daughter is otherwise healthy, and her development has been proceeding well, it would definitely be worthwhile to have her pediatrician order some blood work. Deficiencies in substances (e.g., minerals) necessary for sound health can lead to unusual cravings generated by the deficiency.