Fingernail Biting

Hi- we too are battling this! I just looked into the "No Bite" polish- it's sold in the nail section at Wal-Mart. I was going to buy it, but if you read the fineprint, it's **NOT** non-toxic! It has a warning about ingesting the stuff. Well, duh- what about the kids that just don't care and keep biting? So, I brainstormed and came up with many of the ideas mentioned here. I will say that I agree with a previous poster about anxiety possibly being related to nail biting, but also I agree with the poster about boredom. I pick at my cuticles and tend to do it when I'm watching TV.

Good luck!
J.

This is the therapist in me coming out, but try to find out why he is biting them, does he have anxiety over something or is he upset? Nail biting is an anxiety response.

If anxiety is not the underlying cause, try keeping them well manicured and short so he can't get a piece of the nail in his teeth to bite. If you see him doing it, redirect him to an activity like drawing or coloring or give him a crunchy (Healthy) snack like carrot sticks, or pretzels.

There is a liquid that is made just for putting on the nails to keep children from biting their nails. If you have tried that and it didn't work I have another suggestion.
I haven't personally done this but I have a friend that swares by this and said that it worked for her. She put hot sauce on her childs fingers and then wiped them off leaving the hot taste when she stuck her fingers in her mouth. She said it worked.

I am going through the same thing. My 4 year old bites his nails til they bleed too. I sort of feel like its my fault cause i do it my self but i have no clue how to stop if you get any info please forward to me at ____@____.com thanks
S.

I had the same problem with my little girl last year right before she turned 4. I tried the same things. I had to break down and finally just smacking her hand and if that didn't work then I would lightly, but with enough force for her to realize that she was doing something bad, popped her in the mouth. She eventually quit because she got tired of me smacking her hand and poppin' her in the mouthl. Sounds really bad I know, but it's what I had to do. If I didn't she would really hurt herself. She still kinda chews on her fingers, and starting to cause sores that way. I hope it don't resort to this for you, but if it does just know that you are not a bad mom for doing so.

There is a formula that you can purchace to put on his nail. It has a hot flavor and will train him very quickly that is not good to bite his nails. The hot is like a strong cinnamon gum and will not harm him. I will just help recondition him not to bite his nails. Sounds like you will have to put it on his toes as well. He will very quickly learn that biting nails will "burn his tounge"

I am an adult and have had the same problem althiugh I have stopped biting my nails. A friend of mine would make me wear gloves anytime we were watching a movie or sitting around, the times I bit them most and it seemed to stop it!

There used to be a non toxic "polish" that you put on their nails that tasted just awful. I am not even sure if they make it anymore but it worked real well. I don't bite my nails anymore. It used to be in the pharmacy section of the stores. Maybe you could ask a pharmacist if they still make it and where you would find it. (Mind you this was twenty years ago that my mom put that nasty stuff on my nails) I still remember the taste. Bad stuff. Works great.