4 answers

Nailbiting Advice

My 9 year old daughter has been biting her nails for about two years, but it has gotten increasingly worse in the last six months or so. I recently noticed that her thumb beds are in awful condition. She desperately wants to stop, but I have no idea how to help her.
I've read about creams and aversion therapies. I'm willing to try anything that is effective and will not harm her. Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

1 mom found this helpful

What can I do next?

So What Happened?™

I have received a great number of responses! Thank you, everyone.
To answer some of your questions about the possible source of my daughter's anxiety:
My husband and I separated when she was a toddler, so while I'm sure the absence of a father is not pleasant, I don't believe it is the direct cause. I did enroll her in a private, college-prep school with extremely high standards and tough discipline standards. While I welcomed the environment, I do believe it has been rather difficult for her, as she is a people pleaser.
I have offered her the incentive of a spa day, complete with a set of nails if we can just let her nails grow to the tip of her fingers. She is very excited about that. I also encouraged her to ask one her best friends to gently remind her to stop biting her nails at school and I would do so at home. Today, I will search for the yucky tasting nail polish. We'll work together on this.
Thanks again for all your help!

More Answers

Check to see if they still make that yucky tasteing fingernail polish. That helped my friend when we were young. Get her some gloves to wear-at home, no need to draw attention unless this will help her. Get her to ask her friends to bring it to her attention when she starts biting her nails so she can stop. It will not happen overnight.
Continue to love her and do not scold. She will have to understand that you are not nagging her when you tell her to she needs to stop biting her nails. Talk with her and make a plan.

1 mom found this helpful

Good luck! I would encourage looking for an alternative to nailbiting. Something to keep her hands busy. Wearing gloves at night should help if she does it in her sleep. Might also look into reducing stresses in her life or getting her interested in a calming therapy like yoga or meditation.

1 mom found this helpful

I was a terrible nailbiter for a time in my youth and my brother was a horrible lip chewer and we were two of the most stressed out kids you could find (my parents were good people but they were very high strung). Find out if she is stressed about anything and take notice specific times she does it or times that seem to spark the need to chew. I've noticed kids who have those little quirks like nailbiting or things like stuttering just need more time and more ways to express themselves, not just what's going on in their minds but in their hearts as well. Hang in there!

1 mom found this helpful

I was a nail biter through my high school years. It is a very stressful time for many young women, and can be even worse giiven the current economy.
I finally stopped after having falsies put on for several months. You can't bit through them, and they looks so good. They also hurt like no one's business if you do try to bit them off. It will let her get used to having long nails and give her insintive to grow them out. Now I can grow my nails as long as I want. She can aalso chew gum to help with the transition.
She also needs to learn to manage the stress with visialization, breathing, excerise, journaling, and a different poiint of view. It is a symptom of internal conflict.
I have also used the rubberband, my mom has slapped my hands when she has caught me doing it. I have even tried the naasty tasting liquids. These can work, but don't give her any incintive, and will effect everything that she eats. At 9 years old I'm guessing a large part of her diet is finger foods.

1 mom found this helpful

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