My 3 1/2 yo son recently started biting his nails. They are really, really short. I have no idea how he bites them down so low. We've talked to him about not doing it so he doesn't get boo-boos, infections, etc and about not putting his hands in his mouth so he doesn't get sick, etc. Anyone have any suggestions for how to get him to stop? BTW, I thought he might be doing this as a reaction to a change in routine or stress, but our routine is the same and things have been good.
My daughter used to suck her thumb, same thing they told me they do for kids who bite their nails, i did it even though it sounded cruel, it worked. Put stop bite on them. It's harmless to digest, but the taste is so horrible, he'll keep his hands out of his mouth. Good luck
t.
My eight year old daughter recently started biting her nails also. I eventually went to the pharmacy and bought a bottle of THUM. It is for nail biting and thumb sucking. It goes on like clear nail varnish and when she puts her fingers in her mouth it leaves a bad taste. The main ingredient is cayenne pepper. Maybe this will help you. It has helped us.
I don't know how much there is to it, but I heard once that people bite their nails because they are deficient of some vitamin. You may want to try giving your son a multivitamin. I know that if My husband doesn't take his vitamins I catch him biting his nails. It is a pretty gross habit, so I make sure He has his vitamins. I believe they said it was a calcium definciency so maybe look at how much milk and such your son is taking in?
Just a thought hope you figure things through.
Let me know if anything works--I've been trying to stop biting since I've had teeth to bite with! All joking aside, that awful stuff that you paint on like nail polish that's bitter or hot is a good deterrent as long as your son doesn't rub his eyes too often (it burns-this I know from personal experience). But definitely explain what it is you're doing or it may upset him.
they have "stop the bite" nail polish in the nail care section of walmart (and probabl;y every other store). it's also said to be good to stop thumb sucking... I use it on my daughters fingers when she starts to bite her (because she sees me bite mine! whoops!). I even was able to stop biting mine for almost a year, but I didn't have time for the upkeep for my nails and they all split or broke, and now I'm biting again.
L., nail biting is a form of anxiety and insecurity my niece went through the same thing as a small child hope this helps..There is a nail polish at your local sally's beauty supply store that i'm sure would help .
Hi L. ~
Neither of my kids has done this, but I have heard of parents putting clear nailpolish both on top of and under their child's fingernails to break the habit. I don't know how well it works....good luck!
I used to put bandaids on the tips of my son's fingers to gently "remind" him not to pick his nose! This went on for just a few days and the habit had decreased trmendously. Sometimes I think they simply don't even know that they are doing it, it is so routine.
Hi L.,
I have bit my nails since I was in Kindergarten but I learned it from another child. I'm 32 and still doing it out of habit. My 5 1/2 year old son just started biting his nails too. I can't get him to stop. He learned it from watching me. My parents tried everything under the sun including money but nothing worked. Don't waste your time or money buying stuff to put on the nails. (Hot stuff, bitter stuff, etc) As a child I know if you want to bit your nails the bad taste will only last a short time. Try rewarding for time that passes the nails are not bit. Keep extending the time until there is no more biting. I don't know if this will work but that is what I stared. This is something I think might have worked on me as a child. Good luck!
