Nail Biting - Seattle,WA

I agree with Melissa. Biting nails can be a power struggle as well as a sign of anxiety. I, too, recommend that you pay as little attention as possible to it.

However, I would still try preventative measures without scolding the nail biting. Have you tried trimming her nails every day. You can "use" the clippers even when the nail isn't really long enough to clip. Keep her nails clipped short enough that it's difficult for her to catch it with her teeth.

And painting all of the nails might work since it worked on the thumb.

I'd find some other way for her to deal with her anxiety or "nervous" energy. I visited Greece and saw lots of "worry beads." I was told that the people played with the beads when they were walking, talking, or doing anything that didn't use their hands. The ones I bought were a bracelet of beads strung on cowhide and tied at the ends with a slip knot so that you could also swing a short tail of beads or tighten and losen the bracelet.

My grandson has several small bouncy balls that he bounces around when it appears that he's getting antsy. This keeps him up and moving.

Does she chew her nails while watching TV? Perhaps you could introduce some other hand activity while she's watching. My 9yo granddaughter, until the last few years, rarely just sat and did anything. She danced to the music, did summersaults, talked along with and in general kept busy so that she didn't have time to chew nails.

She did go thru a short stage during which she chewed her nails every day but not down to the quick. She still "trims" her nails by chewing on them if she doesn't have any clippers. Still it's not down to the quick. She just likes her nails short. My idea would be to have a nail grooming time with your daughter. "This is how big girls take care of their nails. Some like them short, some long. Nail polish really makes them pretty." Again don't tell her to not bite her nails. Just tell her how to make her nails pretty now that she's a big girl.

I know that there are a lot of different products that taste aweful to put on the nails, but I don't know which work. My suggestion is to not just cut the nails, but to file them smooth also. I was not a big nail biter, but I do remember figuring out that if my nails were nice, smooth and no hang nails that I wouldn't bit or pick at them. I think I was in about 4th or 5th grade when I came to this realization. At that age I could paint my nails and I hated the way they looked and felt when they were chipped, so I learned how to take care of them. For me it wasn't just the looking nice, but feeling nice and smooth really made a difference.
Good luck!

Try clipping them so they are short but no edges and trimmed. Also find out what she's biting at. I think if you clip them, put a great cream on them and maybe get her a fun pair of girlie gloves to keep them covered for awhile those could all be ideas to take her focus away. I think it's boredom and then habit. I sucked my thumb and bit my nails both but I did finally stop.
N. B.

My daughter is now 9. When she was 3 she started to bite nails, I would get after her so then she started to suck/chew on her thumb. I would get after her for that then she would go to hair chewing and so on. I was a constant battle and became an argument which only increased the anxiety. The only thing that has ever come close to working is to let her chew on sugarless gum (love Trident with xylitol Buleberry flavor)when I notice her biting or chewing. It has worked like a charm. I know my daughter is older but I have been there and I wish I would have thought about gum earlier. Also it probably wouldn't work if she just swallows it right away. You might have to wait until she is three or four to try gum

Good Luck

Watch for anxiety, but if that doesn't seem to be the trigger, it is usually boredom and I have found that distraction works well. Make sure you choose healthy alternatives and distractions less you find yourself battling worse habits!

Good Luck!

T. Nelson CD (DONA)

J.,

My son did the same thing, and he's now 5. I think he bit his nails partly out of anxiety, and partly who knows why. The more attention we drew to it, the more he bit his nails. When I'd see his nails so short and so close to bleeding I'd mention that I'd really like to cut his nails instead of him biting them, then would let it go. I also made a big deal when I was finally able to cut one nail. I think that helped to curb him.

I can't tell you for certain when he stopped biting his nails but I'm guessing within the last 6 months to a year he stopped. This is a power struggle, in it's own way. I think my son had to outgrow the habit just a little.

Hope this helps,
Melissa

BTW, if the nail polish on the one finger is working, run with that and see if it works. Sometimes these little wonders give us the tools needed to get them to do what we want them to do. :)