Help Getting Son to Stop Biting His Nails

You can also try Juniper tree pitch. Rub it into the nail bed real good. It is slightly sticky but it only takes a couple times before they realize how nasty the taste is. That is what broke me of thumb sucking when I was little. :)

My son is almost 4 and is also a nail biter. Since we know it's related to his sensory processing needs and something he needs to help calm him, we've tried replacing the activity with a sensory chewing item in the car (you can buy them online at a sensory store and they are meant for preschoolers or older). Helping to eliminate the nail biting in the car has helped him to eliminate it more and more during the rest of his daily events. He tends to do it when he's tired, anxious, or bored. Thus, to prevent him at other times we make sure he's doing something with his hands when he might be getting bored. For instance, in the car I've also had him doing activities like those boards that you put string through to make a picture. At night when we read him stories we'll stop reading and calmly give him the choice ("Would you like me to keep read and would you like to continue biting your nails?"). We never say it in a threatening way and he likes reading his Magic Tree House books that he'll do anything to get at least one more chapter. Now he doesn't bite them as much in the evening since we've been doing that. He still bites his nails, but he's learning to do things other than that activity to meet his needs. Some people need that extra sensory activity and that's why they are nail biters and gum chewers. Giving the child options to meet those needs without biting his/her nails is important to help them calmly eliminate the activity. I've included a site below where you can buy various chewing items. I really popular one with preschoolers and slightly older kids is the chewy tubes. Again, we just use them in the car and our son knows it's not something he can use anywhere else (thus, we aren't giving him a crutch to use everywhere...just to help him gradually break the habit).

http://www.sensoryinterventions.com/category/21887056481/...

If you come up with other suggestions that really works, let me know!

I have to second teh sugar free gum suggestion! He is looking for oral comfort and this is a simple substitute. I can assure you that it works like a charm.

In addition to the nail biting it has noticably helped my son who has Tourette's with mild symptoms.

Good luck.

Hi T.,

I was a HORRIBLE nail-biter as a kid. My mom tried everything (the "icky" nail stuff, nail polish, etc.).

What ended up working for me, since I tend to be a "picker" was making sure that there were no rough edges. To this DAY this is my trigger. If there is a rough edge, I will tear at it (yeah, that's how well all the anti-biting stuff worked, I don't bite them anymore, but tear at them) until there's nothing left to tear off without causing bleeding. I've mostly resolved this by making sure my nails don't get too long, and that I keep them smooth. (I have pretty thin nails that tear easily).

So every couple of days, I recommend making sure that there are no rough spots to make him WANT to bite at them. Keep nail trimmers with you at all times so that if there gets to be a rough spot, he/you can trim them right away. And obviously, you'll need to talk with him about it. "We don't bite our nails, if you get a rough spot, let me know, and we'll trim them up...." etc. and obviously, if this isn't his problem, then it won't be the cure either, but it's worth a try :)

When we took my 2 year old daughters binky away is when we noticed her biting her nails. We didn't really do anything at first. Then we noticed she was biting them so short, some of them were actually bleeding. Talking to her about it didn't work. The yucky tasting nail polish didn't work. But giving her a piece of gum did. (sugar free of course!) She would start biting her nails and I would tell her she could have a piece of gum if she stopped. Eventually she would start asking for a piece when she found herself biting. Now, a year and a half later she has completely quit! Good luck to you. Hope you find something that works for him.

Peg's dead on target.

Out of curiosity though, how much protein is your son getting? Nails are pure protein (and digestible, especially fresh...dogs go NUTS for freshly shorn trimmings from horse hooves). In some cases (obviously not all) nail biting and hair chewing can be signs of a protein deficiency. Try adding more proteins to every meal/snack (whole milk can also work in a pinch, say a half gallon a day if he's not already drinking that much). You can sneak milk in six ways from sunday (on cereal, hot chocolates, in soups, etc. Anyhow...something to try.

When my son started biting his nails around the same age (he's 6 now) I wasn't sure either how to stop him. I started telling him about germs and how they get under his nails. I let him know that every time he bit his nails, he got the icky germs into his mouth. I explained to him that I love him so much and love giving him hugs and kisses, but can't kiss him when he's got the germs from biting his nails in his mouth. It sounds harsh, but it seemed to do the trick. He hasn't bit his nails since. Hope this helps. :D

Berenstain Bears and the Bad Habit
Sister bear is cured of nail biting by carrying 10 pennies in her pockets through the day. The jingling reminds her to not bite. At the end of the day, she loses a penney for each nail she has bitten (she gets to keep the rest of the pennies). Starts with 10 fresh pennies each day.

Sorry to hear your son is afflicted with this, T.. My 3.5 granson has started biting his nails, too. I'm a life-long nail biter (although mostly abstaining for decades). My daughter tears at her cuticles. My sister digs at her skin. There is lots of evidence that this behavior and other related ones are hereditary.

I notice that I'm still most susceptible when I'm bored, nervous, or haven't had enough physical activity. Sitting in meetings or watching movies are my weakest times. My grandboy starts chewing when he's settling in for sleep. I also tend to start working at tiny irregularities in the edges of my nails. If you can keep your little guy's nails trimmed and filed smooth, he will be less likely to start nibbling at them.

But unless he reaches a point where he really wants to stop, you are not likely to be able to "make" him. In my experience, your trying to do so may just make it worse.

I did not read other responses so sorry if I am repeating. The only thing that has stopped my daughter from biting nail and chewing fingers and her hair or anything esle she puts in her mouth is gum. I buy sugar free gum and when I notice her chewing I give her a piece. I think that soome kids are nervous or just very oral. This is the only thing that has helped

good luck

Hi T., try asking him why, is he stressed about something? If you can find out why, then he might be able to stop on his own. Just keep showing him love & it will work out. T. single-parent since 1995 of two daughters now ages 17 & 16.

I have been a horrible nail biter all my life. I have tried everything to stop. One thing that came close, and would probably work if I kept with it...is this:
5 minutes right when he wakes up and 5 minutes right before he goes go bed, have him stand in the mirror and pretend to bite his nails. Set a timer and have him to it the entire time wihtout stopping and try not to look away.
Part of the trick is telling him you know a cure for it but he has to do it, and have him agree before telling him the secret.
I was my counselors first "failure" with this method. Granted I was only the third person she had do it but the two others were little boys.
Good luck!!