Nail Biting - Riverbank,CA

My DD started about 5, and we tried everything. (she also liked to pick scabs). We even used bite stop nail polish,band aides and even threatened to take away her BELOVED pet chickens.

She is 12 now and doesnt bite her nails any more. About a year ago or more, I started giving her daily minerals. In particular, vit b complex, vit E, iodine, cod liver oil. And a magnesium/calcium combo every other to third day. I don't know if this all helped, or, if it was just coincidence and she is "growing out" of it. Oh and one other thing she eats more raw veggies now- because now she eats my salads.

If nothing else,you could try the b complex and cod liver oil, both will calm nerves and contribute to a sense of well being.

Gail

Hi J.

ALl my life I have had this habit so much so that as a 5 yr old my mom had to take me to the doctor's to have a nail looked at because I had picked at it so much and was infected.
However, the good news as an adult, I am much more aware of this habit and therefore, most of the time talk myself out of biting or picking at my nails. AS a kid it was much harder, I know I was probably a nervous wreck since my childhood was a somewhat traumatic. However, I also think nail biting is inherent. Both my dad and brother bit their nails. How is your daughter's surroundings? Any big changes in her life? also, I know you may want her off the pacifier, but before you do that, maybe consider working in something else that could comfort her just as much, might be a new little blanket? I have also read that nail biting is due to a lack of minerals in one's body? (I read that on something David Wolfe wrote (it's worth a look at) and I truly believe nutrition plays a role. Afterall, I know when I have eaten too much chocolate (which tends to make me nervous) I will begin to pick at my nails. I definitely think nutrition is also VERY key.
best of luck to you and your little one

You might try giving her pacifier back before the nail-biting gets entrenched. You can always take it away later when she is more ready. You could have her evaluated by a dentist to see if there are some structural changes in her jaws due to heavy pacifier use. If changes are not apparent or minimal, she can probably go another year with a pacifier (that she controls) without long-term affects on her teeth and jaws. Nail-biting, if it continues after her permanent teeth come in, is potentially more damaging than a pacifier. If you have more questions, call me at ###-###-####. D. Cotner, DDS

I got my son to twirl his hair, I'm not sure how I did it because he is now 20 years old and he still does it when he gets nervous. Maybe show her how dirty her hands can get, maybe from pictures from a website about germs (google the word germs) if she gets grossed out it may work. Good luck!

J.,
I have a daughter who is now 20, she did the exact same thing. I never did figure out how to make her stop. Now that she is older she pays to get her nails done and won't bite them then. Good luck to you, I hope you find something that works for you. One child actually told me that she got used to the taste of the don't bite your nails polish even though it tasted horrible.
W. M

My son is about to turn 3. He started chewing his nails when he was about 18months old and it was exactly as you've described. I finally gave up nagging him and he just stopped on his own about 6 months ago. But I think the nail polish idea is a good one as long as she doesn't just chew ths polish - probably wouldn't be very good for her. Try not to worry, I bet she will just outgrow it on her own soon.

My son sometimes does the same thing. The only major difference is that my son never took to pacifiers. We asked our ped. about it and he said that his fingers (around the cutical(sp) were itchy from some sort of little rash. It seems to flare up around allergy seasons. He gave us a special cream to put on him and that seemed to work.

nail polish. little girls Love nailpolish! they have some bitter ones but sometimes just the thought of pretty pink nails is enough. she's only 2 she can't rememeber not to, it's instinctual. she'll stop. as my doctor always said, "it's not like she is going to walk down the isle with her hands in her mouth."

Hi. I am a nail biter still... I think I started once I got teeth but for me I can wear the acrylic nails and I haven't bitten them since. As a child, there was nothing that seemed to help. One person I knew, put oil on their kid's nails to stop it. There was a product out when I was young that is a hot polish and my folks used that and it worked as long as they kept applying it on a regular basis.

I had an awful childhood from as far back as I can remember and I think I probably bit my nails from nerves. How is her surroundings? Her life? For me, nail biting was my comfort.

I wish you lots of luck with this.

My son did this for about a year and I had tried ecverything I could think of and just gave up. Giving up was the key. He needs to feel that he has control and by giving him that he just stopped. I am not saying this will be your case but try it. I also had to do the same thing with potty training and it was successful by leaving him alone and letting him decide what and when. Stress I tink can always be a factor too.