Nail Biting 3 Year Old

Updated on September 10, 2008
M.F. asks from Utica, MN
4 answers

My 3 yo son has had a very bad habit of nail biting. This has been going on for at least a year now. Now that I think about it, it started right after we took away his NUK. His poor little fingers are just shredded at the end :( Everytime I catch him I remind him that he needs to stop this. That's not working and I need to try something else. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what to buy, do, try??? My oldest daughter (12 yo) bites her nails as well (though not quite as bad) and I think I have even noticed my youngest daughter (1.5 yo) starting this as well. I guess I should be honest and say that I bite my nails too (although not incessently to the point that they bleed - but rather I bite off the nail and then leave it alone).

What can I do next?

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More Answers

A.H.

answers from Lincoln on

When I was little my mom had some nail polish that was made especially for thumb suckers but it worked for nail biting too. It tasted awful. I do not remember the name of it but she got it at a drug store. The other thing I have heard of but never tried was to dip fingers into an awful tasting substance or hot sauce. I have beautiful nails now so it must have worked.

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A.R.

answers from Minneapolis on

Nail biting is hard to stop from the outside (I too am a long time nail biter). If anyone told me I had to stop - including me - it wouldn't work.

What does work is a good multi-vitamin to calm the nervous system. The fact that everyone in your family bites their nails is an indication that you are all nutrient deficient. Find a high quality multi-vitamin to give to your kids daily (in the morning). Take one yourself and notice a huge difference in your propensity to bite your nails.

And give up on changing the behavior for your children... it won't work. Just don't let them do it in public.

P.S. Hot sauce or THUM on the fingers is abusive and dangerous. Not only does it burn the mouth, they can get it in their eyes, which is dangerous as it can damage the eye tissue. It will also cause more nervousness as their fears become elevated by the trauma.

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J.P.

answers from Appleton on

I don't know if it will work but I have heard others do it. Put hot sauce on their nails. They will associate the taste with the nails and essentially should stop. No guarantees. I incorporated this idea with my 2 1/2 yr to get him stop biting. It was a last resort but it worked. I did everything even bite him back and he told me to do it again. Hot sauce on teh tongue and he has not bit since.

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C.R.

answers from Des Moines on

At Wal-Mart in the cosmetic department wih the tweezers and such is a product for nail biting that should work. It tastes terrible so putting some on the nails may prevent him from doing it once he tastes it. Worth a shot anyway!

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