Hi moms, this is the first time I have ever posted a question, and I know I'll get some good advice. My 3 1/2 year old has a horrible habit of biting his nails. It started very early on, when he would get hangnails and he wanted me to cut them off immediately. Well, now he doesn't even have any nails left. He has bitten them down so far, that his fingers are beginning to look raw and peel. Every time I see his fingers in his mouth, I let him know that he needs to stop or they are going to get worse and really hurt. I know when I was little there was something that you could put on their nails that tasted bad to stop it, but I don't know if that's around anymore or if it really works. Any tips or advice would be helpful. Thanks
Thanks for all the great tips, am going to Target tonight to get the no bite stuff and try it out! Even if it cuts down the amount he bites his nails, I'm happy!
I have not checked other answers, but yes that stuff is still around, but just lke thumb suckers, they still do it even with the taste. I bit my nails and skin till after law school. When I started getting manicures I stopped because there were no broken pieces to pick at. Maybe this would help if his nails were always smooth all around with no extra or broken pieces to pick at.
This is all I can think of, good luck.
Just wondering what it was that the other mom got for her 13 year old. I have a daughter who is 10.5 and she has bitten her nails most of her life. We did try one kind of thing that we put on her nails, but she suffered thru the taste long enough to get it off her hands and continue to chew at her nails! Her hands are a wreck, and when the nail is gone she will chew on her skin around her nailbeds, its awful, and she is in alot of pain. Yet the pain does not stop the chewing. I am interested in what you learn to stop this habit.
I just got some for my 13yr she is very bad as well. Just google it and lots of different things came up. she has been really good with it. she said it tastes really bad. I would just ask you ped. befor you put it on, just to make sure its ok for little guys.
I just read a trick the other day - use a cotton ball to dab a little vanilla extract on each nail. It smells great, but tastes horrible! They said it works.
I have bitten my nails most of my life. The No Bite may work for some, and it's relatively inexpensive, but be aware that a persistent nail biter will bite regardless of the bad taste, since they already bite regardless of the pain. I would suggest you try the No Bite, or equivalent, but also pay attention to when he bites his nails. For me, I tend to bite my nails when I'm feeling stressed. Your son may be using nail biting as a way of coping with stress, he is more than likely not fully aware that he is doing it. If you see him biting his nails, instead of telling him to stop (because he won't) quickly engage him in an activity to distract him from biting, preferably something where he will have to use both of his hands, also take some time out to help him relax and destress. You may also want to try placing gloves on his hands (out of sight out of mind). I have also found that chewing gum helps with the oral fixation and the need to chew.
there is that nasty nail stuff. make sure you put it many times during the day it wears off. i think it is called no bite. ask at a cvs type place. it didn't work as well as you think it would. seriously, for me if i kept reapplying it made a big difference, every time they wash their hands it is gone. and I think reapplying reminds them to not bite.
Yes they have the nail polish(type stuff) that has a bad taste,(should be able to pick it up at a drug store) did not work for my daughter(she sucked her fingers). I had to bribe her with something (nail polish, then school) cant start school if you are sucking your fingers. I am sure there will be some great advice. I did try Tabasco sauce applied by a q-tip just on the nail to not burn the skin (slice of bread handy to stop the burn once in the mouth helps too) but that washes off, not too easy, but it helped slow her down at least ;) Maybe something he can do with his hands... something that he can take with him and fidget with to keep his fingers busy. Good luck!
