My middle child (who is 2.5 yr old) has started biting her nails (finger and toe nails.) While I do think it's gross. The issue is more then that. I know she's bitten them down so that she's hurt herself while biting her nails. I've tried not over-reacting telling her that she could hurt herself if she bites down her nails. I've tried painting them (that discouraged her for a bit). Any ideas? I don't want my little girl to keep hurting herself.
It's gotten better simply by my telling her that to take her fingers out of her mouth when starting to look like she's gonna chew. At least she stopped biting her toenails all together. I told her that I would paint her nails if she would not bite them (that worked for the toes). Our dr suggested using petroleum jelly or mustard to nix the habit. So I'm going to repaint her finger nails (that does really discourage her a little bit at least because she thinks her nails are so pretty) and then put some petroleum jelly over it a bit and see if that helps for her fingernails. I'll let you know if I find anything else that works! Thanks for all the suggestiosn
I bit my nails as a little girl and when my mom promised me manicures at the salon, I stopped. She held up her end of the deal and so did I. She told me once I was older that the ladies at the salon gave her a discount since it was kind of a quickie for them so I would sit still. :) I remember going to school and telling all my little girlfriends that I had had my nails done and being so proud that I never wanted to bite them again!SD
my son is 5 now and i have been biting my nails all my life my mom says i am 25 now ans still bite i will get manicure full sets and once the come off my nails would be long and pretty and then once i am bored or nervouse i chomp down again...my son i have tried hot sauce but we are from california and love mexican food which can be spicy so its like milk to him...so i found out he like to write and spell so i bought him a writing toy with magnet pencil connected and he writes more than he bites now...so maybe getting her into something she loves and it could possibly take her attention away! hope it gives you a lil help...
My daughter does the same thing. I have come to realize that she only starts to do it when she is anxious or upset about something major. She started doing it last time my husband left for Iraq. We couldn't get her to stop for anything. We got upset with her took things away and finally realized she didn't even know she was doing it. Then she stopped when he came home and didn't do it for almost 8 months. We just moved a few weeks ago to here and she has started it again.
Sorry, I don't know any good techniques but do you know of anything that could be bothering her? Well, hopefully she will just stop or you can find some good technique. If you do let me know please. Thanks and good luck.
B.
Tobasco Sauce. Soak her fingers in it and she will learn not to bite. That is how my mom got me from sucking my thumb. I was still sucking my thumb when I was 12. (I know, I know) That is why i needed $6000 in braces and dental work in the last 2 years. If she has guts of steal and likes tobasco sauce, try cayanne pepper sauce. Buy some cayanne pepper seasoning, mix it with some water to make a thick sauce and soak her fingers in it. It will burn if she has bitten her cuticles or soars, but it won't hurt her. If you catch her biting, make her stick her fingers in it again. I keep a bowl of it in the fridge for my dog to keep him from chewing on my shoes.
L. ~
There is something on the market for this. I don't know the name of it, but the pharmacist should be able to assist you. You put it on the nails and it has a TERRIBLE taste, thus discourages biting. You definately don't want her to bite down too far, as she could get an infection.
As a side note on this. My mother bit her nails all her life(fingers and TOES). It was kinda funny. But she was always in great shape. Just the stretching alone was exercise in and of itself! She's 80 now and can STILL bite her toenails! How many 80 yr. olds do you know that can do THAT!?!? (I'm 52 and can't do it!).
Good luck ~ K.
