Biting nails

meli1025

Hi all.  My 2 1/2 year old recently started biting his nails, which right now I am attributing to the reason he caught a stomach bug.  His fingers are constantly in his mouth!  Anyone have any idea on how I can get him to stop?  Neither dh or I bite our nails, I wish he didn't pick up this habit so early.  

rjeller32

I did that as a child, and my mother actually would put something bitter tasting on my fingers, so every time I put them in my mouth I would quickly change my mind. Before that she did band-aids so I couldn't get to my fingers. If it were me I would flick his hand every time it went to his mouth, and explain that yucky germs are all over his fingers so he shouldn't do it.

PunkyBooster

It is self soothing behavior. DS recently started toying with his belly button as his self soothing behavior. It is driving me NUTS. 

I do redirect. Once in a while I will ask him to leave his belly button alone but mostly, I find it more comfortable for him if I give him something else to do.

Since he's not witnessing nail biting in your home, I am inclined to think that this too shall pass.

 

SammyLee1229

My little guy is doing this too. And so far I have not found a solution. But you're not alone!

piper09

I posted the same thing a few weeks ago!  DS has been biting his nails all the way down and it drives me crazy! He seems to do it mostly when he's watching TV (like a mindless habit) so I've been handing him a ball or small toy when I notice him doing it.