Toddler nail biting?

Re: Toddler nail biting?

• TinyPinkBug member

  September 2011

  Tyler bites his nails.  Started just after we took away the paci.  It is a need for oral stimulation.  We just hand him a chewy and he stops.  It is usually while watching TV or riding in the car.  Sort of some sort of input while staying still.

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• junebug105

  September 2011

  My daughter bit her nails for years, to the point that her fingers would bleed. We tried everything to make her stop, giving her other things to chew on, that bitter nail stuff, I even tried putting band-aids on her fingers one day (I wouldn't recommend it!) She has always been a very nervous kid, but I didn't think it was related because she also did it when we were in the car, or watching tv, sometimes even in her sleep. About 6 months ago, she was "officially" diagnosed with a couple different anxiety disorders, and was put on a medicine to control her nerves. She hasn't bitten her nails at all since she started the medicine. We've even been able to go to the salon and get manicures together!

  I'm definitely not saying your daughter needs medicine, please don't think I'm telling you that!! Unfortunately I don't have much advice since nothing I tried worked, I'm just letting you know what my experience with it was. I know how hard of a habit nail biting is to break with kids, and I wish you lots of luck!!
  

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• orangeluck

  September 2011

  G has it as a habit; sometimes she does it when she is tired as we are reading or if she's a little nervous.  It's something I'm trying to get her to stop but I don't really have any suggestions for her it's more of like fiddling with something.  We talk about germs and how she needs nails to open up the flap books that she likes.  I tell her she can hold my hand instead and she knows by now when I draw attention to it she should stop and usually does.

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• jnk062602

  September 2011

  DD does.  Although it is 200% my fault since I do.  I feel horrible about it every time I look at her hands.  I stopped, but it was too late for her.  I have tried the bitter nail stuff on her and it does nothing.  It didn't help when I used to try to quit either.  Honestly, the only thing that did it for me was seeing my baby pick up the habit.  I only hope I can help her stop before she has struggled with it for 25+ years.  She likes to paint her nails, so I have done that and try to tell her not to bite and take the pretty color off.  I can tell her "fingers" and she takes them out, but only for a bit.  I have given her things to hold and fiddle with instead.  And chew things.  But it is all temporary...and I can't be there to stop her when she is in the crib or at all times anyway.

  She is too young to really tell you why she does it.  I know I did it bc it would feel rough, so I would try to fix it, and of course make it worse.  Keeping a file with me didn't really help bc a lot of time I was biting before I even consciously knew I was.  And that's the main issue - a lot of times I see her doing it when she is watching tv or tired, so I know she isn't thinking about it, she is just doing it.

  Honestly, my next plans are to maybe take her and let her pick out pretty mittens and when I see her biting have her wear those when watching tv or in the car.  I don't know....my only other thought is to sew socks on the end of some long sleeve shirts and pjs and just do that....I know it is drastic, but maybe if she stops for a week or 2, the habit will be gone?  And honestly, to someone who has struggled with it for years, if it works now while she is young it would be a million times worth it.

  But for you guys - hopefully it is just a phase for Ava.

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• Ashnmike528 member

  September 2011

  Thanks ladies! I am hoping it's just a passing phase, but her 2 yr check up us next month so I can ask about it then if it's still happening.

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