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Nail Biting
  • GirdyOleeGirdyOlee
    Posts: 426Member
    Everything I've read about toddler nail biting says I should just ignore it, but it's driving me crazy.  My DD3 bites her nails to the point they bleed, bites the skin around them, and constantly has them in her mouth.  I've tried nasty tasting (store bought) stuff on her nails, tried painting them so she thinks they're pretty and doesn't want to mess them up, I've tried smacking her arm when she's in the act, talking to her about germs, EVERYTHING I can think of.  Is there a secret trick to get her to stop?

    She used to be a chronic nose-picker, but since she started the nail biting thing, she doesn't pick her nose anymore.  I don't even think she realizes she's doing it most of the time.  It's like she has some weird oral fixation.  Any suggestions?
  • AutumnAutumn
    Posts: 898Member

    Mittens??  :-j

    Seriously though, I started biting my nails around the same age.  I didn't stop until..well shit, I never really stopped!  I quit biting my nails in middle school, but I still bite my hangnails & dry skin.  My mom even slapped me across the face every time she saw it, and I still couldn't help myself.  Good luck!

  • GingersnapGingersnap
    Posts: 7,717Member
    It could be a "sensory thing". A fidget toys might distract her, but also if she bit her nail and it left a rough spot she's more likely to keep chewing it at the nail catches on things (so you'll want to file that smooth). A very crunchy food (pretzel) might distract her, but clearly, you don't want to feed her all the time. If it's an expression of anxiety, adhering to routine or discussing plans/schedules may help alleviate anxiety. Gross motor activities will help reduce stress, but also it's harder to nail bite when you're playing ball or sleeping. 

    I used to bite all of my nails to the quick. I modified my behavior, but I still bite my thumbnails. Stress increases my compulsion to nail bite. 

    Something to remember: she's biting her nails as a means of coping - either with anxiety/stress or a sensory issue. It is unreasonable to remove a coping mechanism without replacing it with another coping mechanism.

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  • jennylynn83jennylynn83
    Posts: 36Member
    My step-son is the same way.  Drives me insane.  I just keep telling him to stop and not worry about it.  I bit my nails growing up and I couldn't stop.  Just something that will happen I'm sure.
  • deviltwinsmommadeviltwinsmomma
    Posts: 2,388Member
    Omg my twin girl is like this too but shes moved to biting her toe nails too. My dh does it too. me and the other kids just watch in amazement. I dont get after her since she is VERY high strung. Everything stresses her out, and shes 5 yrs old. she has never had anything traumatic happen. But she is "gifted" in an enlighten way.
    my mother used to sing me a song. It went like this: "Life is short, life is shit, and soon it will be over.
  • GritsGrits
    Posts: 3,863Member
    I was a BAD nail biter until junior high. Then I realized that I could grow my nails out and paint them and they looked so pretty!! But I still bite my cuticles to this day. It's such a bad habit that if there's no hangnail, I will get the nail clippers and clip my cuticles to create hangnails. It's so bad, but I couldn't quit to save my life. I've tried!
    "I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles." ~Audrey Hepburn
  • GirdyOleeGirdyOlee
    Posts: 426Member
    Lol @Autumn... I've actually tried socks on her hands! She just takes them off. :(

    I guess I'll just wait it out. She's probably just coping with the stress in the house like we all are. I'll keep giving her lots if love and looking forward to getting outta here as soon as possible. Maybe once this divorce crap is over, it'll stop.

    Here's hoping!!! [-O<
  • shadylaneshadylane
    Posts: 3,037Member
    sorry to say this but it seems to be a lifetime habit, i've been doing it since i was like 6. i wil stop for months at a time and then all of a sudden bite them all off and start up again. i hate how my nails look, i just can't help it. and if one is uneven or rough or has dry skin, i must "fix" it which just makes it uneven on the other side which i have to fix, its a neverending cycle. i will do it till they bleed and hurt so bad i can't even touch anything. if i don't chew my nails i have to chew my lip which i will do till it bleeds and hurts. i do it even when i'm not stressed out, i guess its like an addiction. the nasty tasting stuff was no deterrent for me either. its crazy. i hope my dd doesn't inherit it
    ~slim shady~
  • LA_PygmyHerderLA_PygmyHerder
    Posts: 1,239Member
    They make bitter nail polish stuff for thumb sucking. I wonder if it would work for nail biting too.
  • GirdyOleeGirdyOlee
    Posts: 426Member
    @LA_PygmyHerder... I've tried the stuff called Thumm, and what was supposed to be the BEST, Hoof Hands. Neither worked for more than 5-10 minutes. I was bummed.
  • Ashdawn684Ashdawn684
    Posts: 863Member
    I bite my nails :( with me it comes and goes depending on how things in my life are.  Right now they are down to the quick and so sore, but i cant help myself!  DD started doing it lately i know it is the stress, but i am trying to discourage it
    ~Live life to the fullest, or die trying~
  • Luvlyssa
    Posts: 3,338Member
    My name is melissa... I am 35... and I still bite my nails. Mine is a stress or depression thing. If i'm depressed or stressed the nails get bit. if they're the slightest bit uneven or rough? bit. anything.

    I know it's DISGUSTING. I did fake nails for a long time and LOVED them. never had a problem. But... ugh. must.bite.nails.
    Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim.
  • MistressHeidiMistressHeidi
    Posts: 977Member
    I'm 34 and I still bite my nails. I have tried everything to quit. I hate the way my hands look, I feel so embarassed by them and try to hide them as much as possible. I've made myself bleed to many times to count. Mine is a stress thing, but it's also a boredom thing. I've tried everything I can come up with to stop. It may be a life time habit. I hope not, I would love long pretty nails.
  • boring_nameboring_name
    Posts: 667Member
    onychophagia is an OCD related impulse control disorder. Behavior modification therapies are supposed to help. 

    http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/tc/nail-biting-topic-overview

    for a toddler the best might be substitution... find something to do using her hands when you see her picking/chewing. Since you think it's a mouth/oral thing maybe something safe that is non food that she can bite on instead? Worth a discussion with her ped at her next check-up anyway.

    I have trich and sometimes keeping my hands busy (crochet, typing etc) can help. 
    B
  • GrainneGrainne
    Posts: 892Member
    My mom
    Had a friend who had a child who sucked his thumb (stress reducing behavior) they bandaged his hands after trying everything and them he started to stutter. Maybe it's just a coping mechanism that can be replaced with something else. Forcing an end may create something else that is worse.
  • GirdyOleeGirdyOlee
    Posts: 426Member
    @boring_name... I just pictured my 3 year-old crocheting...
    :))

    I will talk to her pediatrician and see what she says about it.  I need to do some creative thinking about what might be a way to keep her hands busy.  Hmmm... :-?

    @Grainne... I sure don't want her to develop a NEW bad habit!  I'm glad you told me that!

  • iamslowlygoingcrazy
    Posts: 145Member
    @Luvlyssa I'm seriously wondering how you seem to be in my head all of the time
    :-?
  • Luvlyssa
    Posts: 3,338Member
    @iamslowlygoingcrazy Well see... my brain doesn't like me so much. so it asked / forced me to move out. and... there was some space in yours (not much!) (I don't need much) so... I am squatting :(
    Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim.
  • iamslowlygoingcrazy
    Posts: 145Member
    Squat away! I see benefits to this. Would u please take over right now as I'm about to snap after telling the kids for the millionth time not to fucking spray eachother with the damn hose!!! @luvlyssa
  • Luvlyssa
    Posts: 3,338Member
    @iamslowlygoingcrazy yup. go take a break. there's some ice cream in the freezer and some chips in the pantry.
    Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim.
  • iamslowlygoingcrazy
    Posts: 145Member
    @luvlyssa I think I love u :)
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