What Method One could Take to Stop Children(s) from Biting Nails...
By mzbubblie
@mzbubblie (3839)
United States
March 23, 2007 7:28am CST
This topic came about while responding to another topic. Maybe someone can help me out here..
My son has forever been biting his nails, I can't seem to get him to stop, he does it while he watches television or even homework.
I've tried the hotsauce, the clear fingernail polish, Nothing seem to work. I myself use to bite my fingers, as I got older, Like 18, I decided to start getting my nails done and that actually helped me right along with my nails looking cute. :)
But, for a boy, what do you do? My younger sister, she won't get her nails done because she likes to bite them, my youngest brother does also.
Anyone have any suggestions? Any advice? It's hard when I'm not around him, I know he does it alot then. Any stories of people you know that bite their nails? Do you bite your nails or use to?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
23 Mar 07
i was gonna say hotsauce,but you said you tried that.
they only other thing i would think to try if maybe putting something on his fingers he can't stand the smell of.he might think twice about the first chew :)
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
24 Mar 07
But what would that something be...hmmm come on help me here scarlet woman :)
1 person likes this
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
24 Mar 07
Hmmm interesting, I will have to see...He's a picky eater too, he may not like that..but he's 12 maybe I'm too late :(
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
24 Mar 07
thinking..what would a boy be adverse to? LOL
you could start with a citrus type smell-some kids don't like that
@beautyoperater (1890)
• United States
23 Mar 07
I'm a nail biter and I have been doing it for a long time. I'm in my forties now. I have tried to stop but nothing works for me either. I have tried the fake nails and I chew them off as well.
That no bite nail polish doesn't work either. I actually like the taste. I'm in a wedding this summer and I started growing them out but as soon as they got over my finger I chewed them off.
Mine are really short. People can't believe I get them that short without bleeding. My mother says it's because I use to suck my thumb and as I got older I quit the thumb and started the nail biting. Half the time I don't even know I'm doing it.
If you find out anything that works let me know. I know stress has alot to do with it to and boredom.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
23 Mar 07
Yes, My son does it and don't even realize he did it. I'm always telling him to stop doing that, yet it does not matter
@superbren (856)
•
23 Mar 07
i posted a discussion about this as my daughter is a nailbiter. i recently bought her a worry stone to try to stop her but i'm not sure how effective it is yet. she probably has it hid in a drawer somewhere.if it works i will get back to you .
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
23 Mar 07
Oh really, I will have to look at that, it may be possible for my lil man. Please do get back to me and let me know
@tad1fan (3367)
• Canada
29 Mar 07
I am a nail biter and so WAS my son.I got him out of it by offering him a quarter for every nail he DIDN'T bite at the end of the week.....that's $2.50 if he gets all 10 done.It took him a while but he got it and hasn't bitten his nails since,it's been well over a year now
@bluewings (3857)
•
23 Mar 07
I think the best solution is to clip it so low that when you try biting them you end up biting your cuticles,lol.That should prevent us from biting it as it might start bleeding at some stage.But for children, who will enjoy even the cuticles ,I think you need to work on the child psychology.First , it would be good to try telling stories about a boy who used to bite his nails and how he was hounded by the nail ghost,lol,yeah, mean, yet it could work as children take to stories easily, atleast I did.If it doesn't work ,then try to leave the room or pay less attention when he is biting the nails,remind him of the ghost story.I think eventually he will get the message.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
23 Mar 07
huh, he bites the skin too I think because it be looking a little rough around the edges. I think he does it just out of habit, he could be watchin television and i see him doing it. I'm forever telling him to stop...lol
