Nail biting can be a very annoying habit in our kids. Also, known as Onychophagia, nail biting is a compulsive habit. If you don’t stop nail biting in children at an early age, it could continue well into adulthood.
Nail biting in kids can damage nails, surrounding skin, cuticles, and even the teeth. It also exposes the body to infections.
Why Do Children Bite Their Nails?
To stop nail biting in children, we need to start with why they bite their nails. Some reasons children bite their nails are:
- Anxiety
- Bullying
- Boredom
- Loneliness
- Frustration
Nail biting can also be an indicator of an underlying psychological problem. These include ADHD, OCD, or Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). If you suspect this, talk to your pediatrician and get an evaluation.
How to Stop Nail biting in Children
Some tips and tricks you can try to stop nail biting in children are:
Keep nails trimmed
Kids who bite nails usually have very short nails. Sometimes it could be months before their nails grow enough for you to cut. But I advise you to regularly check nails. Cut them regularly. Don’t give your child anything to bite on. Use a nail filler after cutting to avoid any sharp corners.
Stop Them
Every time your child puts his nails in his teeth for biting, touch him and ask him to stop biting the nails. Be firm and do it every time. You could also ask your family and your child’s teachers for support to help overcome this habit.
Always guide your child towards healthy practices. Talk about the consequences of nail biting and discuss the issue.
Monitor Nail Biting
With children, there is usually an underlying reason for them to start nail biting. Monitor your child carefully. Observe the situations that bring out the nail biting. Try to help your child through those difficult situations.
Apply a Bitter Solution to Nails
You can apply bottle ground juice or garlic juice to your child’s nails. You can also apply Neem Oil to the nails. Neem oil has antiseptic properties and helps ward off infections. It also doesn’t taste very good.
So, when they put their nails in the mouth, they get the bitter taste in the mouth. This will bring down nail biting episodes and easily help your child transition out of this habit.
Many times kids bite their nails during the night without even realizing it. Applying a bitter solution will deter from that while sleeping.
Apply Nail Polish
Or give your little one a manicure. Make the nails so beautiful, your child wouldn’t want to bite it. For boys, you can go with a transparent color.
Applying nail polish also gives nails a buffer and makes it difficult for your child to bite his nails. You could apply the nail polish after putting on a bitter solution. Make it even harder for your child to bite nails.
Cover Nails
Apply a band-aid to the nails. Or wear gloves. When your child has to go through the process of removing the gloves or even the band-aid to bite his nails, he probably won’t do it. Continue this practice for over a month. Also, your child might not be happy wearing gloves or band-aid. This will make him want to get over the habit so he doesn’t have to wear them.
Set Rewards
When setting rewards, you should try both tangible and intangible rewards. Take them out for ice-cream every time you get to cut long nails. Give out stickers. Even a hug or good praise could do.
Offer an Alternative
Give your child something else to do. Often, children get into the habit of nail biting whenever they are bored. They have got so much energy, and nail biting for them is a way to shed that energy.
Put your child into a sports activity, or help him explore another constructive hobby. You might also want to try these dollar tree activities to bust boredom in your little ones
I hope this article will help you stop nail biting in children. If you notice your child struggling with nail biting and you suspect an underlying issue, please reach out to set up a free consultation. I would love to help you determine your child’s individual needs. We are here to support you as you help your child blossom!
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