I need help. I have a 2 y/o that bites her nails horribly and need lots of help to stop this behavior.

Next week during Spring Break we are going to have manicures done but I am not sure if that is really going to help.

Suggestions?

Stacey

My daughter does this she is now 6 and I have tried everything. Band-aides, nail bitting polish, and telling her how gross and dirty it is. She still just chews away.

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cmemaloy@yahoo.com


I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not.

Life! is a coin. You can spend it anyway you wish, but you can only spend it once.

You're getting a manicure for a 2 yr old? I wouldn't think she would be able to not mess up her nails after being done until they dried.

I'm not sure what to tell you about the nail biting. My 14 yr old still does this!!

Holly

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Forgiveness is love in its most noble form. -Anonymous

The manicure might work......if your childs a girly-girl.....I would make it a special thing that mommy and DD do together......If you get your nails done every two weeks, the two of you can repaint HER every three or four days and then she might start to like the way her nails look and want to keep them that way.

My Best friend told me her doctor told her not to worry about it he said " If she's doing that in college then maybe worry but, she won't be in your house and you won't know anyway". I think the point is not everything (bad habit) your child does is because of nerves or her being worried. Some kids just have silly habits, Now if the is some major stress is going on in the house then its a different issue. But I think its probably just one of those silly things kids do.

Well if you figure out how to stop it please call my mother and let her know...I am 43 and still bite my nails. I don't bite them any more or less when stressed, happy, mad. And I do not conciously bite them. I think maybe I need a camera crew to follow me around a few days and film me constantly and then maybe I might become aware of when I bite them.

Oh, and as a child my mom tried hot sauce, icky tasting nail biter stuff, nail polish and I am sure a myriad of other things that I just do not remember.

We are using the no bite nail polish for my son. He is 12 and told me that he doesnt want to bite his nails anymore. It is working for us. He actually came to me the other day and showed me that his nails needed trimmed. He wants them short but doesnt want to give into the urge to bite them down.

Good luck with your daugther.
Darlene

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Sell crazy some place else, we are all stocked up here.

maybe try soaking or "painting" her nails with lemon juice concentrate? Do this when she's sleeping but make sure she doesn't have any rips or tears around the skin as I can imagine that may hurt a bit.

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My nephew was a terrible nail biter. About a year ago (he is 3 1/2 now) my sister mentioned it to his pediatrician and they gave her some kind of stuff you put on the fingertips that apparently tastes VERY bad because every time she saw him put a finger in his mouth if she said "Okay, I'm going to get your fingernail medicine" he would immediatly stop and beg her not to get it. I don't know what it's called but it worked for him - ask your pediatrician.

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Mom to 3 - one with 2 legs and 2with 4!

My son did this when he was younger. I didn't try any of the things the posters have suggested I just simply kept him busy. He eventually forgot about biting his nails. Now he is 10 and for the past 2 years picks the seams in his shirt sleeves and the hem of the shirts while he is at school. Drives me CRAZY!!!! I have to sew shirts every week. I told him if he can't stop he is going to have to wear ripped up shirts to school or learn how to sew.

DS used to gnaw his nails. I started telling him that fingernails aren't food and there's no reason to chew on his nails. It took a few months but he finally quit.

Thank you for all you inputs. I will let you know what ends up working.