How can I help my 4yr old DD stop nail biting?

[MyCatsAScarierBastardThanYours]

She has bitten her nails from being very young. I think it started at around 18mths when she had a ripped nail, I had no nail scissors to hand so bit it off - being the independent child she is she decided that she could do that herself thank you very much, and hasnt stopped since.

She also bites her big toe nails.

I have tried doing our nails together (filing them, mine and hers, painting them etc) to give her some pride in them. This worked until a friend at nursery who she excitedly showed her nails too said 'she didn;t give a damn' Lovely.

I have also talked to her about stopping and tried stickers and star chart (didn't work at all)

What else can I do?

She is generally not an anxious child and is pretty lively bright and sunny.

[FernieB]

Try painting them with that stuff that will taste awful if she bites them. One of mine DD's was a biter, I used that stuff as a last resort and only had to use it once. Mainly the nail polish works - the friend at nursery was probably jealous.

[MyCatsAScarierBastardThanYours]

I thought about that. how young was your dd when you did it?

[FernieB]

About 4 I think. She still trys the odd bite now, but I just have to mention getting the bottle out and she stops. Must taste vile.

Actually I remember when I was at school, one of my friends used to bite her nails and her mum made her have that stuff. We used to play a kind of russian roulette with sweets. Would get a bag and paint 2 or 3 sweets with it and then mix them all up again. If you got a painted one it was awful. Aaah, to be young again!

[MyCatsAScarierBastardThanYours]

I'll try it on her then (although wont mention the russian roulette game - she would think that was marvelous!)