Nail biting

[Spaghettivongole]

DD (4) has recently started biting her finger nails. Is there anything I can/should do? I know I used to do it as a child so I suppose I already know there is not much I can do to stop her! But she seems young to be doing it already... and they are bitten very far down, it looks painful.

My DD1 started to bite her nails when she was about 3. The only way that I could get her to stop was to promise to paint her nails with the pretty nail varnish once they grew longer.

I have to say that I'm not a fan of young children with nail varnish (I don't even wear it myself) but DD was fascinated by my sisters.

I told her nicely that if she bit her nails then her nails would never be pretty like Auntie X's and it seemed to work. She has lovely nails now (aged 5), otherwise I probably would have tried that nasty tasting nail stuff.

It depends how addicted they are though. I always bit my nails as a child and couldn't stop. I don't bite them anymore but they're rubbish quality :(.

Thanks Robin. To be honest I think she may be completely addicted as they are so far bitten. I will try the nail polish thing - I'm afraid to say that I have occasionally allowed it in the past!

I suppose I'm a bit wary of correcting her as I have memories of being constantly nagged about it when I was young and I wonder if this would be unhelpful.

Oh, and a bit of dripfeeding I'm afraid... she does have a new baby brother, no doubt adding to any anxieties she may have!

You might be right re new baby brother! Mine had a new baby sister around that time so it makes sense.