Nail Biting and How to Stop it?

[Zhx3]

Both dc (aged 5 and 3) are serious nail chompers. I have tried using the bitter paint-on stuff, but the (stubborn) 3 yo just says "yacky!" then continues chomping. Works a little better with the 5yo.

Any ideas as to how to prevent this? I was a chronic nail chomper for 30 years, and know how hard the habit is to break, but also how painful split fingers/thumbs/cuticles can be.

Do you know why they bite in the first place? My ds started out of anxiety I think. So I tried to minimise that (was when he was left alone at bedtime). Didn't work much after he started biting when bored! So I would give him something to fiddle with instead and it has reduced massively. He loves Lego!
He also has a cuddle toy for bedtimes (when he would bite the most).

I was a nail biter and it took years to stop. The bitter stuff didnt work. Made me worse - it is one of my main memories - mum trying various things to stop.

It's funny, I just stopped one day a few years ago, don't know how I managed it but all of a sudden that was it. I'm still tempted now, and give in on occasion but rarely.

They just seem to bite all the time - when we're out and about, when they're watching tv our playing at home, in their bed. I think boredom might be one reason, or that their hands are unoccupied. They both have comfort toys and lots of books, trains and drawing stuff. The little one has almost bitten hits nails right down .

I remember I used to bite out out anxiety or boredom.

Watching with interest, my DD 3 has just started. I too was a terrible nail biter although not for years now. I try to bride her, saying I will paint them for her if she doesn't bite them but she forgets. I think it's a subconscious thing, also her little brother was born 6 weeks ago so that might have something to do with it! Can you use the bitter stuff on children so young, I wasn't sure?

Ds1 started biting his nails around 2 years. I tried to stop him for a while then stopped nagging, with the occasional 'ooh that looks very sore' when he made his fingers bleed. It was hard. He's 6 now, I think he stopped biting them about 6 monts or so ago, without me doing anything.

I was a nail biter from an early age. My mum tried everything to make me stop. Nothing worked but I do remember the feelings of guilt and shame and being ugly that her constant nagging, reminding, pulling hands away from mouth and painting stuff on. I wish she'd just left it alone.