3.6yr biting her nails - how do i stop her doing it?

[My2Weegirls]

my 3.6 year has started biting her nails. yesterday she even managed to make them bleed.

How do i stop this quickly? It seems to be an unconcious thing i.e. She is doing it without realising that her fingers are in her mouth.

I can't think of anything that has changed or that might be causing her stress - apart from starting pre-school this coming september. however she is really excited about that as all her friends are going to be there.

have thought about the horrible tasting stuff you paint on their nails but it says not to use on under 8's.

any advice gratefully received!

We have the same problem, dd1 is 3.10 and been biting her nails for months and now she chews the skin on the side we have tried bribing, charts etc but she doesnt realise she is doing it so if you find the answer I'd be grateful to know it to (oh and this started after she started preschool but she is happy and settled so not sue if there was a trigger)

My 3yo picks her nails (fingers and toes) and grinds her teeth in her sleep. I think she is stressed.

i was a nail biter for years and bribery never worked with me -which is why i want to try and stop it now (maybe it's in her genes though . i've threatened to put mitts on her but think that would just cause more arguements/tantrums!

frisbycat - mine has been grinding her teeth too. we slept in the same bed for the first time in months last week and she kept me awake half the night with her grinding. maybe she is stressed/worried about something and is just not telling me.

have you tried getting to the bottom of things?

my dd1 is an 'anxious' child, she appears confident etc to everyone else but shes always worrying about things (ie dh works irregular hours and if he isnt home when she goes to bed she worries about him as he rides his pushbike)we always end up having a chat at bedtime about anything shes been told off for and saying sorry to each other if we were shouty/snappy but she still bites her nails (like yours fingers and toes)

Also her feet/toes are awful because when she does have a tantrum she kicks her bedroom door or seems to jiggle around on her toes tehy are always grazed/cut, in fact last year had to take her to hospital as she kicked the fireplace when having a paddy and ripped the top of her toe (thankfully the tantrums are getting better)

oh my goodness wonderwoman! that must have hurt her toes. did it 'help' her to stop kicking?

hmm - i'm starting to wonder if it is all stress/anxiety related. she still appears to be her normal self i.e.confident, independent, strong willed, cheeky girl.

my 2weegirls, she still tiptoes when having a tantrum but certainly doesnt go near the fireplace (she had to have 3 stitches and screamed even though they numbed it)

Your last paragraph describes dd1 perfectly but she just worries alot (and I am exactly the same as is my Mum )