5 year old's fingernails not growing

[cazfinch]

Why have my 5 year old's finger nails stopped growing? From cutting them once a week, they are not growing at all. I haven't caught him biting them, and his toenails are growing as usual. Has anyone any ideas? I am concerned this might be a sign of some serious vitamin deficiency....

Cutting them once a week seems a lot to me. I don't do my own that often. Both my DSs pick or bite theirs and with DS2 you wouldn't know. They look like they have been cut and I never see him biting them. I presume he is picking them. Maybe your DS is doing the same? My DS2 was about 4 or 5 when he started doing that.

However, is it possible that they are being worn away a little bit? At 5 presumably he is at school - perhaps he plays games that wear them out a bit although I struggling to think of examples.

Hands generally get more wear and tear than feet so it wouldn't be surprising if finger nails grew slower.

Has his hair stopped growing so quickly too?

My DC don't need there's doing once a week... maybe they have just slowed down?

Gah, their's!!

Thanks for the reassurance Niecie. His nails did really grow very fast, and his hair is still growing as usual, so I guess he must be picking them. I certainly haven't cut them for over 3 months now.

Thinking about it, it has coincided with going into reception, so perhaps there is a link there. I think I will quiz his teacher at parents eve.