Nail biting help please!!

[PoptartPoptart]

Not really a health issue but I wasn't sure where else to post this.

DS is 6. Ever since I can remember he has been an enthusiastic nail biter. Sometimes he bites them down so far they bleed and are very painful, yet he continues to bite them. I have tried everything to help him stop, reward charts, stickers, bribes, threats, distracting, keeping his hands busy, gloves. I have tried all the horrible tasting nail varnish stuff on the market, including one with cayenne pepper which was absolutely revolting, yet he still bit through it and it didn't seem to bother him!

He is worse at school, but does bite them at home. He is not worried or stressed about anything, he has always bitten them and I think it is just habit as he doesn't even realise he is doing it half the time. I did speak to his teacher and asked if she could gently remind him not to bite if they noticed him doing it at school, but I realise they have 29 other children in the class and my son's nail biting is hardly their top priority! I used to bite my own nails as a kid - could it be hereditary?? The only thing that stopped me was when I was old enough to get false gel nails so I can't bite through them! Not an option for DS really :)
It bothers me because they look so horrible and are obviously painful.
Any words of wisdom or advice welcome please!

Hi Poptart, not sure if this will help or not but thought I would share....

I bit my nails for 30 years and after trying absolutely everything (and i mean everything) I had hypnosis to stop. During the hypnosis session I discovered that the habit started about when I was 4 years old and I used to suck my thumb. Thumb sucking once you get a bit older (i.e. start school, meet lots of new kids) is no longer acceptable as you get teased but nail biting is the same hand to mouth comfort but more 'acceptable' in kid circles - i.e. you are not being teased as being a 'baby who sucks their thumb'. So perhaps as you say he doesnt even realise he's doing it half the time this is his subconscious way of comforting.

I dont have any miracle answers on how to stop it, sorry (my DS is only 11 weeks old so hasnt picked up this habit yet).

And no, I dont think its hereditary :)

Thanks cravingcake, that does make sense as he used to suck his thumb as a baby (I even have an ultrasound picture of him in the womb with his thumb in his mouth!). Thinking about it, the nail biting really took hold once he started at nursery. Mmmm, I wonder what age I can get him hypnotised?! Thanks again for your wisdom

Hmmm, hypnotising a little one...... not sure what age they can do that from :o

FWIW my nail biting started at the same time as when my parents moved house so perhaps i was unsettled during the move. What is stressful to us as adults is very different to what is stressful to children.

I hope you can find a way to help him stop the nail biing.

I do sympathise- I was and still am occasionally a nail biter. I am certain there is some genetic history- my son does, and my daughter doesn't! My mother nagged me for 30 years, painted that stuff on my fingers, told me I looked"half witted" etc etc. The only thing that worked was when I decided they looked horrible, and then made my own decision to stop. (and as I say, I still sometimes do it). Frankly, with my son I have decided to save my breath. He will stop when he decides!

I also think there is something hereditry with nail biting. I bit my nails to the quick as a child but now I only bite my right hand. My Dd 13 bites hers and it drives me mad.... she ALWAYS has her fingers in her mouth. I dont think nagging or even a gentle reminder does anything to stop it.
I think people will stop if and when they want to.
I was plastered with Stop and Grow and eventually grew to like it !!!