*How can i stop my DD biteing her nails*

[Serendipity30]

I have tried everything and now she is biting the skin round her nails and could get infections. I am at the end of my tether!!

Is it that bad or just a bad habit?

I bit my nails, ad the skin, until I was 19, ever had any problems with infections.

Ime the more you tell her to stop, the more she will do it.

it is that bad and it looks horrible

Subbing. DD1 (6) has barely half the normal length of nail, they're twice as wide as they're long, constantly red and swollen around the nail bed and further down the finger. Often loses skin - it looks truely awful!

How old is she? If she is old enough I would suggest gel/acrylic nails - you can't bite them.

She is 7, there is no way i am putting fake nails uuurgh

DD was invited to a friend's pamper party. She had about 3 weeks to have nails long enough to paint. She managed it, and hasn't bitten them since. Hurrah!

If she's only 7, maybe a reward will work? If she gets amount of white nail showing, she can get taken somewhere special, or get bought something nice?

My 6 yo boy had a dreadful habit of biting his nails (including infections) and nothing seemed to stop him or encourage him to do otherwise. We got to a point where he would just lose one of his 3 daily warnings every time I saw his hand near his face (he also rubbed around his mouth, giving him sores). I think we've broken the habit now, but it did take ages, and lots of set backs, so I hope you have some good luck with your daughter.

HandMadeTail, NeverendingStoryteller That sounds really encouraging, she did not bite them today and told me this with glee, hopefully these incentives will work. Its at least better than me screeching at her. Thank you all

I'm a 38yr old nail biter who is currently not biting her nails. I am totally oblivious as to when I bite my nails. I honestly don't know I'm doing it and I can relate your DC. The only things that stop me for any period of time are gels (and I understand why you don't want to do this) or nail varnish. When chewing your nails with varnish on you suddenly notice what you're doing (the varnish flakes off) and can then stop. (I've tried everything else eg foul tasting stuff). I still chew the surrounding skin even if nails aren't bitten and it's a very clear mark of stress for me. It's an anxiety habit and I get genuinely upset if people berate me for it. I don't chew/bite on holiday so much.
Is there a root cause - are there alternatives? If I bite/chew too much I bizarrely don't mind the pain/discomfort. (odd - I know!)

I'm 29 and stopped nail biting in January this year. I haven't bitten my nails since. I do put a coat of clear varnish on, which I think stops me from wanting to bite them. Haven't looked back.

I started as a young child and bit them through my school years. Truly disgusting habit.

I hope your DD breaks it soon, OP. The incentives thing may work. Anything's worth a shot!

minstrelsaremarvellous I agree with you that stress/anxiety plays a role. I bit my nails so much because I was upset, anxious, etc. I do occasionally pick at the skin around the nails still, but I've at least achieved long nails so I don't beat myself up over it.

DD has still not bitten her nails, she went to her friends party and painted them pale pink, which seems to have stopped her, she is also determine to get that book, so far so good, thanks once again everyone.

I was the same when her age. Painting my nails definitely discouraged me. Now I go for regular manicures!