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Parenting

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Original poster

How to stop DD nail biting?

12 replies

Tinks15 · 07/12/2019 18:38

DD1 is 4 & is constantly biting her nails, she’s made her nails so short & sore they look awful. We’ve tried the anti nail biting stuff (Malava) you paint on but even that’s not stopped her - she’s just got use to the taste!
She constantly has her hands in her mouth & I hate it! Any recommendations please? At our wits end!

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Lipperfromchipper · 07/12/2019 18:46

The advice I would give is leave her!! Pleas leave her!!
Drawing attention to it will make it worse (believe me on this,I was this child)
If you manage to stop her then the anxiety relieving behaviour (because that’s what it is) will shift onto something else - for me when I was young it shifted to picking the skin on my lips!! So there you go...picking lips (or equivalent) or nails. Nails will ALWAYS grow back and can be managed when she is older....scars on lips and face...not so nice 😬 sorry OP

Seeline · 07/12/2019 18:48

I bit mine from about 2 until I was 48. And during that time I tried stopping many times. I wanted to, but couldn't. Suddenly at 48, i just didn't need to any more, and haven't bitten them for 3 years. It wasn't intentional.

I don't think you can make her stop unless you can work out why she does it and then solve that issue. Just trying to stop her will probably just make it worse.

user1471449295 · 07/12/2019 18:51

As someone in their mid-30’s who has always bitten (generally if stressed/anxious), you can’t stop her. I remember the telling off I got from parents, and it did bugger all to stop me.
Why not address if she feeling anxious about something instead?

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WhatchaMaCalllit · 07/12/2019 18:52

If you find a way, let me know. I've been biting my nails for over 20 years and I have spent so much money on getting my nails done (gel, acrylic, shellac etc.) but I'm still biting them once I couldn't get the time to make regular appointments to get them done.

Cookiedough123 · 07/12/2019 19:03

I was the same and suddenly at the age of 21 I just stopped. I used the nail biting stuff for 3 days and the habit just disappeared. I find though that if I start biting again I can completely bite them all down again within a few hours so I just dont let myself do it at all. The best think you can do is try not to draw attention to it as I used to hate it when people commented on it. You cant help your own bad habits.

leghairdontcare · 07/12/2019 19:10

My son went through a terrible phase about the same age. He got an infected thumb, it was disgusting. Couldn't do anything to stop him and he suddenly just grew out of it. He's nearly six now and it's not a problem.

TheGriffle · 07/12/2019 19:14

I’m 33 and still a nail biter, and the skin around my nails. I had the horrible tasting stuff, didn’t help. My parents tried paying me £1 for every nail I grew above my fingertip, think I did end up with a couple of quid out of that one but didn’t last long!

The only times I’ve been able to grow my nails were for my wedding and whilst pregnant. I also don’t bite false ones but can’t afford to buy them.

Lipperfromchipper · 07/12/2019 19:17

I forgot to add OP that I did stop once I hit about 17/18 and never did again. I only find myself doing it the odd time if I’m very stressed/anxious...but then I get acrylics on to stop that until I am not so stressed.

newbingepisodes · 07/12/2019 19:22

Watching as my DS age 3 is a nail biter. I've tried to ask him not to do it, but don't want to "Make it a thing" interestingly a few days ago he watched me paint my nails and he asked me to put some on him, so I did but I told him "you can't bite them if they have paint on them" and he hasn't done.

Peachypips78 · 07/12/2019 19:47

Don't bother. It's not hurting anyone.

Original poster

Tinks15 · 07/12/2019 20:10

No I know it’s not harming anyone & I try not to make it a thing but when she’s bitten them so short & then is crying because she says their hurting, I obviously want to try & discourage her from doing it as the same thing is going to keep happening.
I realise it’s a habit & it’s probably something she’ll grow out of it’s just not nice to see.

She’s always saying she wants pretty nails like mummy & I explain if she can grow them we’ll be able to paint them just like mine but within a few hours she’s forgotten & she’s back to them in her mouth.

OP posts:

LobsterQuadrille2 · 07/12/2019 20:10

Don't try to stop her. I was similar to a PP - after constant criticism from my DM at a very young age, I started to pick the skin around my nails until it bled. Then started pulling my hair out. All anxiety related.

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