Nail biting three year old

[NotMyDayJob]

My three year old will not stop biting her nails. We've tried distraction and gently moving her hands away but she moves her hand back into her mouth immediately. She's also doing it at nursery and although I have mentioned it to them I appreciate they can't really stop her. I've cut then short but she still bites them and I'm worried she's going to damage the nail bed.

Any advice or do I have to hope she just grows out if it?

My son, who is now 3 and a half, went through a stage of this. I was worried that he would be a long term nail-biter, but seeing this thread has made me realise he has stopped it completely. I hadn't even noticed.
Saying that, he has moved onto picking his toenails instead!

No advice I’m afraid but my DS bites his nails and has done since he was about 2. He’s 4 now and still does it. We’ve tried everything to stop him but I think it’s a subconscious thing. I’m hoping it’s something he grows out of

Yes, I'm thinking it's mostly really really hope she grows out of it :(

I was a nail biter and I did grow out of it but I think I was 16 when I did. Nothing my parents did made any difference - rewards and punishments . I ignored them all.

Just bumping for any suggestions. It's not just an occasional nibble it's literally seconds after moving her hand away she has her hand back in her mouth and I'm very worried about the damage she might do

they're quite young at that age aren't they. unless her nails are bitten right back and looking really dodge, I wouldn't worry too much. Maybe wait until she's a bit older and you can reason with her a bit more, just say no for now. Or offer rewards for not biting nails. (Punishments not likely to work).

The problem is I can't reward her because the biting is constant. I'd be rewarding her for not biting them for a few minutes

That said I do appreciate doing nothing might be the best thing for now, given she is too young to reason with