Help! How to stop 4 year old biting nails

[Taylordreams]

My DS is in reception and 4, ive noticed he has been biting his nails over the last few months and it seems to have gotten progressively worse, he's bitten all his nails right down as well as all the skin. He seemed to do this while he is worried but it's become a bit of a habit and im not sure he even notices he's doing it. He also picks his nose out of habit too. We've tried the stuff that you paint on their nails to try to stop it but doesn't seem to make a difference, any advice? His dad also bites his nails but he's trying to stop too.

You need to address the underlying anxiety.

I think it's likely school related but not sure how to go about this? He'll do it when he's distracted also

You've brought memories of my kids doing this flooding back! It took a few years of tackling it on and off but they moved onto other less destructive fidget methods.

Things that helped:

• Try different nail.polishes, they aren't all the same and there was one that was particularly gross.
• filing the nails (gently) so they are smooth and less tempting to bite down on a rough edge.
• Lots of praise for not biting
• Gently removing hand from mouth whenever it is there, but without a chastisement as you don't want to shame them, it'll make it worse/make them hide it.
• Sit in at bedtime until they fall asleep if that's a key time for biting.
• Have other things to fidget with that you can offer him as an alternative.
• Wash hands every time because they've been in the mouth. Again, in a non-shaming way, keep it like you're on his side "oops not again! Never mind, quickly wash hands and hurry back to play". I found this the most useful actually and would work with nose picking too.

His dad needs to stop doing this in front of him though. The rest will be pointless if dad is a reminder.

Thank you so much these are all great suggestions! Im going to the shops today to try and get a superdrug nail biting polish ive heard is particularly good. Ill get him his own nail file, clippers etc in a nice kit for him, maybe helping him look after his nails will stop him biting them?

I will speak with his Dad, I definitely think DS has picked this up from him! He can wear the nail stuff too!

Yes- if dad is happy to put on the polish so they can do it together and even get gently competitive about not biting (with DS winning of course!) that would be amazing!

My three year old has started doing this recently- I think in relation to a lot of upheaval going on at the moment in our house. I've ordered her one of those chewable necklaces, so hoping that will work.