10 Tips To Get Rid Of Nail Biting In Children

2. Make him aware of the habit

As we mentioned before, he is biting his nails unconsciously. Help him be aware of it. Once you point out to him that he tends to bite nails often under pressure, ask him how he prefers to be alerted every time he does it. Some kids prefer a physical reminder – like a touch on the arm – some kids prefer verbal reminder. You can even come up with your own code for this. The more aware he becomes of this habit, more likely he will be able to consciously stop himself

3. Distract him

There are many things you can encourage your child to do to let out steam and distress himself. Ask him to spend longer time every day in outdoor playing – this can burn off nervous energy. Also arrange more time with friends – this can also burn off tension. Or engage him in arts and crafts activities – which will do the dual job of distraction and keeping his hands busy. Teach him various relaxation techniques like deep breathing

4. Start by setting limits

“You have to stop biting nails from tomorrow” will seldom work. Start by setting realistic goals – such as “no biting during dinner time” or “no biting for next 12 hours” or “no biting when watching TV/YouTube”. Slowly increase the limits

5. Suggest alternative activities

Give your child a smiley ball to clench when worried. You can also give him dried fruit or nuts to snack on to satisfy his craving for gnawing. Getting him trained in a musical instrument is also a good idea. During long car journeys, ensure that he is occupied with an activity book or toy so that he is not bored enough to bite nails instinctively

6. Keep fingernails trimmed and clean

Sometimes a hanging bit of nail is what is encouraging your child to bite. Keep his fingernails cleaned and neatly trimmed. This will also reduce the chances of soreness. Also, ask him to wash his hands often

7. Help him deal with peers’ teasing

Many times, when the child bites his nails, his friends in the play ground or school would start teasing him. This might make the child more worried, further increasing the tendency to bite nails. Talk to your child about the teasing and encourage him to discuss with you his feelings. This also presents itself as a big motivation for your child to kick this habit. So pledge your alliance and let him know that both of you will act as a team to stop this habit. Remember to go with your child’s pace and not your own

8. Intervene before nail biting becomes a habit

Early intervention might prevent it from becoming a habit. Follow the tips given here as soon as you notice the child biting his nails repeatedly

9. Reward and praise

Whenever your child consciously stops himself from biting his nails, reward him. Positive reinforcement always goes a long way in building good habits and breaking bad ones. Praise him and appreciate him every time he puts up a good show by not biting his nails

10. Resort to few tried and tested creative techniques

You could put bandages on your child finger tips or if it’s a girl, paint the nails with multiple coats of nail polish. Some also use bitter tasting polish to make biting more of a challenge. While some experts claim these to be ineffective as children, consider them as a type of punishment, there is no harm in trying it if all other methods fail and you are convinced about what you are doing is right
Hope the above mentioned 10 Tips To Get Rid Of Nail Biting In Children is helpful for you.

Should I Worry About The Nail Biting Habit? Are There Any Complications?

In some cases, nail biting can be a sign of an underlying psychological disorder. This is rare, but not unheard of. It might point to excessive anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Talk to your child’s doctor if nail biting is accompanied by constant worry/tension and other habits like pinching his own skin or plucking hair or eyelashes.