Tips to Stop Children From Biting Their Nails

It is common for children and teens to bite their nails. But nail biting can cause infections to the nail bed and can pass bacteria or viruses from your fingers to your lips or mouth. According to the Mayo Clinic, you can catch a cold or other infection through nail biting. If your child constantly bites his nails, there are several ways to help him stop.

Recognize the Problem

• Calmly let your child know that you disapprove of her nail biting and explain why you disapprove. This will make the child more aware of what she are doing, especially if she nail-bites mindlessly.

Discuss Underlying Issues

• Lecturing, scolding or ridiculing can shame your child. First, speak to your child about what he believes to be the reason he is biting his nails. Then offer him support for any underlying issues. If the nail-biting is a symptom of his anxiety, your anger will only heighten his unease, and it could cause him to bite his nails more.

Suggest Alternatives

• Instead of telling your kid what not to do, offer alternative actions such as wiggling her fingers. If you notice that your child is mindlessly biting his nails, come up with a craft to do together to keep him busy.

Consistently Reward Change

• Praise your child when you notice he is stopping himself from biting his nails. Keep your praises consistent because breaking habits can take a long time and the new self-control your child is exhibiting will also take a long time to become a new habit.

Involve your Child in the Solution

• Rather than telling the child what to do, ask her to come up with her own ways to stop her habit. Discuss with her why she thinks she bites her nails and offer your help with her efforts to stop the nail biting.