How to Cure Nail Biting for 2 Year Old Kids

Nail biting is a common habit among children, but there are things you can do to help your toddler stop biting their nails. When a child is 2 years old they are exposed to lots of new germs. Curing the habit when they're young and have just started nail biting is sensible with regard to hygiene.

Things You'll Need

• Soap
• Warm water
• Colored bands
• Stickers
• Band-aids

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Observe when your child bites his nails. Take note of where is he, who he's with, what he's doing and what time of day he bites his nails. Understanding why he is biting nails will help you solve the problem. For example, if he's biting his nails on the way to his new nursery school, he might be feeling anxious about this major life shift. If you find ways to help reduce that stress, it will remove the need for him to bite his nails. For instance, singing your child's favorite nursery rhymes on the way to his nursery school -- or spending the first half hour with him at nursery school -- could help ease his anxiety.

• 2

  Increase your child's awareness about how and why nail biting is a bad habit. According to Nail Care Tips nail biting could increase your child's risk of getting ill, so ask your daughter to wash her hands when you see her biting nails. This routine might also remind her that she could be putting germs in her mouth that can make her sick.

• 3

  Put a colored band-aid or stickers on his fingers -- this will help remind him not to bite his nails, notes Nail Care Tips. Colored band-aids featuring his favorite cartoon character could also be an effective way to help cure nail biting behavior.

• 4

  Substitute nail biting with another activity to distract her from the nervousness, tiredness or boredom which triggers her habit, advises Parenting. For example, a special toy to play with when she is nervous or a stuffed animal to cuddle if she is tired might help provide a distraction from the habitual act of nail biting.

• 5

  Reward your child when he reaches a milestone that you have set for him. For example, if he goes a whole day without biting his nails, give him a special treat. This will provide him with positive reinforcement to stop biting his nails, instead of negative reinforcement which could cause deeper issues.