It seems that someone in our house has a bad habit. Already, at the ripe ole age of 4.5, O has a habit that she cannot control. Nail biting. Nail nibbling. Nail picking.
She's always had somewhat of an oral fixation. When we took away her pacifier at 11 months, she started chewing on her blanket and her bear (her lovies). When her hair got long enough, she started chewing on that. Somewhere along the years, she started biting her nails. It was a nuisance, but it was normally solved by making sure I cut her nails as often as I could. However, now, some of her nails are almost non-existent.
O has now progressed to chewing her toenails. Disgusting, I know. Definitely something that most parents do not want to admit. However, her little tiny toes are suffering and I MUST speak out in hopes of saving her pinky toenail from destruction! (that, and its really, really, nasty when she wears flip flops all day and then does it. talk about germs. ick!)
So, my call to you is this: help a momma out! Have any of you dealt with this issue? Any advice? any things on the "do not do" list? Help!!
9 comments:
Hi there! I have this problem with my 2 yr old!! I have been asking around myself and the best advice i got was to go to your local drug store and get what is called Nail Biter (at least here in Alberta!) the pharmicist could probably tell you..anyways you paint it on their nails quite lavishly and let it dry. It is the most bitter taste. They cant stand the taste so they stop! The problem is you have to put it on frequently through the day for the first coupla days(can be a hassle!) but it works!! Good luck!
I've been struggling with the same issue.
But I can't find the Nail Biter stuff that liza mentions anywhere. I can remember my mom using it on me as a kid...and it tastes horrible! It worked for me.
I wish I had some advice, but I don't! I hope someone can give you something to try!
Nail Biter can be gotten at Sally's as well. It really works.
just a thought, but could she be missing something in her diet? I know that sometimes kids will just chew and chew and chew because they are missing something strange.
I have the same problem with my 3 year old son. He bites his nails, his toenails, and most recently I've seen him trying to bite his little sisters finger and toe nails. Disgusting! I'm going to try to find that Nail Biter stuff. I've got to find something!
Don't feel left out. My daughter ( who turned 4 in July) does the exact same thing. It's always been something to chew on. ANd when she is chewing on her toenails you can hear it from the other room. It's HORRIBLE!!!! Her dad told her toes were going to grow in her tummy if she didn't quit. Didn't work she just don't do it in our presence. She is a strong willed little thing and I think she would bite right through the nail biter stuff and not think one thing about it. But it does scare me casue your not supposed to swallow fingernail paint and her toes are always painted. Let us know how you fix this.
my mom said i used to bite my toenails all the time when i was that age (eww!)... i still pick at them though :(
I have a picker too. J is 5 and she still sucks on her blanket at night to go to sleep - and once, when she was 2, she picked at a scab on her head so badly for so long that she still has a bald spot there! We had to duct tape mittens on her hands at night to keep her from doing it so it could heal up. Not that I'd suggest that....but we were desperate, and she was only 2. It's different when they're older. If you discover a cure, let me know!
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