How do I get my 2 year old son to stop biting his nails? please help!!?

Question

nothing cruel or mean.

Answer 1

My 3-year old daughter does this also. We tried the bitter stuff, but it made her throw up for an hour. We haven't tried the hot sauce yet, because if she rubs her eyes or touches her siblings eyes, that could really hurt. We try to catch her doing it and take them out of her mouth, telling her that "big girls don't do that." The problem is, she got it from my wife who does it as a nervous habit. Do either of you do it? You may need to lead by example. Is your son under a lot of stress? Did you just move or perhaps put him in a new daycare? You may need to try to reduce his stress level, or reduce yours since he could be picking it up from you.

Sorry, wish I could be more help but we're still dealing with it too.

Answer 2

I'm 25 years old and I've been biting my nails since I can remember. It's a habit that is really hard to break. I have really tried to stop, and I'll be doing it and not even know it. The only thing that works for me is to put on fake nails, and then I can't bite them. Obviously, that wouldn't work for a 2 year old boy. My mom tried the nail polish type stuff that tasted bad when I was younger, but I would just do it anyway. It's a nervous habit. Good luck. I hope you can make him stop.

Answer 3

We have the same problem with our 5 year old. We've tried the polish but he didn't even care, plus, you have to apply it several times a day which I just don't remember.

I don't recommend the hot sauce because they could rub their eyes or we all know how much they like their noses at that age.

Someone suggested vinegar...I think I might try that. I have tried band aids on all his fingers which worked as long as I was there but as soon as he got away, he peeled them off.

I generally just correct him and remind him not to bite them. But basically, I think they just have to want to stop. I bit my nails as a child too but once I got into high school and girls had pretty long nails, I just made myself stop. Now, I think it's gross and can't believe I ever did that.

Answer 4

My daughter also bites her nails. Sally Hanson makes a nail bitter nail polish. It goes on clear and tastes horrible. I used to bite my nails as a child and my mom used tobassco sauce. Good Luck!!

Answer 5

I would just keep reminding him to stop whenever you see him doing it. My son was the same way! And now he's 4 and not doing it anymore. I just kept telling him not to do it(like 20 times a day!) Its just a bad habit that they will eventually break out of. Keep him busy with his hands during the day. And also keep his nails cut short so he will get bored of it quickly. Best of luck to you

Answer 6

First thing would be talking to him and explaining that it is wrong and he should not do it. Second would be to ignore it unless he does it to the point of casuing sores or something. All kids go through things like this whether biting nails picking nose or whatever. They grow out of it with age as they see their peers not doing it or ones who have nails and then they want them too.
Just go with the flow. If is causing sores and such try to explain to them why this is happening and then go to scolding or whatever it takes to get it through to them. Timeouts for not listening when you tell them to stop or even light spankings when caught

Answer 7

I'm having the same problem.My son will be three in Nov. and he bites his to the quick.Some people say put something that they don't like the taste of on their fingers,but at their age there's not much they don't like.I read that they bite them not because their nervous but because they see somebody else do it.If you find out let me know.Good luck.

Answer 8

my 2 year old does this to. I'm going to try the nail polish because nothing else has worked so far.

I've tried giving her "pretty nails" (painting them bright colors) I've tried telling her no, I've tried smacking her fingers and telling her no.... nothing works.

when i was little my mom used to make me wear gloves all the time to prevent me from biting.... it didn't work either.

so i'm getting icky polish to try.

Answer 9

You can buy stuff (not sure what it's called) that you paint on his nails (it's clear) and it tastes bitter. It takes a few weeks, but it helps to break the habit.

Best of Luck.

Answer 10

You know what my daughter did the same thing for a while and then just all of a sudden stopped. I wouldn't really do anything to the child except pull his fingers out of his mouth when I caught him. It'j just a phase and he'll get through it.