How do I get to stop my son's addiction for biting his fingernails?

Question

I tried buying him gum to keep him occupied and I even tried get him to go outside and getting his hands dirty but no dice...

Answer 1

Ok, I'm 28 and I still am fighting the battle of biting my nails. My mom worked on me all my childhood to stop and I even upset her by screaming back at her to stop smoking cause she was killing me and biting my nails wasn't going to lead to lung cancer for me or her!!! Needless to say she felt bad and I still feel bad about that and I was only 12. Some say this is a nervous habit or a stress habit. I did it out of boredom. Sitting in the car going somewhere was the worst until college came around and some professors were very boring. I made the decision to stop for myself 6 months ago. I struggle with it everyday still. I couldn't trim mine to help either because they were so short and I didn't care if they were sore. Fingernail polish didn't work cause I would nibble it off. The only thing that I can suggest is talk to him and let it be his decision ultimately. The key for me was being able to recognize when I do it and catch myself in the act of doing it. Reward, Reward, Reward him for not doing it. Positive reinforcement not negative consequences. Habits are hard to break no matter what they are so, give him time and support him. Find what drives him. Keep a chart. It's like retraining your mind because to me it was an involuntary action. Good Luck be patient!

Answer 2

This isn't a habit so much as it is a nervous condition (seriously, look up some facts on it). Tell him to try to make an effort to notice when he is doing it. Is it when he is bored, tired, upset, nervous? Once you find the root cause you can deal with the problem. I know there are polishes that you can but on the nails that tastes bitter, and I have even heard of people putting Tabasco sauce on them but I wouldn't suggest that. It will end up in his eyes and that isn't going to solve anything. I have even heard of people putting band-aides on each finger. My suggestion would be, have him carry a small soft ball, or a "worry stone" with him. When he feels the urge to bite his nails, have him squeeze the ball or rub the stone. Also, make sure his nails are trimmed to a comfortable length. Good luck!

Answer 3

This answer will easily get you to provide up!!! imagine of each thing that you contact by the day and how usually you wash your palms. each and every time you positioned your nails/palms on your mouth you're putting extra germs, bacteria, and who's conscious what else into your mouth/body. If that would not thoroughly gross you out, make you provide up....then its hopeless

Answer 4

Eventually he will grow out of it. If you are bothered that much by it try putting something like clear polish or theres other things that you can use to make the taste very bad so that you don't want to bite them.

Answer 5

It may be hard for him to overcome the addiction. Sometimes addictions are hereditary because some heavy smokers became smoking addicts because their parents were smokers and took after them. Biting fingernails may also be hereditary.

Answer 6

i had that problem i stopped by eating halls (the cough drop) but now i cant stop eating halls and when i do i bite my fingers again then i got a way from both by drinking but being drunk all of the time didn't work so then i smoked then i smelled bad all of the time..........but then i got smart i gave up and bite my fingers then it was like a sign from god i spilled oily gas from my motorcycle on them and I've been bite free for a whole month but now i smell like gas.....................it is impossible to win in this world

Answer 7

Keep them trimmed very short. I used to bite my nails for years and just recently learned that if I keep them trimmed, there is nothing left for me to bite (unless I want to end up with sore fingers.)

Answer 8

Something is probably bothering him, making him nervous enough to nibble. Find out what the root cause is and you'll be 90% of the way there. The more you pay attention to it, the more he'll do it, because you're adding to his nervousness.

Answer 9

I do the same thing. Its a nervous condition. Tell him when he gets nervous to find someway to let it out other than biting his nails. Try making him wear latex gloves.

Answer 10

When you find out let me know. I wish I could stop biting my nails. It drives me nutso. However if they have polish on them I am least likely to bite them.