4yo nail-biting

My just-turned-4yo son started biting his fingernails a few months
before he turned 4. I talked to hid ped at his 4-year checkup, and she
recommended the nasty-tasting stuff to put on his fingernails. So we
tried that, but
a) He said that after it dried awhile it tasted like pancake syrup, so
it wasn't much of a deterrent, and
b) If he happened to rub his fingers in his eyes, it made them sting
really badly. (I got a little in my eye once, so I know he's not
kidding about that.)

So the nasty-tasting stuff is out. I half-heartedly tried bribery, but
at 4 he really doesn't have the self-control to stop for that. Any
other ideas, or should I just decide that nail-biting isn't that big a
deal?


Jeanne

"Jeanne Clelland" wrote in message
...
My just-turned-4yo son started biting his fingernails a few months
before he turned 4. I talked to hid ped at his 4-year checkup, and she
recommended the nasty-tasting stuff to put on his fingernails. So we
tried that, but
a) He said that after it dried awhile it tasted like pancake syrup, so
it wasn't much of a deterrent, and
b) If he happened to rub his fingers in his eyes, it made them sting
really badly. (I got a little in my eye once, so I know he's not
kidding about that.)

So the nasty-tasting stuff is out. I half-heartedly tried bribery, but
at 4 he really doesn't have the self-control to stop for that. Any
other ideas, or should I just decide that nail-biting isn't that big a
deal?


Jeanne

Nail-biting is a big deal. It can make kids sick and if they swallow the
bitings, they can lodge in the appendix, eventually requiring an
appendectomy.
Did you try all the different brands of paint-on stuff? I hear the Sally
Hansen version, "nail-biter," works well.
I bit my nails as a child and mom put on a brand called StopZit and that
cured me. I haven't been able to find stopzit again (my own girls bite
their nails), probably because when I used it, it was 1977 and they've since
stopped making it. I haven't been able to find the Sally Hansen version
either, but that may be because I'm in Alaska. I tried Thum and another
generic version, neither of which have worked well.
Good luck!
Peggy

Nail-biting is a big deal. It can make kids sick and if they swallow the
bitings, they can lodge in the appendix, eventually requiring an
appendectomy.


Really? My husband eats his Toe nail clippings... or at least he *did* till
I refused to kiss him after he stuck one in his mouth and would not til he
brushed his teeth.. lol Now he tosses them like normal people.

Tori
--
Bonnie 3/20/02
Xavier due 10/17/04

I have two girls that were nail bitters. I tried everything, except the
awful tasting stuff, but ignoring it and it finally did go away. But one
thing I was going to try and couldn't find one was those stress balls to use
if they felt the urge to bite nails. My girls usually did their worse biting
when they were tired or sitting in front of the TV. Also as my oldest
daughter got older, she wanted to have pretty nails with polish and biting
them didn't look as pretty.
--
Sue (mom to three girls)

"Jeanne Clelland" wrote in message
...
My just-turned-4yo son started biting his fingernails a few months
before he turned 4. I talked to hid ped at his 4-year checkup, and she
recommended the nasty-tasting stuff to put on his fingernails. So we
tried that, but
a) He said that after it dried awhile it tasted like pancake syrup, so
it wasn't much of a deterrent, and
b) If he happened to rub his fingers in his eyes, it made them sting
really badly. (I got a little in my eye once, so I know he's not
kidding about that.)

So the nasty-tasting stuff is out. I half-heartedly tried bribery, but
at 4 he really doesn't have the self-control to stop for that. Any
other ideas, or should I just decide that nail-biting isn't that big a
deal?


Jeanne

"Peggy" wrote in message ...
"Jeanne Clelland" wrote in message
...
My just-turned-4yo son started biting his fingernails a few months
before he turned 4.

Nail-biting is a big deal. It can make kids sick and if they swallow the
bitings, they can lodge in the appendix, eventually requiring an
appendectomy.

What? Who told you that?

I would ignore it. It could make you sick in that you are ingesting
more dirt, but kids ingest a lot in other ways anyway.

My approach has been to point out that nail biting is not a good thing
to do and then drop it. A person needs to stop biting on their own.
Personally, I tried like the dickens to stop myself between ages 9-11
or so, but was unable to. Around age 12, I just suddenly lost interest
and don't bite anymore.

My 4 year old bites her nails, but it goes in spurts -- she'll bite
for a couple weeks then stop. I'm not too concerned about it.

Jan

"Jan" wrote in message
m...
"Peggy" wrote in message
...
"Jeanne Clelland" wrote in message
...
My just-turned-4yo son started biting his fingernails a few months
before he turned 4.

Nail-biting is a big deal. It can make kids sick and if they swallow
the
bitings, they can lodge in the appendix, eventually requiring an
appendectomy.

What? Who told you that?

A woman I know who had that happen to her.
~Peggy

: "Jeanne Clelland" wrote in message
: ...
: My just-turned-4yo son started biting his fingernails a few months
: before he turned 4. I talked to hid ped at his 4-year checkup, and she
: recommended the nasty-tasting stuff to put on his fingernails. So we
: tried that, but
: a) He said that after it dried awhile it tasted like pancake syrup, so
: it wasn't much of a deterrent, and
: b) If he happened to rub his fingers in his eyes, it made them sting
: really badly. (I got a little in my eye once, so I know he's not
: kidding about that.)
:
: So the nasty-tasting stuff is out. I half-heartedly tried bribery, but
: at 4 he really doesn't have the self-control to stop for that. Any
: other ideas, or should I just decide that nail-biting isn't that big a
: deal?

I've been biting my nails for 20 years. I am getting married in 2 weeks
and along with some other stuff I am doing for the wedding (and just for the wedding),
I am not biting my fingernails. I have never been sick because of it.
In the beginning I would swallow them but not I don't because it makes
my throat itch. My parents tried everything since they noticed(I was 3).
I also sucked my thumb til I was 15. Didn't need braces or anything.
I think putting things in your mouth is healthier than people make it out
to be. I think it builds defenses and stuff.

Socially, I can stop biting my fingernails at will depending on the social ocasion.
It is very much fun, but non-nailbiters do not understand this. If you let it
be and don't nag him like my family always does, maybe he'll lose interest.
Like sometimes I am just messing with my nails, not quite biting and I am doing
it unconsciously but if my sister or mom or someone points it out it makes
me really wanna bite them off.

Finally, the appeareance of my nails didn't prevent me from finding a guy,
gettting a job, getting into grad school, talking to important people or anything.
I think people only look at your nails of they are pretty otherwise they don't notice.
There is people in my stepdad family, that I have seen very frequently and have been
very surprised when I have said I bite my fingernails.

Let him be it will go away or maybe not but if he really wants to bite them
nothing will stop him, this includes nail polish and bad smelling/tasting/looking
stuff.


--
Patty

Does he want to stop? If he does, maybe you cuold think of a code word tos
ay to him when he starts doing it, and then he can know to start doign
something else with his hands.

I'd also try to figure out what makes him do it. Is he bored, nervous,
tired? If it's related to something, you could get rid of the cause and he
wouldn't do it anymore.

If it's not causing problems, though, you can ignore it and it may just go
away on it's own.

Cadie
"Jeanne Clelland" wrote in message
...
My just-turned-4yo son started biting his fingernails a few months
before he turned 4. I talked to hid ped at his 4-year checkup, and she
recommended the nasty-tasting stuff to put on his fingernails. So we
tried that, but
a) He said that after it dried awhile it tasted like pancake syrup, so
it wasn't much of a deterrent, and
b) If he happened to rub his fingers in his eyes, it made them sting
really badly. (I got a little in my eye once, so I know he's not
kidding about that.)

So the nasty-tasting stuff is out. I half-heartedly tried bribery, but
at 4 he really doesn't have the self-control to stop for that. Any
other ideas, or should I just decide that nail-biting isn't that big a
deal?


Jeanne


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.721 / Virus Database: 477 - Release Date: 7/16/2004

Jeanne Clelland wrote in message news:Jeanne.Clelland-
So the nasty-tasting stuff is out. I half-heartedly tried bribery, but
at 4 he really doesn't have the self-control to stop for that. Any
other ideas, or should I just decide that nail-biting isn't that big a
deal?


Jeanne


My daughter chewed her nails when she was 4 (maybe it's the age?!),
and we were able to get her to stop. We didn't use the bad tasting
stuff, but just encouraged her to stop, and gently reminded her that
she wanted to stop whenever we saw her doing it. We did use bribery,
but I withheld the reward ( a manicure at the salon!) until she hadn't
bitten them for a week+, and by then, she didn't go back to biting.

Good luck, I know it can be really frustrating!

Tina.

Jeanne Clelland wrote:
My just-turned-4yo son started biting his fingernails a few months
before he turned 4.

Anyone else in the family bite their nails? Allyson bites hers (and has her
entire life), and her nephew (whom she sees infrequently) started biting his
as soon as he was able to. I think there are a couple other family members
who have also been life-long nail-biters. In that circumstance, I don't
think there's anything that can be done about it, and I wouldn't worry about
it.

Phoebe
--
yahoo address is unread; substitute mailbolt