Effective Strategies for Breaking the Nail Biting Habit in Children

Children are the most amazing creatures on this planet. With exceptional learning capabilities, they also develop some gross habits. Be it nail biting or nose picking, they can leave you red-faced and embarrassed in the crowd. So, in this blog, I share simple tips on ‘How to Stop the Nail Biting Habit in Children?’

While nail-biting may seem like a regular habit. It may be indicating your child’s mental problems. Nail biting is the most common “nervous habit”. It may be triggered by curiosity, boredom, stress relief, habit, or imitation.

In most cases, the child stops on their own. But if nail-biting goes on longer it can cause injury. Try these simple tactics to help him get rid of the habit. 

Also Read: Coping with Boredom

How to Stop Nail Biting in Children?

1. Address the anxieties

The child may bite their nails when they feel anxiety or disturbance. Bullying, inferiority complex, peer pressure, and social media problems. Children these days are exposed to a number of mental health hazards.

So, talk to your child and make them feel secure. Maintain a friendly environment at home with room for open conversations. Boost their confidence and self-esteem. This will help in dealing with anxiety and ward off nervous habits.

Also Read: Single Child Syndrome

2. Make them aware 

Biting nails is more often an unconscious habit. Your child may not be even aware that they bite their nails when they get nervous. So, help them see this unhealthy trait. Exercise, meditation, and repeated interruptions may help in getting rid of nail biting.

Also Read: 6 Exercises for children that every child must try

3. Distract with an alternative

Come up with some fun alternatives that would keep the child engaged and divert him or her from biting the nails. Relaxation techniques like deep breathing, clenching, and releasing his fists may also help to combat the urge to bite.

4. Trim the nails

It is important to keep the nails clean, hygienic, and trimmed properly. Long-ragged nails increase the temptation of biting the edges off, so neatly trimmed nails reduce the chances of nail-biting and soreness.

5. Stress Relief exercises

Make a habit of regular exercise, meditation, yoga, or a session of chit-chat with the kid. This can help him in releasing the stress and reveal the underlying cause of the disturbance. 

6. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera gel is an edible bitter-tasting fluid that can be applied over the nails to discard the habit. Bitter-tasting substances can be applied directly onto the nails or rubbed onto the fingertips. The idea is simply that your child is reminded every time a finger goes in the mouth.

7. Restrict access to nails

By limiting access to the nails, the child may gradually give up the habit. While implementing these tactics it is important to make sure that the child is in terms of giving up the habit and is agreeing to the treatment. The following accessories can be used to keep the nails covered.

• Gloves – Gloves are a great way to keep off nail biting.  It keeps the nails covered thereby protecting them from being bitten!
• Band-Aid – Covering the nails with a self-adhesive band-aid or other adhesive strips helps in preventing nail-biting.

Also Read: Why does your child love sweet so much?

Research suggests the following ways to overcome nail-biting habits in children:

1. Positive Reinforcement: Reward the child when they resist the urge to bite their nails.
   
2. Awareness: Encourage the child to become aware of when they are biting their nails.
   
3. Finding alternative activities: Provide the child with other activities to engage in when they have the urge to bite their nails.
   
4. Redirecting behavior: Redirect the child’s hands when they begin to bite their nails.
   
5. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Teach the child to change their thought patterns and behavior related to nail biting.
   
6. Using unpleasant tastes: Apply bitter-tasting substances to the nails to discourage biting.
   
7. Seeking professional help: Consult a child psychologist or mental health professional for additional support and guidance.
   

It is important to remember that breaking any habit takes time and patience, so consistent effort and support from parents and caregivers are crucial.

How to Stop Nail Biting in Children?

Finally, remember that habits are hard to make and harder to break. It takes continuous effort, patience and perseverance to see the change you desire to bring about. 

Do not stress yourself or the child in the process. Offer the necessary affection and attention to the child irrespective of how successful the child is in breaking the habit.