Nail biting
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My soon to be ten year old son bites his finger nails constantly. He tells
me he wants to stop, but is unable to. I don't know how to help him. Does
anyone have any ideas?
Jodye
me he wants to stop, but is unable to. I don't know how to help him. Does
anyone have any ideas?
Jodye
[email protected]
Jodye wrote:
so, they start to grow, but the moment the pace of life heats up again, they
disappear without my even noticing.
When I was just a little older than your son, I really wanted to stop biting
my nails, and actually managed it for a while. I did it one nail at a time.
I resolved that I would really try not to bite the nail on the little finger
of one hand. (The hand I chewed less.) When that nail grew a bit, I tried not
to bite the nail on the little finger of the other hand, either. Then added
the ring finger on the first hand. And so on. Having a good selection of
chewable nails helped me maintain the chew-free zone.
Painting the tip of the designated digit with an anti-nailbiting solution
helps. But you have to keep slashing it on. Then, once it is length
enhanced, the nominated nail feels different in the mouth, which also acts as
a reminder, should it inadvertently enter forbidden territory.
I have always eschewed (ouch) chewing gum - nasty disgusting stuff. But I
have recently been doing experiments, to see whether chewing gum in the
privacy of my own home will give me the oral satisfaction gained from
calorie-laden snacking. Somewhat to my surprise, it seems to work! So
perhaps gum could also help with the nail-biting? Then again, perhaps gum is
ghastlier........
Mattie (who apologies for any queasiness caused)
> My soon to be ten year old son bites his finger nails constantly. Hetells
> me he wants to stop, but is unable to. I don't know how to help him.Does
> anyone have any ideas?I have bitten my nails for most of my life. When I have a stressless week or
so, they start to grow, but the moment the pace of life heats up again, they
disappear without my even noticing.
When I was just a little older than your son, I really wanted to stop biting
my nails, and actually managed it for a while. I did it one nail at a time.
I resolved that I would really try not to bite the nail on the little finger
of one hand. (The hand I chewed less.) When that nail grew a bit, I tried not
to bite the nail on the little finger of the other hand, either. Then added
the ring finger on the first hand. And so on. Having a good selection of
chewable nails helped me maintain the chew-free zone.
Painting the tip of the designated digit with an anti-nailbiting solution
helps. But you have to keep slashing it on. Then, once it is length
enhanced, the nominated nail feels different in the mouth, which also acts as
a reminder, should it inadvertently enter forbidden territory.
I have always eschewed (ouch) chewing gum - nasty disgusting stuff. But I
have recently been doing experiments, to see whether chewing gum in the
privacy of my own home will give me the oral satisfaction gained from
calorie-laden snacking. Somewhat to my surprise, it seems to work! So
perhaps gum could also help with the nail-biting? Then again, perhaps gum is
ghastlier........
Mattie (who apologies for any queasiness caused)
strega nona
I have a nephew that used to suck on tags of stuff animals and clothes.
Everybody used to say things to him and his mom about it, trying to
discourage him in doing this. I always told her to leave him alone he would
quite when he wanted too. When he spent the night and his mom would forget
to put a stuff animal in his night bag Bj would get up and go find him one
to use for the night. He is 8 now and doesn't do this anymore. I always felt
bad for the little guy, his grandmother seemed to pick on him the most. I
know he started hiding for a while. She and I got into an argument over this
she is my sister. I told her that I didn't see what it was hurting. Well
anyway, he knows that when he comes to Nana house things are different and
nobody will make fun of you or bug you about what you do.
Pam
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Everybody used to say things to him and his mom about it, trying to
discourage him in doing this. I always told her to leave him alone he would
quite when he wanted too. When he spent the night and his mom would forget
to put a stuff animal in his night bag Bj would get up and go find him one
to use for the night. He is 8 now and doesn't do this anymore. I always felt
bad for the little guy, his grandmother seemed to pick on him the most. I
know he started hiding for a while. She and I got into an argument over this
she is my sister. I told her that I didn't see what it was hurting. Well
anyway, he knows that when he comes to Nana house things are different and
nobody will make fun of you or bug you about what you do.
Pam
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]