how do you stop a child from biting her nails?
452251
When I was a kid my mother bought this nail polish that had this horrible spicy taste to it, it would leave my tongue like i had just sand papered it--well IT WORKED.  \n\nI'm not sure if it's the same one as the link below, but it's the same concept.
631981
As you have stated, the nipple that child pinches appears deformed, so it cannot be "normal". There could be some itching or burning that child experiences. The girl is 4 years old so she should be able to tell the parent why she keeps pinching and pulling her nipple. She should see the doctor. If there is nothing wrong physiologically then it could be a psychological problem which is also very possible and it might be necessary to see a child psychiatrist. In no way, form or shape it would mean that the child is "crazy", but getting to a core of the problem by talking to a child does help in many cases. It could be just a bad habbit, some kids bite their nails, this child pinches her nipple. Regardless, she should definately see a doctor.\nHope this helps!\nGood luck!
184374
By the nail polish in the store they have this brush on laquer called "Nail Biter". It's supposed taste really nasty. My husband chose to use tabasco sauce and it worked quikly on our 3 year old.
1098448
children usually suck their thumbs for a few years if they were pulled off the bottle too soon as well as a pacifier. \nYou can try a number of home remedies that others may offer but I found that you know your child better than anyone and therefore you know at the age of three what your child will eat and wont and want they turn their nose up at and just plain refuse to eat. \nMy mother told me my youngest brother hated carrots and to keep him from sucking his thumb she soak his thumbs with carrot juice. This may work for a while but if they are stubborn they will soon learn to like it so you need to find another. \nanother thing that could help is to get a child close to his age that doesn't suck their thumb and let them hang out. sometimes they learn by seeing not always by hearing. \nhope it all works out for you.
1057860
The nail is important in protecting the sensitive nerve-endings, and this needs to be addressed with a doctor in order to help her develop normally.\n\nPossible causes:\n1. Fungal infection.\n2. Nervous system disorder.\n3. Nutritional deficiency.\n4. Mineral deficiency.\n5. Genetics.\n6. Compulsive behavior (Tourette's - no, not as in swearing; most people with Tourette's compulsively pick at some part of the body)\n7. Defect in the nailbed or nail matrix.\n\nStart with a pediatrician and have him or her refer you to a good dermatologist.
212111
in the long run--what will be cheaper? braces or therapy?..\n\nother kids will eventually tease her out of it..and thats part of how kids learn in thier own society what is acceptable--and what is not. you may mean well, but this can cause deep feelings of resentment and anger..and whats worse, she may not stop sucking. she could also turn into an alcoholic or drug user as a way to comfort herself later in life. my mother harassed me,and shamed me for years about my thumb..and i was 5 at the time.so basically she was harassing me about it since birth.i hate her dearly for that, as im now a stressed out alcoholic who is never able to be calm. i worry 24-7. I even found an old baby book sent with me from hospital..saying not to mess with a baby's comforting reflex.
51451
People suck on things because sucking is one of a baby’s natural reflexes and as infants get older it serves many purposes. It may make them feel secure and happy and helps them learn about their world to suck on their thumbs, fingers, pacifiers or other objects. Young children may also suck to soothe themselves. Since thumbsucking is relaxing, it may help induce sleep.        Tips:\n\n-Praise children for not sucking, instead of scolding them when they are. \n-Children often suck their thumbs when feeling insecure or needing comfort. Focus on correcting the cause of the anxiety and provide comfort to your child. \n-For an older child, involve him or her in choosing the method of stopping. \n-Your dentist can offer encouragement to a child and explain what could happen to their teeth if they do not stop sucking. \n-If the above tips don’t work, remind the child of their habit by bandaging the thumb or putting a sock on the hand at night. Your dentist or pediatrician may prescribe a bitter medication to coat the thumb or the use of a mouth appliance.
70323
I also bit my fingernails until well past the age of 40.  The only thing that made me stop that disgusting habit was to look closely at my nails when I was out in public.  Everyone I seemed to notice had beautiful, manicured nails and mine were stubs.  I did everything to hide them, but it's pretty hard to hide your hands.  I purchased a clear polish, and every time I thought about biting I would polish instead.  You have to combine that with the sheer willpower that you want your hands to look "presentable!"  Today my nails are strong and beautifully shaped, and I think of what I missed all those years by "nibbling" all the time!  Now I don't have to put my hands in my pockets...I'm proud of my nails and want everyone to see them!  Good luck.  You can do it!
952133
Have you tried keeping them constanly polished?  I stopped biting my nails by using nail polish.  I don't want to ruin my nails when they're polished.  As soon as the polish chips, I repaint right over the old color.  I've been doing this for 10 years and my nails are now long and healthy.  But, if I go even a day without polish, I start biting again.  So, I just always keep them polished.
844517
I am 22 and have been biting my nails since I first got teeth.  I have tried everything and nothing has worked: fake nails, hot sauce on my fingertips, rewarding myself...nothing has worked...but maybe he'll grow out of it.
47322
Try another habbit! I'm not kidding. It works!\nI used to have this habbit of blinking my eyes frequently. There are times when people came up to me and voices out. Its pretty embarrassing! So I started to try on another habbit! Toes curling! It works.  And later on i managed to stopped all these habbits. Or wait a minute.... \nDo you remember how you started to bite your finger nails? Just figured this out... if you could start the habit and of course you can forget and stopped it if not to undo it! Just think of your beautifull and healty nails before you started to bite them of. Think that your nails is  your most prized possessions..... where you don't even dare to hurt  it what more of to bite it as in hurting it! \nWell...Okay all the best and good luck luck to you!!!
572671
Well damn I can't stop! I even bite my toe nails on occasion but not as much as my fingernails.  I get embarrassed cause all my friends have such nicer nails.  At the moment I'm trying to conciously not bite them.  I've been biting all my life and they are really thin and weak so that sucks.\nAnyway screw this person. I have depression and well get very bad anxiety attacks. The people who get at you for your nails have no lives.
329648
Commit yourself to a punishment every time you do whatever your habit is.  If your bad habit is biting your nails, for example, commit to eating a tablespoon of tobasco sauce every time you bite your nails.  Soon youll associate the habit with the punishment, and youll stop doing it.  Sort of Pavlovian-style.
26701
Okay this is going to sound kind of gross, but if you really want to get rid  of them this is what you do.  Rub some mayonaise into your childs hair right before she goes to bed. Next, put a shower cap on her head so the mayonaise doesn't get all over the place. Keep in the mayonaise over night and wash it out in the morning.  If that doesn't work, you can go to the store and get the medicated treatment shampoo for head lice(I would try that first).  What ever you do, MAKE SURE that you wash ALL bedding, vaccum the floor(shampoo it if posssible), and wash her hair brush(s)(dishwasher is good for this), also wash ALL of the hair ties she has used while She's had lice. To prevent head lice, after she get rid of it, put her hair up in a bun everyday for school. That way it would be almost imposible for her to get it again from another student. Washing everything really does a lot of help.  This also prevents her from getting it again.  Good luck!
297076
Keep your nail very short so there is nothing to bite.
215904
Try to avoid talking very much. DEFINATELY avoid shouting, screaming and singing - Make sure you don't need to shout by moving close to the people you're talking to, turning off the TV/radio/stereo when you're talking so you don't need to raise your voice. Move away from noisy machinery (such as washing machines). \n\nUse an alternative way of getting people's attention such as waving, putting your hand up, clapping, whistling or touching them, instead of calling out to them. \n\nDrink lots of water - tepid water is best. Avoid drinking very hot or cold drinks. Avoid drinks containing cafeine and alcohol. \n\nDon't smoke (probably dosen't apply to your daughter!) and try to avoid being in places where other people are smoking.\n\nTry to make sure the air in your home is not too dry (this can happen if you have central heating or air conditioning). Consider putting a bowl of water near heat sources.\n\nInhaling steam can be useful.\n\nSuck boiled sweets because these encourage saliva to flow and keep your throat moist (but also think about your teeth!)\n\nFor Thursday: If her throat is sore, just before her performance, your daughter might find it helpful to suck a throat lozenge that contains a mild local anasthetic (in the UK one brand is "Decquacaine", I'm not sure if they're available in other countries, might have another name). But CAUTION: Normally, you shouldn't let your daughter suck the lozenges because they will dull the pain and that will encourage her to over-use her voice.
914903
bite her!! sometimes you gotta break some nails to whip some tails! Tellher leave you alone before i get her. I dont know you but will throw bleach in her face!