Hello!

Hi, just emailing a anon question as I need some help from other mums. My 2 and a half year old has a really had nail chewing problem.  He constantly chews his nails and toenails to the point he chew off his big toenails til they bled :-( his nails never get long enough for me to even cut, he does it when we are not looking as we try and stop him whenever we see him doing it. Not sure what to do, people I know have suggested putting stuff on his nails to stop him from doing it, but what do I put on? And is it safe? Help please How do you stop a 2 year old chewing their nails?

Posted by anon 4.03.2013


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  • Make sure your child is on board. Your child can’t stop a habit if they don’t know they’re doing it. …
    Cut nails short. …
    Create a code. …
    Suggest substitutes. …
    Use a reward system. …
    Mention fun boredom-busting activities. …
    Apply bite-averting nail polish.


  • I was wondering what the answer was.


  • thast a hard habit to break… try saying no every time


  • What did you end up doing?


  • I hope you have found some helpful suggestions here.


  • Oh u would think the pain might stop him! Try the bad tasting nail polish. Or put vinegar on his finger. He won’t do it again. Bit cruel but u r doing it for his benefit


  • I’d try some of the yucky tasting nail polish. My sister went through a stage when she was young where she used to chew her toe nails until they were so short. I don’t think anything my mum tried helped, she just eventually grew out of it.


  • miss4 either does this or tears them off. I never see her doing it, but they are always short. I can’t remember the last time I cut them.


  • It’s called stop and grow. It is foul tasting so he long even put his fingers in his mouth. Do it once or twice and it might be enough to get the point through and stop the habit. My son did the same and just the threat of stop and grow was enough for him!


  • im pretty sure u csn buy stuff to put on them that tastes yucky do they should stop doing it.


  • You can get stuff from the chemist that you paint on their nails and it stops them from biting their nails as it tastes gross.


  • All of a sudden my four year old is doing this, and I almost feel like he is doing it to annoy me because he seems to wait until I am watching….I am going to put “stopnGrow” from the chemist on his fingers while he I s sleeping…I really do not want him to make it a lifelong habit!


  • I would be looking into why he is biting them in the first place. I am a nail biter, have been since I was about 5yrs old. I bite my nails when I’m stress or anxious, or if there is an uneven bit on them (I have OCD).
    The nail biting solution (stop bite I think) may help, it tastes sour & evil.
    But if he is determined to bite them – it only lasts about 20 minutes before it’s all gone & can be washed off…
    Covering them & constant removal from the mouth may be the best way.


  • There is this stuff at the chemist and it is safe you can put on


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