Nail Biting in Children

Nail biting is pretty common habit that is found in kids and young children.

According to the different studies that have been made by various child specialists, over 30% to 60% children of age 5 to 10 years are estimated to have this habit of chewing the nails.

It is observed that children are habitual of biting their fingernails. There are a few exceptions where children are found to have habit of biting their toenails.

Mostly children begin to adapt this habit at the age of five but in some cases, they start even before it, may be as early as in the age of 3 or even 2. Nail biting is a habit that may come genetically.

It is found that the parents as kids were nail biters; this can be a prime reason for their kids to have adapted this habit. If any of the family members is a nail biter, then kid may think, “It is something nice to try” which ultimately make the kid a nail biter. Kids are great copycats. They quickly catch whatever they observe.

Nail biting is purported a way to relieve tension and stress. Nail biting is no more considered as a bad habit. There is probably nothing bad about nail biting. It is a stress buster. There are many ways in which children bring out their tension such as head-banging, thumb sucking, rocking and nail biting is one of them. There are different ways in which adults bring out their stress and tensions but kids are left with only few choices. Some might think that what type of stress do the children suffer from which they required to burst out.

It is true that the stress level of children is not as high as that of adults but they do have stress that makes them scared. Children probably chew their nails while watching a horror movie, at the time of school test or before any competition results are announced.

Solution to the problem of nail biting in children:

A habit can not be eliminated in a single day. Parents are required to work on this problem with patience. First of all they should observe their kid. Observing includes the activity and the situation that makes him/her to chew the nails. Observation will surely help one to get rid of this problem. One can probably make their kid to wear gloves or finger puppets at the doing that particular activity.

Another good way is apply something bitter or the nails of the kid. Whenever kid will raise the finger to bite the nails, due to bitter taste, one will immediately remove the finger from the mouth. This will make one to think before biting the nails again. Finally parents should keep the nails of their kids perfectly trimmed.