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When Toddlers Bite ... Their Nails
Tips on Breaking the Nail-biting Habit
By Amy Henry
- Cuddle up. Children use nail biting to self-sooth. Providing extra lap time for a frustrated or tired child can reduce the need to nibble. And you can play finger games as you snuggle together.
- Teach your child healthy self-soothing techniques. Lie on the floor, hands behind head and, together, imagine aloud the perfect day or the most beautiful place. Keep paper and crayons handy, and encourage your child to draw pictures of her feelings. Make a photo album of people and pets your child loves – a wonderful source of comfort to be shared or enjoyed solo. Or make a tape of her favorite songs, then show her how to work the tape player herself. Encourage her to sing along.
Parents sometimes wonder about over-the-counter products, usually bitter or peppery liquid formulas you paint on the child's nails to discourage nibbling. How do children react to their use? Are they effective?
"Many of these products use cayenne pepper," says Dr. Richard Wyatt, a dermatologist with a practice in Amherst, Mass. "It gets into little splits in the skin and is pretty darned painful." Dr. Wyatt, along with many experts, discourages parents from forcing children to use these products. "If they hate how their nails look, they'll stop biting them. Kids don't usually care," he says.Dr. Chansky, too, has concerns about any solutions that may feel like punishment to a child. "The child, likely, won't even understand what she's doing," she says. She recommends keeping the tone pleasant when talking to your child about nail biting, and focus on helping, not force.
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