Saturday 27 June 2015

How can I break bad habits in children - nail biting



Well it's embarrassing to say I bite my nails, it's been a bad habit since I was a child. My own mother tried to get me to stop with such sayings as "people who bite there nails are weak" or "you will bite your fingers off" yeah good one mum those motivational talks really helped.

So with that I now have 2 children that bite there nails! Argh 2! My eldest Asti's nails are bitten so low with him we have tried so much. That nail biting stuff that tastes yuck but it still didn't stop. I kind of forgot about it as it wasn't a massive thing. Until yesterday I noticed my 2 year old chomping her nails! Argh 2 didn't know that is possible!

Even worse I caughter her trying to bite her toe nails! Surely that is even worse right? Oh dear what am I going to do? I have never been able to not bite my nails, I have tried most things. I do not want my children to face the same problems. See I told you my mother said I would be weak. I am a fidget you see, I spent my whole uni life ripping paper to keep my focus. I  have to have something in my hands otherwise I am lost that is why I bite my nails.

SO how am I going to break the habit? Its awful seeing your 8 and 2 year old biting there nails. Especilly as they do not always have the cleanest hands. maybe its a good thing for the old immune system. If you have any tips then please HELP.

The fate of our nails depend on it.

(ok this is not the most interesting post of the day bur hey ho thats being a parent, its not all coffee and cake its this too, sorry about that) 

16 comments:

  1. I used to bite my nails and I just sort of stopped once I realised I wanted them to look nice with polish and none of my kids seem to have the problem luckily, so I'm afraid Sara I am of no use to you at all! Mich x

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  2. My boy bites his nails too, so does my OH. I hate it its a massive pet hate of mine! But I really can't get them to stop so I'd be interested to hear others tips too!!
    #JustAnotherLinky

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  3. My son bites his nails too and I hate it! His dad does it, which must be where he's picked it up from. It drives me bonkers and I always tell him to stop it when I catch him. I have no idea how to get him to stop though! Short of dipping his fingers in mustard... haha jk! x

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  4. When I was a kid my mum put nasty tasting nail varnish on - it worked!

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  5. My 5 year old does it and it drives me nuts lol thinking of getting some stuff you can put on the nail to do with tasting bad to stop them,

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  6. Good luck! I've never been a nail biter (I guess that's a good thing) however the other half is - perhaps I'll get him out of it one day. x

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  7. This is not easy. We have never had nail bitters. Did have a child that wanted to suck his thumb and I just kept removing it over and over until he got tired of being told. I have seen nail bitters as I am a hypnotherapist but your children are a little young. If your eldest can identify any things he doesn't like about it then you could get him to discuss it and then do drawings of life without nail bitting and all the good things it would bring (large in bright colours).. Children copy us and it will be hard for them to stop whilst we carry on. I throw my hands up and get loud when the computer doesn't do what I want. Both my kids do the same and it would be tough for them to stop whilst I carry on. Best of luck. #justanotherlinky

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  8. I actually don't think there is an answer. I used to do it and then just stopped one day but my OH is terrible for it and if I catch him, I give him what for x

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  9. My hubby is awful he chews them so bad that he's just biting skin and he doesn't know he's doing it!! My din went through a stage but the clear yucky tasting nail polish worked a treat and he soon stopped. Good Luck!

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  10. I used to bite my nails until I was 14 and watching the penalty shoot out in the England World Cup semi final. I realised I was a nervous wreck and stopped there and then. Now everyone comments on how long my nails are. Not good advice but in time it can stop!

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  11. I stopped biting my nails in my early 20's and my kids have never seen me bite my nails but they still bite theirs. Boo my 8 yr old daughter bites her toenails too. odd child ;) I've no idea how it can be stopped. With me I just started filing and painting regularly so they were always too pretty to spoil and that worked but I was in my 20's so not much good for kids xx

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  12. That nasty nail paint stuff helped me when I was a kid. Good luck!

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  13. I've always bit my nails. Such a bad habit and I can't stop. I do let them grow occasionally but always end up biting them. I hope my daughter doesnt pick up the same habit. x

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  14. I have never suffered from this, and neither did my children, so I'm a bit of useless person to ask, but I did have one idea... you say you ripped paper to keep your focus when you were at Uni because you had to have something in your hands, have you tried giving them something distracting to do, each time you catch them doing it? Like a stress ball, or something really tactile? Just a thought, good luck. xx

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  15. My eldest who is 5 she bites her nails too! She bites them so much that shes biten into her skin and bled :(! I've tried talking to her and saying if she grows her nails ill treat her to get her nails done but she wont listen!!


    Thank you so much for linking up with #justanotherlinky hope too see you again Sunday!

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  16. Good luck with this lovely, i hope you get them to stop! xx

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