Breaking The Habit: Nail Biting

What is excessive nail biting?

Excessive nail biting, or onychophagia, is common among children. The habit usually starts at the age of three or four. Psychologists characterize it as a nervous habit, with a main purpose of self soothing. While nail biting may seem like a harmless behavior, it may cause serious skin infections, digestive and dental problems, in addition to aesthetic consequences. If not controlled, it has the potential to continue into adulthood.

Why children bite their nails?

Onychophagia is almost always the symptom of a deeper psychological condition a child may be facing. There is a plethora of reasons children bite their nails. However, experts name the following as the most common ones:

1Emotional stress. Onychophagia is a stress- relieving habit. If your child is an avid nail biter consider his environment and daily life experiences. Experts say that often nail biting starts when a child is going through a major life change or life experience – moving to another city, starting a new school, getting through his parents’ divorce, losing a relative, etc.

2Boredom. Inactivity may give way for a nail biting habit to form. When children are bored, nail biting provides them with a needed level of stimulation for their nervous system.

3Imitation. Nail biting may be a learned behavior from family members, which ultimately reinforces the habit-forming behavior. Experts say there is a higher risk of onychophagia if there is another avid nail biter in the home.

How to overcome nail biting?

Overcoming onychophagia is a process, so a little patience may be required. To counteract the habit of nail biting follow these steps:

1Observe. Notice when your child starts biting his nails. Try to identify what shortly before the habit occurred

2Have a conversation. Sit down with your child and find out if there is something in his or her life that makes them uncomfortable, scared, nervous, or anxious. Ask about times when he or she is most prone to engage in the behavior and what they get out of it. Try to identify the sources of your child’s emotional responses; these may be the triggers to your child’s nail biting tendencies.

3Increase the biter’s awareness and educate them about the behavior. S Often, children don’t even realize they are biting their nails, until a parent or friend points it out to them. Gently alert your child each time his or her fingers reach for the mouth. Talk to your child about their nail biting behavior and why they might want to overcome it. Tell them about the possible consequences of the behavior and why it is important to make a change for their overall health and well-being.

4Keep your child’s hands busy. If you notice that boredom triggers your child’s nail biting habit, distract them with an activity, a game, or a book – something that can focus their attention and subside the building urge to bite their nails.

5Brainstorm appropriate replacement tools and behaviors. Experts recommend trying to implement different relaxation techniques such asl deep breathing, muscle relaxation or meditation. This will help children manage their emotions, so they are less likely to bite their nails. Another effective way to calm the urge is to use replacement tools such as chew necklaces or stress balls - something children have an easy access to when they feel the urge to bite their nails. Make sure to incorporate your children in these choices, especially as they get older.

Keep in mind the age and developmental level of your child and understand that a nail biting habit is something that takes time to break; each child learns at their own pace. Do not force change on your child but rather motivate and encourage his or her efforts along the way. This advice is not meant to replace the opinion of a pediatrician or child psychologist; please consult them for professional guidance as needed.