How do I get my 11 yr old to stop chewing her fingernails?

Question

How do I get my 11 yr old to stop chewing her fingernails?

Answer 1

put nail polish remover on them it taste horrible, or give her something for every week she goes without chewing

Answer 2

I had the same problem- she probably doesnt notice herself doing it, I sure didnt! Just use the nail polish that tastes horrible. Its disgusting! But it worked!

Answer 3

My 7 year old did the same.  We tried a few things that worked..

No Bite nail polish from amazon.com.  It tastes horrible.  Worked most of the time

I promised her a manicure once and a while (around $10) is she didnt bite them... she loved that idea

Good luck!

Answer 4

give her a pair of cute nail clippers. every time she bites them tell her to clip them! eventually they get so short they bug you

Answer 5

There are some products that you can put on fingernails, sorta like nailpolish that have a gross taste but i heard people start chewing the skin around the nail.

My grandma hated when i bit my nails so she put a rubber band around my wrist and said everytime you bite you snap. It worked for me although sometimes i would just ignored the band but a couple times with my grandma and her snapping that band hard every time i started bitting fixed me. I don't even think about it. Until now.... argh!!!! Where's that rubber band!

Answer 6

I tried every trick, the nail salon or painting them at home which would work for a day or two, then she would just pick or bite them again...I didn't try the bad tasting stuff, though, because she would just pick them instead of biting.  But the only thing that worked with my daughter is when she started playing with a new friend who's nails are always a little long and well painted and nice looking.  It made her want to have nails like her.  Now, you have to go get your daughter a friend with nice kept nails..lol!

Answer 7

spank her

Answer 8

Possibly taking her to a nail salon.  Having a really pretty manicure with a cool design on it can make you not want to bite them off.  She'll love you for it, too.  After that, you can go cheaper by buying stuff for her to pretty up her nails at home; stickers and polish etc.

Answer 9

Make her put Tabasco on her nails, she will stop then!

Answer 10

Hahahaha, my mom did everything she could to make me stop biting my nails, even tried to bribe me with cash.

I eventually stopped on my own.  At age 25.  So sad, lol

Answer 11

Reality is you might not be able to get her to stop. All the tricks in the book will not work unless she is truely ready to stop bitting..trust me. It's like dealing with a drug addict...just be happy that it is only her nails. I was 23 before I stopped..I got engaged and thought you know..I was my nails to look pretty when I show my ring off and that was it..I made a decision and stuck to it..I started all those quirky things to help me stop but none of them worked either..just saying NO to myself was a cure alone..so good luck..make sure it is something she wants to do..otherwise it's pretty much a loss cause..good luck!

Answer 12

Leave her alone and stop helicopter parenting her.  If she wants help quitting, she'll ask.

I quit biting my nails after I moved away from my mother and went to college.

Answer 13

I tried all of those nasty tasting polishes and even hot sauce but nothing worked. Then my mother started treating me to weekly trips to have a manicure.  The manicurists put on tips to give my real nails a chance to grow.  I loved how they looked and looked forward to trying a new color each week. Plus it was a special time with my mom. We had a chance to talk and laugh over the silliest things.

Answer 14

Shes probably nervouse about something, try talking to her and see whats troubling her, because there is definitly something on her mind.

Answer 15

Buy a clear polish bottle, add a piece of garlic, then paint her nails with it, the bad taste will discourage her nail bitting, works like a charm!