Tension and stress are often triggers for nail-biting. — dpa
Many children have the habit of biting their nails.
Maybe yours does too.
What are the possible consequences?
Why do they do it? And how can you get them to stop?
Tension and stress are often the triggers for nail-biting, says paediatrician Dr Monika Niehaus.
“It gives them temporary relief in emotionally and physically unpleasant situations.”
Children usually begin to bite their nails at age three or four.
They often, but not always, outgrow the habit.
Nail-biting can not only lead to nasty infections in the nail bed, but also damage front teeth and put undue stress on the jaw, possibly causing problems of its own.
It also makes illness more likely from germs that spread from the hands – and young children in particular stick them everywhere – to the mouth, Dr Niehaus warns.
Parents are often at a loss for a way to stop the habit.
Threats and punishments aren’t advisable, as they could make the nail-biting even worse.
Bitter-tasting bite-averting nail polish doesn’t always work.
A better tactic is to encourage the child to stop, and accompany them through the process.
Here’s one idea: Put a star sticker in the calendar for every day the child doesn’t nail-bite.
When they add up to two weeks, the child gets a reward.
Getting your child to stop nail-biting is easier if you know the situations when it typically occurs.
Then you can eliminate certain triggers, e.g. TV shows that agitate your child.
It can also help to regularly trim and file the child’s fingernails.
“Nail-biting may be less tempting if there’s little nail to bite,” says Dr Niehaus.
If all these efforts fail, you should take the child to a paediatrician.
The same goes if skin around a fingernail becomes infected or a nail bed bleeds.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be an effective treatment.
ALSO READ: Change your negative thoughts and behaviours with CBT
With the help of a psychotherapist, the child can learn how to better cope with stress and avoid nail-biting. – dpa
