The habit of biting nails is inherent in many children and even adults. But if an adult is responsible for his actions, then the parents have to solve the problems of children. What to do when a child bites his nails? The answer to the question directly depends on the state of mind and health of the baby.

disease or habit

Doctors and psychologists do not advise considering this phenomenon only as a “bad habit”. In medicine, there is a special term - "onychophagia" - an irresistible desire to bite your nails for no apparent purpose. A similar definition - "dermatophagy" - means an unconscious desire to gnaw or pinch the cuticle.

Doctors' observations revealed that about 30% of children aged 6 to 10 bite their nails, and boys do it more often than girls. Among children from 10 to 17 years old, the percentage of those subject to bad habits increases, reaching 50%. Doctors attribute this fact to changes in life, a heavy workload at school, difficulties in relationships with parents and friends during adolescence.

However, the habit of biting nails should not be ignored in the hope that the baby will “outgrow”. Pulling and scolding parents is also unlikely to help the baby overcome difficulties. It is necessary to look for a more significant reason and eliminate it with the joint efforts of others.

Causes of onychophobia

Sometimes it is difficult to say why a child bites his nails: the reasons for the emergence of a habit may lie in the physiological and emotional spheres of the baby's life.

Psychological

• Social problems. For most children, adaptation in society begins at the age of 3, when they go to kindergarten. If the baby grew up in "greenhouse" conditions, parting with parents, even for a short time, can become stressful. At 6-7 years old comes the next adaptation period when the first grader goes to school. These changes cannot but affect the general psychological state of the child.
• Family relationships. Quarrels of parents, father or mother who do not live in the family, inattention and an attempt to entrust the process of upbringing to the grandmother can be perceived by the child as a stressful situation. Onychophagia becomes a manifestation of hostility towards others and a way to calm down.
• Environment example. If in a family kindergarten or at school someone bites their nails, then the baby may unconsciously repeat these actions.
• Hereditary excitability of the nervous system, temperament. Even if there is no objective stressful situation, increased nervousness may be due to the hereditary type of the nervous system or temperament. In this case, positive and negative emotions will have the same exciting effect.
• Consequences or. Prolonged sucking has a calming effect on the baby. Nail biting functionally replaces the mother's breast or nipple.
• Perfectionism. It is the desire to be the best in everything. If something doesn’t work out for the baby, he gets upset and perceives what happened as stress. Often this situation occurs in families where parents set too high a “bar” for their children. The feeling of inconsistency with the parental ideal forms psychological complexes. The habit of biting nails is a manifestation of a subconscious desire to correct flaws in accessible ways.
• Replacing one habit with another. In this case, nail biting can become a substitute for another habit, such as thumb sucking.
• The child has nothing to do. Children begin to bite their nails out of boredom when he does not know what to do.
If a child is overworked at school, attending several additional clubs, tension and fatigue can accumulate and give rise to neuroses.
• Sleep deprivation. A large workload at school, a violation of the daily routine lead to lack of sleep and, as a result, a state of anxiety and nervous tension.
• , . Limit the time of watching cartoons to 1-2 hours a day, and playing games on the computer - 0.5 hours. Flickering frames, loud sounds have a destructive effect on the fragile psyche of the child. Choose programs and games with life-affirming content and calm music.

So, main reason bad habits - stress. When a child bites his nails, the pain center in the brain is activated. It drowns out the center of stress or creates a focus of pain elsewhere, diverting attention from the problem. As a result, the baby calms down. Do not scold and do not yell at the baby! The task of parents is to identify and eliminate the cause of nervousness and tension, which the child himself may not be aware of.

Side effects

The famous doctor Komarovsky argues that parents should not be indifferent to the bad activities of their children. If the habit of nail biting is not eliminated in time, it can remain in adulthood, giving rise to serious consequences:

• damaged nails and cuticles;
• suspension of nail growth;
• change in the natural shape of the cuticle, wounds and hematomas;
• infection of the periungual surface;
• dental problems with damaged gums and, as a result, increased tooth mobility;
• frequent viral and microbial diseases;
• gastrointestinal diseases, helminths;
• aesthetic and social problems (impossibility of full communication, isolation, difficulties with employment, etc.)

Folk methods

If you do not know how to wean a child to bite his nails, you can try folk remedies.

• Lubricate your fingers with something bitter. Many parents, in the old fashioned way, try to lubricate the child's fingers with mustard or agave juice, apply a band-aid. However, practice shows that this method does not help much. You can try a special lacquer for children biting their nails "Nekusayka". It is applied to the baby's nails and has a bitter taste. This property of varnish will help to wean from a bad habit. But do not forget to remind that it becomes bitter not because of varnish or cream, but because of wrong actions.
• Relieve stress. Teach your child to relieve nervous tension with simple exercises and proper breathing. To do this, ask the baby to alternately squeeze and unclench his fists. Another useful exercise is breath control. Holding the toy in his hands, the child slowly and deeply inhales and exhales. 5-7 minutes of such gymnastics a day will significantly reduce the level of nervousness.
• Get a manicure. Girls from 5 years old can do beautiful manicure. Teach your baby how to take care of her nails, teach her how to handle tools from a children's manicure set. Express your approval of beautiful and well-groomed hands. Cuticle care is also necessary for boys. Timely eliminated irritants will avoid dermatophagia.
• Form a reflex. A soft bracelet is put on the child's hand. If an adult sees that the baby is putting his hands in his mouth, then he pulls the bracelet and clicks on his hand. The method can be effective, although it seems cruel to some.

We all know that it is better to wean a child from bad habits at an early age so that they do not turn into addiction and do not negatively affect the further development and health of the baby. One of these misfortunes is the habit of biting your nails. This is a serious problem for both adults and children. Biting your nails is harmful, ugly, unhygienic. Nevertheless, many kids gnaw on them for some reason. This means that there are some internal mechanisms that encourage them to do this. Numerous cases from practice show that in order not to aggravate the situation, it is necessary to first understand its causes, and only then proceed to countermeasures.

Harmless habit or disease?

Let's find out the deep roots of this disturbing symptom. Parents should understand the depth of this phenomenon: from a "harmless" habit, it can grow into a persistent disease. In no case should you “hush up” and brush off the problem and hope that everything will pass with age - this is not so. And no pulling and intimidation will help a little person overcome a painful passion, which in the future threatens to turn into a serious obstacle, including for successful relationships in society.

Doctors and psychologists distinguish between "onychophagy", that is, an unbridled need to bite their nails, and "dermatophagia" - a painful addiction to biting the cuticle, the skin around the nail.

Psychologists identify a number of reasons for the appearance of such behavior and divide them into two groups: emotional and physiological.

Emotional reasons include:

1. The consequences of weaning the baby from the nipple and breast: there is a kind of substitution of one for the other.
2. Problems in society when a child cannot adapt to society: in kindergarten, at school, in a sports section, in a circle. This is especially true for "domestic" children. Separation from parents, even for a short period of time, is stressful for them.
3. Emotionally tense situation in the family. Family conflicts, quarrels, divorce, separation from the father or mother become a tragedy for the child.
4. imitate someone. The kid, without hesitation, repeats the actions of the people around him.
5. Heredity. The increased excitability of the child may be due to hereditary characteristics of the nervous system. Both joy and unhappiness will equally affect him.
6. Boredom, lack of occupation, a large amount of free time are the reasons that encourage nail biting.
7. Excessive pedantry and perfectionism. If the baby is used to being the best in everything and something does not work out properly for him, this situation upsets him. A complex is formed. Most often this is observed in families where parents make high demands on their child.
8. Internal aggression: dissatisfaction with oneself, parents, low self-esteem. Excessive passion for computer games and watching television programs affects the unstable psyche of children.
9. Many descriptions of the internal state of the child can be described by a common word - stress. These are fear, anxiety, worries, tension and fatigue, developing into a neurosis.

Physiological reasons:

Emotional stress in the family is one of the main reasons for the emergence of bad habits in young children Instead of sucking on a pacifier, a baby may begin to bite his nails Showing off relations with a child is too much test for a child's nervous system Strong negative emotions: anger, resentment, aggression - can be expressed in nail biting The process of mastering in a team is stress, and in order to relieve it, the baby bites his nails Difficult long-term adaptation in kindergarten or school is one of the reasons for the child to develop obsessive habits Making too high demands on the child and dissatisfaction with him Children's fears can be the cause of onychophagia Fear of separation with parents makes the baby very worried Computer addiction and the habit of biting nails may well be interconnected Excessive watching of TV and especially programs that are not age-appropriate harms the nervous system and provokes the development of a bad habit

Important! In no case do not scold the baby and do not pull, do not shout and do not be nervous. This will only exacerbate the current situation, as the nervous tension of the crumbs will increase.

What happens if things are left to chance?

• First of all, the hands will always look untidy, this will damage the child’s self-esteem, too, he will feel like a slob. Over time, the nail plates are deformed and an ugly shape can remain with the child for life.
• Permanent wounds can cause painful inflammation and suppuration of the skin around the nail.
• Microbes from dirty hands enter the stomach through the mouth in large quantities. Children who bite their nails have a very high risk of contracting intestinal infections and helminthiasis.
• There may be dental problems with bite, gums, and tooth mobility.

Onychophagia can stop healthy nail growth and lead to deformation of the nail plate.

How to wean

The problem requires a serious and deep solution, when the baby bites the nails not only on the hands, but also on the legs, as well as the skin around the nails or fingertips. Before taking any measures, it is important to know the extent of the disease.

When studying this issue, the age of the child is also important. For example, if a baby for one and a half or two years bites its nails or skin on its legs from time to time, then psychologists suggest that parents calm down and ignore this fact, explaining that such behavior is one of the ways to stimulate the development of the cerebral hemispheres. Experts assure that after some time the baby will outgrow this habit. However, when the child's behavior causes concern, you need to pay close attention to this.

The causes of the appearance of the disease, as we have seen, are many, and in order to eliminate the attack, loving parents you must first observe the child and answer the questions:

• how long ago did the habit of biting your nails appear;
• in what situations the child does it, what is the irritant;
• whether the baby is worried about quarrels, is he afraid of someone;
• how much time does he spend in front of the TV, at the computer or tablet;
• whether the baby bites his nails constantly or only under some specific circumstances;
• does it defiantly or in a secluded corner.

Sometimes the reasons for this behavior lie on the surface, and sometimes even attentive parents find it difficult to establish them. Then, without false hesitation, you should go to child psychologist to identify motives. In especially serious cases, when the habit becomes catastrophic - this signals a deviation in the psyche, the child must be shown to a neurologist.

Whatever the reasons, during the treatment period, parents will need endurance, patience and the creation of a calm environment for the baby. In no case should you scold and focus on a painful problem. Bans and slaps will achieve the exact opposite result.

Practicing psychologists emphasize that children who grow up in a favorable psychological atmosphere are least affected by bad habits. The correct reaction of parents and indifference, as well as the professionalism of specialists, is the key to solving the problem.

For children of different ages and character will be optimal various ways treatment, but it is important to know that in any period of life this deficiency can be corrected.

It is important not to self-medicate, but to use the drug that the pediatrician prescribes. The tool must be appropriate for the age of the child.

Visit a neurologist and check the state of the nervous system of your son or daughter.

1. Control yourself. Don't scold your baby. Screaming will only exacerbate the nervous tension.
2. Give the children more time, ask them in detail about how the day went, whether some event upset him.
3. Hug your child more often, stroke his head, kiss. Attention and affection can work wonders.
4. If the roots of a bad habit are hereditary - one of the family members bites his nails - control him, ask him to refrain in the presence of the baby.
5. Streamline the daily routine, unload the child, leaving 1-2 hours for outdoor walks. Excessive workload exacerbates the habit.
6. Provide your child with a variety of activities. Sports or creativity will not only fill the child's free time, but also relieve the accumulated stress.
7. In some cases, a calm story about the consequences of nail biting in pictures can help: dirty hands under a microscope, pictures of the worms that start in the tummy when you bite your nails.
8. When the crumbs have serious mental disorders, and the problem has become catastrophic: the child bites his nails on his hands, feet, bites the skin around his fingers and all the tried methods of struggle turned out to be ineffective, psychologists advise resorting to the help of a neurologist. The specialist will conduct an examination and prescribe the appropriate medication.

We take into account age

For children of 2–4 years of age, an effective method is a substitution method, when instead of fingers they offer a baby to gnaw a carrot, apple, cabbage, play or read a fairy tale. Play more, walk together. If the baby has to be separated from his mother - he stays with a nanny, grandmother, or he is sent to kindergarten, the most painless will be the gradual getting used to parting: start leaving first for 1-2 hours a day. You can buy an anti-stress toy with a filler that is pleasant to the touch. Squeezing such a toy in his hands, the baby gives way to the accumulated tension.

There are special little dolls that are put on the fingers. With the help of a finger puppet theater, a scene should be played in which the “bitten” finger will ask him not to gnaw or offend him anymore. It is worth asking the baby to walk around with dolls on his fingers for some more time, 2-3 hours will be enough. The main thing is to keep your hands busy with something. This method will help mother and baby become even closer, distract the child from boredom.

If a two-year-old has increased anxiety, it is possible, with the permission of a doctor, to take children's herbal tea, for example, with chamomile or linden, which helps to relieve arousal.

Children's age of 4-5 years is imitative, the child tries to imitate his beloved fairy-tale hero, older brother, sister, mother. The main thing is to choose the right object for copying. You can invent stories with adventures, where main character he will be brave, dexterous, he has many friends, while unobtrusively emphasizing that he does not bite his nails. On the contrary, endow the negative character with this bad habit, emphasizing that no one wants to be friends with him.

You can talk confidentially with a preschooler, explain why you can’t bite your nails, talk about the consequences. Shared viewing of photos of children suffering from a similar addiction or special prevention videos can help.

Special Ways

1. Lubrication of fingers with bitter products. This method is most often used by mothers to fight a bad habit. He's pretty efficient. Aloe juice, mustard or wormwood juice is used as a remedy. Can be used for children over 3-4 years old. It is important to apply lubrication of fingers with bitter products if the cause of the problem is shallow (boredom, low physical activity, prolonged viewing of cartoons, overexertion). Usually you can get rid of the habit in a short period (from a few days to 2-3 weeks).
   

   This is an unsafe way, as the child can get into the eyes with “mustard” fingers. Therefore, before using it, it is worthwhile to assess the situation and the individual characteristics of your baby well.

2. Using adhesive tape or adhesive tape. You can wrap your baby's fingers with tape or a thin band-aid. The process is better to turn into a game. Wear the tape on your fingers for 2-3 hours every day. This is enough for the child to gradually wean from addiction. It is important that she does not squeeze her finger too much.
   

   If the baby resists, then do not use this method.

3. Bitter nail polish. Buy a medicinal varnish, it is often transparent, with a greenish (or pink) tint, and most importantly, with a very bitter taste and a long aftertaste. Reviews about the varnish are positive: playing - we treat. It is good to use it during the game and do a manicure together with the baby using special nail files and tweezers for children. Let the baby also try to put on the mother's nails special compound. It is worth painting nails with such varnish every 2-3 days (since the composition is quickly erased or chewed). The product is safe for health. The treatment period can take from 4-5 days to several weeks. It all depends on the scale of the problem.
   

   You can use therapeutic varnish for children from 2-3 years and older.

The main condition for success

The most important point is the removal of psychological stress from the child, since the main cause of onychophagia is stress. Its origins may be different, but the ways to eliminate it, fortunately, are universal.

1. It is worth talking with your son or daughter more often, showing sincere interest in their problems, giving them free time and attention, hugging them more often.

We can come up with an interesting activity together. This can be anti-stress drawing (small coloring), playing music or sports (for example, roller skating together, hiking in the forest). Active joint activity is good for children of any age.

2. It is also very important to monitor their psychological state, since from birth, babies very keenly feel the anxieties and experiences of their parents. They can take the dissatisfaction of mom or dad at their own expense.
3. It is especially important to reduce the presence of a child in front of a TV monitor, computer or tablet. If you still allow your baby to watch TV, then it is better to give preference to domestic cartoons. Under no circumstances are you allowed to watch cartoons, where there are scenes of violence and profanity (words like "moron", "idiot" and the like), as this provokes stress and aggression.
4. All psychologists unanimously agree that it is worth letting the baby go to a computer or tablet as late as possible. The ideal option is not earlier than adolescence. But if you allow playing computer games, then it is better to choose educational ones, and not those in which there is violence and constant tension in the plot (for example, racing, “shooters”). In extreme cases, it is worth giving preference to strategies.
   

   When choosing a game, always pay attention to the age for which it is designed.

5. Some moms advise their daughters to do manicures after 5 years. Children's manicure sets will help to form the habit of caring for nails. Many girls like to look like their mother and have beautiful, well-groomed hands.

Photo gallery: methods for weaning children from the habit of constantly biting their nails

Before embarking on self-treatment, be sure to consult a neurologist and psychologist Make up for the lack of vitamins in the child’s body Take a walk with the baby every day Intimate closeness with parents and support from their side are simply necessary for every child to cope with stress Timely nail care and children’s manicure help the child see himself as neat and beautiful Use not bitter products, but a special bitter nail polish - it is safer Start a finger theater, let the baby's fingers become actors

3 ways to relieve psychological stress

Creation

There are a huge number of options for activities with the baby. Here are some of them:

1. Modeling from plasticine. Starting from the age of one and a half years, together with the child, you can sculpt from plasticine. The main thing is that the baby does not eat it, however, if you sculpt from a special colored dough, you don’t have to worry.
2. Drawing. At 2-3 years old, usually all kids love to draw. This can be done in an album, on a drawing paper, or even on a wall specially designated for creativity. As a tool, a brush, sponge or own hands(it is important to use special finger paints that are easy to wash off and do not harm sensitive children's skin). You can invent pictures yourself or paint coloring pages. This will help the baby not be bored and give free rein to the imagination.
3. Making crafts. Almost everything can be used as materials: walnut shells, plastic bottles, withered tree leaves, colored paper, cardboard.
   

   Even a kid of 1.5–2 years old can make a turtle out of a nut shell and a few balls of plasticine.

4. Music lessons. You don't have to buy a piano or cello. But it's fun to sing together, play on wooden spoons, beat a tambourine or a drum. This will help the baby not only show his musical talent, but also give vent to the accumulated emotions.

Photo gallery: creativity with a child

Drawing and coloring is a great way to distract the baby Plasticine modeling develops motor skills well and relieves stress Almost all kids love to sing and play musical instruments, especially if there are grateful listeners Make fun crafts or just cut, stick bright pieces of paper, fold simple origami

Physical activity

A person lives in motion, both adult and small. What can be done with the baby:

1. Dance. Turn up the music louder. On a computer, phone, music center. And just dance with your baby from the heart.
2. Go hiking. A great way to teach a child 3-5 years old various skills: kindle a fire, navigate the terrain. Here it is easier for the baby to be distracted and show their personal qualities.
   

   You can go on a hike even with a three-year-old child. At this age, he is already able to walk 2–3 km through the forest.

3. Roller skating or figure skating. Now on sale there are roller skates that are suitable for younger children. age group(from 2.5 years). With children from 5 years old, you can go to the skating rink in winter. Most importantly, do not forget about protection: a helmet, knee pads, gloves and elbow pads.
4. Ride in the winter on a sled, ice rinks, cheesecakes. Everyone loves this fun: both kids and adults.
5. Play football, basketball, volleyball. These are group games. All relatives and friends should be involved in them. But you can play both.
6. Go to the gym. Today it is easy to purchase a subscription to a fitness club for yourself and your baby. Some mothers begin to visit the hall with their six-month-old babies. With a child, you can go to the pool and learn to swim together with an instructor.
7. Do yoga. Some children are very fond of repeating interesting postures and asanas after their parents. Get your baby a separate rug and practice together to the music.
8. Have pillow fights. This is a favorite pastime of many since childhood. It is perfect for both boys and girls.

Photo gallery: sports suitable for young children

Pillow fights can be arranged at home and outdoors Yoga is a guarantee of psychological and physical health Active collective games teach the child to interact with teammates Sledding and cheesecakes in winter stands with the child
You can start roller skating at the age of 2.5-3 years. With a small child, you can go on a short hike for 1-2 days. Almost all kids love to dance. It helps them express their emotions

Communication

1. Walking together before bed. Turn off the TV, go for a walk! This will help not only your child, but also you yourself to relieve stress, calmly think, relax.
2. Family dinners. Every day, gather the whole family at one table. Talk about your achievements and plans.
3. Heart to heart conversations. Talk to your child. Any age. Psychologists recommend starting to communicate with your baby even in the period prenatal development. Be interested in all facets of his life. If the kid has been in the garden all day, ask him what he liked today, which of the children he is friends with in the group, what they played during the walk, what he dreamed about at quiet time.
4. Reading. Read to your baby from the very beginning early age. This will not only instill in him a love for interesting and good books but also bring you closer emotionally.

If there are some conflicts in the family, misunderstandings between parents, then in no case should children be drawn into them. They are not to blame for the problems of adults. In difficult times for the family, you should pay as much attention to children as possible. Hug them more often and say that you love them. All quarrels should be leveled. You can't speak loudly.

Your child bites his nails and you do not know what to do and how to wean from this habit? Don't get discouraged, nail biting is a common habit in many young children, it's something the child does unconsciously when bored or anxious and goes away with age.

But there are children in whom it does not go away as he grows up and may even worsen. At the slightest worry, stress, insecurity, the child begins to bite his nails more intensively, which can become a bad habit for life and cause health problems. this habit even has a medical term - onychophagia.

Onycophagia - a condition that affects a third of all children preschool age and almost half of the students. Some parents are still convinced that this is the cost of age, and the bad habit will go away on its own as you grow older, but this is a dangerous delusion. Real problems lead to the emergence of sustainable addiction. In order to get rid of it, the child needs psychological help, and sometimes not parental help, but the help of a professional specialist.

From the point of view of science, onycophagy, like dermatophagy (biting the skin around the nails), is an attempt to realize unsatisfied desires by obtaining short-term satisfaction. If you ask a neurologist, he will answer even more specifically - the physical manifestation of stress and neurosis. Dr. Komarovsky believes that a bad habit is formed as a frequent and repeated sequence of actions, and over time becomes a reflex (not controlled by the brain).

The system of prohibitions and repressive measures does not lead to any tangible result until the root cause is eliminated. The child does not need to smear nails with burning substances (because this will not stop him), but attention, affection and the elimination of factors that provoke emotional and mental disorders.

Why does a child bite his nails reasons

From the point of view of children's doctors, a bad habit has a completely logical explanation in every period of childhood:

At 2-3 years old, this is the result of weaning from the nipple;

From 3-4 years old - a bad example of parents or peers.

What you see provokes a desire to repeat, which is characteristic of a child, and over time it is fixed and performed already at the subconscious level, much like someone chews on a pen or twists strands of hair, picks his nose until he bleeds, or pulls threads from clothes. Dermatophagy, according to the same theory, manifests itself due to the absence of a piece on the nail plate that could still be bitten off.

Psychologists look at the habit of biting nails as a general phenomenon of deformation of the psychological state, which can occur due to many reasons that seem insignificant to parents, or not relevant to the case. But any bad habit that starts on a subconscious level is a consequence of external factors that lead to internal discomfort or even depression:

1. Guilt cultivated by adults (parents, teachers, educators and even strangers). Lack of praise for a good deed or work done, comparison with other children, and not in favor of your own child, a constant reminder of past faults and nitpicking about personal qualities and habits. It can also be provoked by ridicule, characteristic of some wits, who take their mockery of the baby for showing sympathy and joking. Sometimes children blame themselves for quarrels and scandals that occur between parents, even if they have nothing to do with them.
2. Personal deformations due to any inability (tying shoelaces, learning the multiplication table, fastening a snake on clothes). They develop because of the constant reminder of this, attempts to teach action, which constitutes an insurmountable barrier. Children with developmental disabilities are often subjected to such negativity. At the same time, they do not always have deviations in development, and the lack of a generally accepted skill is compensated by some other abilities. Such children are characterized by increased emotionality and painful perception of pressure from outside.
3. A bad example of a peer or adult is sometimes reinforced as a manifestation of aggression and protest. Such states are often inherent in a baby who has no other opportunity to manifest them due to constant supervision. Biting his nails and skin contrary to the strictest prohibition, he initially protests in this way, and then it turns into a reflex action.
4. Sometimes nail biting replaces another bad habit from which the child is persistently weaned (sucking a finger, biting a pen, picking one's nose).
5. emotional component. Small man bored, overworked and energized due to lack of sleep or illness, does not want to go to school or kindergarten. One of the most common emotions that lead to a bad habit is overwhelming pleasure. It occurs in children with a certain type of psyche whenever they do something that is under the strictest prohibition.

Before starting repressive measures and introducing a system of punishments, parents should find out what exactly provokes the violation of the ban or the occurrence of a negative phenomenon. Sometimes the elimination of such reasons works ten times more effectively than beatings, deprivation of pleasures or confidential conversations with a psychologist.

Whatever the cause of this habit, one thing is for sure – it needs to be eliminated and as soon as possible. The habit of biting and biting nails leads not only to an unpleasant appearance of the hands, which for small child not yet so relevant, but also to more serious health problems.

Biting off the nails to the blood, the skin around the cuticle can be a particular problem, which can lead to the development of infection and deformation of the nails.

Constantly biting nails damages teeth and gums. In addition, such a habit can form an abnormal bite, which in the future can turn into gum disease, headaches, and even sleep disturbances.

Not getting rid of the habit of biting nails in childhood, in adulthood this can add a sense of guilt and shame, add nervousness and anxiety, since such habits are not encouraged in society.

The child bites his nails what to do

Folk eradication methods are usually simple, but not always effective. For the most part, parents are limited to smearing the problem area with substances with an unpleasant taste. It can be the juice of a plant, a caustic seasoning, a specially selected ointment or varnish.

A smart child washes his hands or wipes them on clothes, and starts to favorite hobby with redoubled zeal. If anointing is accompanied by constant supervision, one addiction is replaced by another, which can be no less negative. Or the habit continues, but secluded places are found for it (toilet, bed, walk).

The advice to give girls a beautiful manicure works infrequently, because the power of addiction makes you forget about the beauty of nails. So any measures that restrict access to a desired object rarely give any positive result.

Preventive conversations about the microbes nesting under the nails, their quantity and harmfulness, lead to an aggravation of the nervous state. The baby cannot force himself to give up the reflex action, but he does it in a state of even greater nervousness, because now he is thinking about impending dangers or illnesses.

If a psychologist is not available for any reason (there is no financial opportunity, there is no belief that he will help, or there are fears of emotionally traumatizing the child by communicating with a stranger in a white coat), you should at least heed his advice.

Weaning from a bad habit is a consistent and time-consuming process that will require a lot of patience and time. Parents should start with themselves - create a friendly and positive atmosphere in the house, stop scandals and quarrels (at least in his presence), exclude ridicule, punishment, shouting and pulling with or without reason from communication.

Instead, you need to normalize the daily routine, allocate time for daytime rest and make sure that the child gets enough sleep and does not overwork.

It is necessary to constantly devote time to the baby, ask about his problems and the day spent in the children's institution, help with lessons if it is difficult for him to cope with some subject.

If the cause of the habit is boredom or aggression, this will be a real measure to eliminate it. The system of punishments for misconduct in the form of mutilated nails and bleeding cuticles should be replaced with rewards for abstinence and emotional support in case of an unfortunate breakdown.

This is a much more difficult path than a slap, a slap, or mustard on the fingers, but it gives much more fruitful results.

If you do not do this in time, the situation will become even more difficult by puberty, when emotional balance is achieved with great difficulty. Only in a teenager can a reflex action lead to the development of a persistent neurosis associated with a feeling of embarrassment and shame for the unaesthetic and frightening appearance of nails and fingers.

In some cases, a psychologist is indispensable. If, in parallel with a bad habit, there is bad sleep and nightmares, a state of increased aggressiveness and irritability, abnormal excitability, anxiety, you should not attribute all this to age-related problems or character traits. You definitely cannot do without the help of a specialist, and the sooner it is provided, the less irreversible consequences will occur in adulthood.

How to wean a child to bite his nails

Fortunately, for most children, nail biting is just a habit that he does not consciously when he is bored and has nothing to do. Most children don't even notice that they have bitten their nails. As with any habit, it takes a little effort and perseverance to kick it for good.

With kids younger age it's harder to get them to stop biting their nails since they don't care about their appearance. Older kids and teens are becoming a little more aware of this, so they're more likely to stop biting their own nails.

If while your child is still small and his habit does not go beyond causing harm to his health, then here you can simply more carefully monitor the condition of the nails, cut them in time. After all, the child in most cases nibbles them when they grow a little. This applies to nails on both hands and feet. Having matured, he himself will cut them on time, and the problem will go away.

After the child reaches a certain age, it will be much easier to explain to him how dangerous his habit is. If the child himself wants to get rid of it, he will need to be helped in this.

Here are some tips you can try with your kids to help them stop nail biting as quickly as possible.

Nail biting remedy

There are many treatments available to help children stop biting their nails. It is not necessary, as mentioned above, to smear nails with brilliant green, mustard and other means. Now you can buy in a pharmacy (or order online) special remedy(in a bottle in the form of nail polish) from biting nails, for example, the Swiss company Mavala. It costs about 400 rubles. According to the manufacturer himself, for a full course (in 33 days they promise to completely get rid of a bad habit), one bottle is enough.

The product contains a bitter substance that is harmless to the child's body. It is applied to the nails or fingertips. Every time a child puts a finger in his mouth, bitterness reminds him to get rid of his habit. During the day, it needs to be applied several times, as it is washed off when washing hands.

These procedures are very easy to use and are especially effective if your child wants to stop on their own. If there is no such desire, then some other ideas may have to be considered.

Aloe vera

It's room medicinal plant many have. Aloe juice is very bitter. You can smear your fingers with juice. Aloe in its action is about the same as a coating for nails. The only negative is that it is washed off faster.

Get a manicure

No matter how short your nails are, try to keep them neat and tidy. Applying nail polish can do wonders. Yes, boys can look cool with nail polish. However, it cannot be left without control. Some children bite their nails even with a beautiful salon manicure.

And yet there is a plus. Do your own manicure for your child. This time spent together, casual conversation, can pay off.

Sensory bracelet

Older children can wear a sensory bracelet that fits around the wrist. Each time, bringing a finger to his mouth, the bracelet will remind him of his bad habit. The idea of ​​such a bracelet is that biting his nails will be associated with a little pain, which will be an excuse to stop biting them and help control his desires.

Gloves

Depending on where and when your child bites their nails, gloves can be a quick and easy solution.

They can be ideal to wear while watching TV, outdoors in cold weather, or in bed. You can buy very thin gloves that your child can even wear indoors. After all, most often children bite their nails at home, sitting at a computer monitor, TV or reading.

The less access he has to his nails, the more likely it is that the bad habit can be broken.

Self-adhesive sticky pads

Many have probably seen pets with bright stripes glued on their nails. They are designed to prevent animals from damaging furniture and walls when scratching. Similar pads can be glued on the nails of a child.

If you do not find such pads on sale, you can stick a regular adhesive plaster. You can start with one finger, leaving the rest open. Gradually, you can reach one nail that the child can gnaw. You need to change such pads daily, and possibly several times a day.

Remember that most children will outgrow their habit of biting their nails in their free time. If you are really worried, or if there are secondary problems such as infections or anxious behavior, be sure to see a doctor and a psychologist.

We hope that at least one of the tips will help you solve the problem and your child will stop biting his nails.

How to wean a child to bite his nails advice from doctors

Psychologist's advice on what to do to wean a child to gnaw

The desire to bite your nails is considered by most parents as a terrible habit, but doctors are of a different opinion. Especially for these purposes, the term "onychophagia" was developed, that is, an irresistible desire to bite one's nails for no apparent reason. By the way, adults also suffer from such a misfortune, so it will not work to call the disease exclusively for children. A similar problem is dermatophagia, when the baby wants to nibble on the cuticle or pluck it.

Some statistics

Doctors even conducted a large-scale study and were able to find out: over one third of children from 6 to 9 years old constantly bite their nails. Boys are prone to addiction much more often than girls. It is curious that the number of children increases with age, in the group from 10 to 17, already 50% of children bite their nails. This behavior is due to difficulties at school, changes, moving, problems in the family, quarrels with friends, parents.

The habit of biting nails is not only in children, but also in adults. Parents should not panic - the problem can be corrected

An addiction should not be left unattended, just as it should not be expected that it will pass with age. Screaming, reproaches and swearing will only worsen relations with your child, here you need to look for good reasons, work on the psychology and behavior of the child.

About the causes of habit

Dear reader!

This article talks about typical ways to solve your questions, but each case is unique! If you want to know how to solve your particular problem - ask your question. It's fast and free!

The causes of onychophagia are usually difficult to find - the answer to the question of why a child bites his nails does not lie on the surface, it must be discovered when analyzing the physiological, emotional spheres of the baby's life. Most often, there are several starting points, as problems accumulate gradually, leading to dire consequences.

Physiological

• The cuticle is not properly cared for, the child wants to eliminate the shortcomings on his own.
• The kid gets physical pleasure, in such an unusual way he tries to replace eating sweets.
• He suffers from diseases of the heart and blood vessels. There may be: arrhythmia, tachycardia, congenital malformation, the child always bites his nails, the causes are hidden from view.
• The body lacks vitamins and useful elements, especially E, B, magnesium. A bad habit is accompanied by psychosis, anxiety, high fatigue.

The child's body should receive a lot of vitamins from food, in cold season you can connect special nutritional supplements designed for children

Psychological

• Severe adaptation and social problems. If your child went to kindergarten at the age of 3, difficulties may arise in the new team, as well as worries due to a short separation from their parents. At the age of 7, the kid goes to school, where he also has to get used to the new environment. The child bites his nails unintentionally, but because of constant stress.
• Taking the baby off the breast too soon also puts you at risk for bad habits. In this way, the nipple will be replaced.
• Difficult relationships in the family provoke a desire to bite your nails. Quarrels of parents, conflicts on other occasions, not receiving love from one of the parents - all this affects negatively the character and habits. A hostile attitude is also possible, the child simply bites his nails to calm down a little.
• If the environment influences, it can be peers in kindergarten and school, an example at this age is contagious.
• The habit can be a manifestation of perfectionism, when the baby strives to achieve perfect harmony in everything, tries to subconsciously eliminate flaws.
• If before he had another addiction, the child may bite his nails, trying to get rid of it.
• Increased stress also affects the psyche. Children get tired at school when they attend additional circles and sections - it’s impossible to remove fatigue, you have to accumulate it in yourself, which subsequently leads to nervousness and the kids bite their nails.
• Lack of sleep also affects negatively - this is another reason for stress. When the daily routine is disturbed, anxiety appears, the baby is nervous, begins to bite his nails.
• Affects prolonged viewing of films and videos, games at the computer. So, you can sit at the computer up to 2 hours a day, and games in general should be about 0.5 hours, otherwise loud music and frequent frames will lead to irritation of the child's psyche. Parents should also choose the right films.

If a child has recently gone to school or is experiencing certain problems there, his nervous system will release tension in the form of bodily reactions, one of which is nail biting.

So what could be the matter: a summary of the reasons

The main reason that a child bites his nails is stress and moral overstrain. Bites activate pain centers in the brain that drown out other experiences and problems. The kid is distracted from experiences, concentrating on something else. According to pediatrician Yevgeny Komarovsky, the habit should not be ignored - parents, taking care of the child, are obliged to eliminate it, otherwise it will be much more difficult to do it in adulthood. You can’t shout at the baby, the main thing is to understand why this is happening.

A heart-to-heart conversation with the child will help well - it will be better if the parent in this case can act as a friend, and not a teacher. Try to solve the child's problems with him.

How to help a child: folk methods

In search of an answer to the question of how to wean a child to bite his nails, tips that have been successfully used by other parents will help:

• Buy a special nail polish on the hands from bites, it has a bitter aftertaste, it is easy to apply on the nails. Varnish helps to quickly forget about the habit without consequences. We must not forget that the baby must understand that he is bitter not at all because of the varnish, but because of the wrong behavior.
• Relieve stress and teach your child to do it on their own with breathing exercises or correct breathing. Clenching and unclenching the fists helps to wean well, 4-8 minutes of exercise lead to a significant decrease in nervousness.
• Try doing your daughter's manicure. Not a single girl from 5 years old will bite her beautiful nails on her hands. Teach her to take care of them, buy a special manicure set, admire the well-groomed hands, do your own manicure.

When you do not know what to do if a child bites his nails, seek the help of a psychologist:

• Communicate with your child more often, trying to determine the causes of behavior. Ask to draw different colors areas of life, the choice of dark tones is a sign that not everything is in order in this area, you need to carefully work on the problem.
• Increase the amount of time spent with the baby, this will allow you to feel affection and care. Listen to stories about school, friends, new hobbies, hug, caress, do a light hand massage before going to bed. Protect the child from negativity: quarrels, companies of smoking and drinking people. Life should be filled with only positive emotions.
• Make sure that no one bites their nails in the presence of a baby in the house, such a tool will save you from a contagious example.
• Direct hostility in another direction - for example, in the gaming sphere. Enroll your child in a sports club where you can throw out your emotions without harming yourself.
• For girls, drawing or needlework circles are suitable. Your kid will like the mosaic, applications, coloring. The creative channel is one of the best ways to take emotions to good use. For children from 11 months and older, toys help: balls, pebbles, transformers - everything that produces fine motor skills hands

Creativity has great healing and corrective power - if a child has found "his niche" where he can apply his imagination and talents, the bad habit will quickly go away

• Review your daily routine. Why does the bad habit of chewing appear? The child just walks a little in the fresh air, plays a little, a tight regime has a negative effect. There should be at least a couple of hours of sleep per day in order to improve mood and normalize psychological balance. The abundance of sections can also affect negatively, the baby can not cope, something needs to be removed.
• Teach your child to be independent, even a short separation from his mother should not unsettle him. Let him learn to make decisions himself, not to be bored without you, because there are a lot of worthy hobbies around. So that the process is not painful, even during the holidays, take the baby to the grandmother or to the kindergarten for an hour or two, constantly increasing the period. Over time, the child will get used to it, and you will be able to go about your business without looking back.
• Visit a psychologist or neurologist - these specialists will help you figure out the problems why the baby bites the skin, fingernails or toenails. In case of serious disorders, home methods are simply ineffective; sedatives, teas, and vitamin preparations are required. If physiological abnormalities are suspected, an examination for helminths will be prescribed, a cardiogram will be made, as well as other tests.

Very rarely, the cause of a bad habit is a violation in the work of the baby's body. In most cases, it is necessary to consider the psychological and social spheres.

Onychophagia is not just a bad habit when a child bites his nails, but a bell that attention should be paid to physiological and psychological problems. In this case, it is impossible to dismiss, as well as to expect that the problem will go away with age. A neglected form will become an obstacle for family happiness, communication with friends and full-fledged work. Do not spoil the life of your baby by refusing folk or professional treatment.

Clinical and perinatal psychologist, graduated from the Moscow Institute of Perinatal and Reproductive Psychology and Volgograd State Medical University with a degree in Clinical Psychology

The habit of biting nails is quite common in children. Most of all, children aged 3-5 years are prone to this. Unfortunately, it also occurs in older children - 9-10 years old. This problem worries not only children, but also their parents. An adult's fear that the habit will not go away on its own is well founded. The sooner you start to deal with it, the less the risk of transferring it to adult life. In our article, we will talk about the causes of this phenomenon and how to rid a child of the bad habit of biting his nails.

Why does a child bite his nails?

What does it mean if a child bites his nails? Allocate the reasons of psychological and physiological character. Let's stop at the first.

Physiological causes

Onychophagia, i.e. The habit of biting your nails can hide some diseases, namely:

1. Hyperactivity, high excitability of the nervous system - biting the nails, the child tries to get rid of internal tension;
2. Lack of vitamins and useful trace elements;
3. Improper nutrition - this includes not only the lack of any foods in the diet, but also the refusal of adults to spoil children with sweets;
4. Diseases of the cardiovascular system;
5. Violation of the functions of the gastrointestinal tract, the appearance of worms;
6. Early weaning of the child from the breast, if the baby was not ready for this;
7. Non-compliance with the rules of hygiene by parents in relation to a small child - you should cut your nails in a timely manner and monitor the cuticle.

But most of all, experts tend to believe that the child constantly bites his nails because of psychological problems.

Socio-psychological reasons

Consider the most common causes Why does a child bite his nails.

Stress or difficult psychological atmosphere in the house

This condition can be caused due to the loss of a loved one or loss of communication with him. Often the divorce of parents or constant conflicts between them provoke the habit of biting nails in a child. Watch your baby - children are very susceptible to psychological situation in family.

Problems with adaptation

Change of residence, new friends, trip to kindergarten, new school- these situations bring a certain discomfort to the child, because he found himself in completely new and unusual conditions for himself. Do not leave the child alone with his experiences - talk to him, prepare him for the idea that soon he will have new acquaintances.

Negative adult example

If one of the family members also bites their nails, then the child will simply follow the same habit. Look after yourself and set a good example.

Wrong daily routine

A child of one year and 2 years old really needs the right daily routine. This is the optimal age for putting the baby to bed at the same time and following a certain routine. The nervous system at this age is not yet fully formed, so do not overwork the baby.

Low self-esteem of the child

This happens if parents expect too much from the child - they require compliance with all the rules in the house, they do not allow them to take the initiative, they expect excellent performance at school, and much more. Such situations lead the child to biting his nails - this is how he splashes out his resentment on adults.

The child bites his nails out of boredom

If the child has nothing to do, then he does not find anything better than to start biting his nails. And not only on the hands, but also on the legs. Try to keep your child busy, go to different activities with him or just walk more. Then he won't have time for this bad habit.

Computer games, TV

A long stay at the TV watching cartoons or playing on the computer has a devastating effect on the child's nervous system. His psyche is not yet completely resistant to such visual loads, so the time of stay should be reduced. It is enough to devote a couple of hours a day to cartoons, and computer games- no more than half an hour a day. Believe me, this will be enough even despite the protests of your child.

A child is still an immature vessel with a rich inner world Therefore, there can be many reasons for the appearance of onychophagia. Bitten nails may just be a bad habit that has no psychological or physiological underpinnings. The sooner you eliminate your child's nail biting habit, the better it will be for him.

Onychophagia in children: bad habit of biting nails

Consequences of onychophagy

Unfortunately, this seemingly harmless disease can have a number of negative consequences:

1. The fingertips and the nail plate are damaged;
2. Nails stop growing, ingrown nails appear - a rather dangerous phenomenon;
3. Open wounds can become a conductor for the introduction of infections, which in turn provokes the development of fungal diseases;
4. Dirt from under the nails enters the stomach, its normal functioning is disrupted;
5. There are problems with the teeth.

And this is only an incomplete list of all the consequences, not to mention the psychological side of this issue. An ugly habit can cause problems in communicating with the opposite sex, especially for girls.

How to wean a child to bite his nails?

If you notice that your child is biting his nails, then take action immediately. Below we will talk about what advice psychologists give and is it possible to eliminate this habit with traditional medicine? And also what do doctors suggest about this?

Whatever the habit of onychophagy, main advice psychologists - do not scold your child, so you will only exacerbate the problem. Try to solve it in other ways.

Change your attitude towards the problem

First things first - calm down. Your anger and increased attention to this bad habit it will only complicate everything. The child will begin to bite his nails more often, and this is not at all a way out of the situation. Children may begin to do this more often only out of harm to you, so do not pay attention to it.

Observe the child's behavior

Study the behavior of your baby - when does he start biting his nails, at what time of the day, what causes it and how does he begin to behave? Answering these questions will allow you to find the root of the problem. And when you know what to fight against, it is already much easier to eradicate the habit.

Establish a psychological environment in the family

Talk to the child, discuss what worries him, be attentive, patient and affectionate. Sometimes the dislike of your child provokes the habit of biting your nails. Hug your child more often, rejoice in his success. Your relationship with your husband is also important - stop sorting things out with your spouse in front of the child, it is better to do it alone.

Interest the child

This is quite simple to do - come up with games in which the child's hands will be busy with something. For example, play ball with him, draw, sculpt, assemble a designer and much more - show your imagination. And it will be good for the child that mom and dad paid attention to him, and your goal will give a result. You can invite the child to draw his feelings - if it is difficult for him to tell something, let him throw it out on paper.

Motivate the child

This will require your ingenuity and creativity. Children are very influenced by the examples of others. Psychologists advise to come up with a story about a boy (or girl) Seryozha, who bit his nails and how badly it ended. Fairy tale therapy - very effective method. If you have a daughter, give her a set of beautiful jewelry with the words that only girls with beautiful nails wear it.

Contact a specialist

What to do in advanced cases? If the above methods did not give a positive result, then contact a neurologist or psychologist. Perhaps your baby will better tell a stranger about his problems, or he needs medical help.

Treatment with medications

Before prescribing a medicine, the doctor will definitely refer your child to a pediatric gastroenterologist and neuropathologist. Based on their findings, treatment will be prescribed.

We restore the intestines

Calm the nervous system

If the reasons lie in excessive overexcitation and emotional instability, medications are often indispensable. The neurologist will be able to choose an individual treatment, and this is best done at the age of 3-4 years. Then it becomes much more difficult to solve the problem. Do not be afraid of this therapy - there are many homeopathic remedies for natural basis, some of them can be consumed from a year.

Special funds

At the pharmacy, you can buy funds so that the child does not bite his nails - these are varnishes for children who bite their nails, they are called " Smart enamel". They taste like hot peppers - in general, when they get into the mouth, there is little pleasant.

You can also purchase a special ointment - with it the desire to bite your nails will quickly disappear. She smears not only the nail plate, but also the skin on the fingers. The only thing is that you need to choose and use them very carefully - they contain quite a lot of unwanted chemical components.

Onychophagia in children: leads to damage and slow nail growth

Traditional medicine treatment

Below we will present the methods known from our grandmothers. These methods do not always help, but there will definitely not be any harm from them.

Red pepper or mustard

What can you put on your child's fingers to stop biting their nails? Red pepper or mustard is best suited for these purposes. Having tried this seasoning at least once, the child is unlikely to want to repeat it. Nail biting will be associated with something very unpleasant.

Zelenka

This recommendation is suitable for mothers whose children have not yet crossed the age of 4 years; brilliant green works very well on babies. Firstly, appearance pens can scare, and secondly, brilliant green in itself is tasteless. Yes, and then the face becomes green. Take your baby to a mirror and show him how bad he looks when he starts biting his nails.

Gymnastics

This method is useful and very effective. Show your child how to alternately clench and unclench their fists. Combine the exercise with breathing practice - a deep breath is followed by a deep exhalation. Such regular exercises will help relieve unnecessary stress in the baby and make him more calm. Consequently, the child will gradually stop biting his nails.

CONSPIRACY

This method does not apply to folk medicine, rather, this is an unconventional way, but still. Even our great-grandmothers resorted to this method.

In the evening, when the baby falls asleep, lie down next to him and, stroking his head, say: “Don’t bite your nails, dear, otherwise you will lose strength.”

Sustained reflex

Buy a bracelet for your child. As soon as the child puts his hand in his mouth, pull it back. Strongly it is not necessary - the child will be very sick. This method is not suitable for all parents, but it can be very effective.

You can see his video for children, why you can not bite your nails, on the Internet. Here we will talk about its main theses.

The main thing the doctor says is Negative consequences this bad habit, namely:

1. Infection - its entry into the body is not so harmless, therefore, you should follow the rules of hygiene and wash your child's hands more often;
2. Fungus - in nail-biting children, it is more common than others;
3. Digestive dysfunctions - fraught with disruption of the stomach and liver;
4. The appearance of nails deteriorates - not only their external attractiveness disappears, but further growth also worsens.

Dr. Komarovsky believes that everything can be agreed with a child, especially if he has already reached the age of 10. Girls, in his opinion, can be explained that women's hands are an indicator of beauty and grooming. Such an explanation would be the most reasonable. When talking to your child, make eye contact so that your words will be more meaningful to him.

But, if explanations do not help, then Dr. Komarovsky suggests using fairy tale therapy or game therapy. We have already mentioned the first, but dolls are suitable for the second. You can make an impromptu puppet theater with several characters, one of which will constantly bite his nails. Other characters will tell him how bad it is and try to help him in this matter. Connect to the game and your child, ask his opinion on the main character - does he do well, biting his nails? How can you help him?

Regarding grandmother's methods, the doctor is very skeptical. Komarovsky is sure that the use of mustard, pepper and other folk methods is not the best idea, since hot spices can damage the mucous membranes of the eyes and nose.

Komarovsky considers his own example to be the best way out of the current problem. If the parents don't bite their nails, then the child won't either. Show your baby how to properly cut nails, clean cuticles - get a special children's kit. Let your child learn to be independent from childhood.

A child bites his nails - the problem is one of the most common. It can only be dealt with by eliminating negative factors from your life and your indifferent attitude to the baby. Do not forget about yourself - only your positive example of a parent will make the child calm and self-sufficient.