If you have a child who nibbles her nails, you're not alone. According to NorthShore University HealthSystem, nail biting is a common activity among people of all ages, but it is particularly prominent among kids, with approximately half of children ages 10 through 18 taking up the habit. Anywhere from 30 to 60 percent of younger kids bite their nails. After age 10, however, boys are more likely to be nail-biters than girls. The prevalence of the habit lessens with age; and 75 percent of those who were nail-biters as children will give up the habit by the time they turn 35.
Causes
Children bite their nails for a variety of reasons. They may be conveniently addressing poorly trimmed or ragged nails. Nail biting is a common reaction to stress or anxiety, as well as a comfort measure. For younger children, nail biting may act as a stand-in for thumb sucking. If you or others who spend time around your child bite their nails, a child may simply be imitating the behavior. In rarer cases, nail biting may be an extension of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Symptoms
Nail biting symptoms are generally obvious, ranging from torn ragged nails to severely mutilated nails. Nail biters may have very short nails. Some suffer minor bleeding. If nail biting continues for many years, scarring may occur.
Dangers
If nail biting is persistent, the child may suffer ingrown nails or permanently disfigured nails and scarring around the nailbed area. Nail biting may result in warts. Aggressive nail biting that causes bleeding may become infected. The area underneath nails is notorious for harboring dirt and grime. Hence, nail biting may provide a conduit for ingestion of bacteria or other unsuitable substances.
Preventions
Although most nail biters quit on their own, you may want to curb an over-zealous nail biter or help her quit, particularly if she's interested in stopping and having trouble doing so on her own. Keep your child's nails smooth and well groomed, so she won't be tempted to groom with her teeth. For a habitual biter, offer her an age-appropriate diversion object such as an inviting palm-sized ball or wad of silly putty to busy her hands during times she normally chews her nails. Barrier preventions include putting gloves on her hands or applying colorful band-aids around her fingertips.
Negative Response Treatment
Although some decry the application of bitter tasting polishes as a treatment that is misconstrued by a child as a punishment, foul tasting applications to a nail-biter's fingertips is a negative response treatment that has been employed for decades. Older kids might try putting a rubber band around their wrists and snapping it each time they go to bite their nails to provide a negative behavioral reinforcement.
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