The habit of biting nails can be a clear reflection of the inner life of a child and most of the time it is due to a discharge of anguish, fear or tension that the child experiences. Parents play a very important role in this situation. An excess of authoritarianism or giving a slap when we see the child with his hand in his mouth, are not convenient or effective.
There are much better formulas! Look for the cause of the habit. For this you can advise with the teachers or if necessary with the family doctor.
The child himself is surely intimidated and convinced that what he is doing is not right. If someone surprises him, he feels ashamed and will only make him hide more and more to do so.
The child who bites his nails is almost always nervous or distracted and finds no better way to concentrate than biting his nails, even if it does damage himself and even acquire an infection.
How it begins: This custom is almost always acquired at school age and reaches its peak between 8 and 15 years of age, so it follows that it has a lot to do with school problems.
Many psychologists have observed that this habit only stops when the adolescent boy begins to smoke.
Danger of infection: When a child cuts the nail so short that the lateral edges penetrate the flesh, the surroundings become irritated, red and produce a watery discharge that turns into pus. An immediate cleaning should be done with hot soapy water, rinsing with cold water. Afterwards, a compress soaked in hot water and vinegar is applied to reduce the inflammation, repeating this operation several times a day. If the infection is large, the doctor may recommend an antibiotic ointment.
Many times, parents can "stop" this habit, when they are still young, buying at the pharmacy a product that is smeared on their fingers with a brush and that is very bitter.
When the child puts his nails in his mouth, he rejects the bitter taste and, with good luck, he may lose the habit, although he must insist and continue applying it as long as he sees that the child relapses. If this method does not work, do not hesitate to consult with the psychologist to find out what is causing the problem in your child.
I have also sometimes a belly habit of biting my fingernails.😉