View Full Version : Nail biters - literally
Hoping for bit of inspiration here[msnsmile]
I have 2 children who are nailbiters , who seem to be immune to all the 'Stop and Grow' type products in the UK.
Does anyone know of anything available in the US that might break the habit? The children are 11 and 8 - no sign of growing out of it - they'll be down to their elbows soon!
The stronger the better[}:)]
Aiminghigh
09-12-2005, 00:14
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Jo
Hoping for bit of inspiration here[msnsmile]
I have 2 children who are nailbiters , who seem to be immune to all the 'Stop and Grow' type products in the UK.
Does anyone know of anything available in the US that might break the habit? The children are 11 and 8 - no sign of growing out of it - they'll be down to their elbows soon!
The stronger the better[}:)]
[/quote]
My daughter was like this from being tiny. I tried everything, and I mean EVERYTHING! A relative offered her a huge cash bribe when she was 11, which consisted of cash for each nail grown by Christmas(starting from September). I said it would never work as she just couldn't stop no matter what. Amazingly, she stopped biting immediately and by that Christmas had a beautiful set of painted nails! She received her money. Less than a year later she started again[msnsad]. It proved to me that she could in fact do it, even after all the years of biting. The truth is that unless there is any great reason for them wanting to stop-they won't! All the horrible tasting things in the world wouldn't stop her though. She did it because she had a very good reason to do it-I was amazed.
Good idea [msnwink]- I've also thought of handcuffs behind their back , but thought their school work might suffer!
Cruella DeVilla
09-12-2005, 01:02
Jo,
Boys or girls or both?
I have a 21 y/o boy who still bites them so badly and a 16 y/o girl who was the same untill 4 weeks ago and out of the blue she has stopped[msneek] can't believe it as we have tried everything including mega bribes, but she just did it so who knows, I had given up[msnwink]
None of my other children bite though[msnscared]
I would be glad for any info on this too[:I] I have a 9 year old who bites his nails until they bleed:( I have tried bribes and all sorts, he says he wants to stop but can't, my other son who is 14 has never done this[?] So someone please help:)
Hi Jo
at the ages of 11 and 8 i think that you will be fighting a losing battle to get them out of "the habit"
when i was little my mum had a mantra that went along the lines if you bite the fingers then you do the toes too
it must have had the desired effect because none of us bite our nails even my big brother who is a big rough and ready sort of guy
you didnt say if your children are girls or boys maybe you could let them have some girly pampering sessions with some of your childrens friends or a boys alternative treat as a reward system for not biting
or perhaps a nail growing competition with a fab prize would give them the incentive to start anew
good luck Mizzy
The 11 year old is a boy - so not impressed with nail polish! Megan is 8. She bites hers as a nervous habit I think. I watch her at Gynmastics and when its not her go she is always nibbling.
Both are awful when watching TB.
I might take up the gloves suggestion - to be worn while watching TV - that might help.
My other 11 year old son doesn't nibble at all. I'd love nails like his as mine are weak and always breaking. I'd like to say too much housework - but its more likely too much typing!
My 38 year old hubby is still chewing away - nothing to do with being married to me of course[msnwink]
Maybe they will grow out of it in time like Julie's 16 year old
Cruella DeVilla
09-12-2005, 02:26
Try and bribe Megan with the fact that if she stops biting her nails when she is older she will have lovely nails to paint etc. Show her some nails from the web. There are hundreds of designs out there, here are a couple I have just found. If you bring her to the meet maybe we could do something as a treat, see if she can stop biting them for a couple of weeks? (I will have Xmas designs on mine by then and they will be long)!
Bpoys well I have no idea apart from th efact that girls won't like chewed nails!
http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/Data/cruella devilla/2005128221333_purphibmarg.jpg
http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/Data/cruella devilla/2005128222622_nailartbyvickiirvine.jpg
LiesaAnna
09-12-2005, 02:50
some lovely designs there CDV,
Jo do they like marmite? if not, providing theyre willing coat some on there nails, i think this is what i was told, it takes forever to wash the taste off!
Marmite - you either love it or hate it - they love it!
Jacqueline, Megan will be so impressed to see your nails - that might just help. If she manages to stop while we are in Florida I can plan a big reward when we get home.
Lawrence is motivated by money - maybe bribary will work with him - or threatening to paint flowers on his fingers!![msnembarrased]
LiesaAnna
09-12-2005, 03:13
doh! back to the drawing board!
I bit mine until I was 14, I was told if I wanted to be an air stewardess I would have to have long nails - I stopped over night and the rest is history[msnwink] I still have lovely long nails and they are always painted[msnwink]
Ray&Sarah
09-12-2005, 11:57
Love the Christmas nail designs CDV.[msnsmile2]
Fab designs - must treat myself one day and get mine done
Cruella DeVilla
09-12-2005, 12:37
The Xmas ones are airbrushed Sarah. I do my own when I have time but I much prefer to go to the salon and have them done for me by hand.
Last year I had snow flakes, on fingernails and big toe nails. Deep red polish with white flake (rhinestone in the middle) and silvery snow fall. Cute and looked especially good on toenails! Think I will have a wrapped present design this year. I love it, when we got married in Vegas I had pale blue flowers painted ontop of a clear manicure as my wedding dress was blue and gold, they were really cool. Random statement now, this is the only time when I have had my nails done in the US that it was not an Asian guy/girl doing them.
I remember going to a hair salon in Torquay with a french manicure on my toenails as I had just come back from the States and the girls were all going mad about it, now I think it is the norm to see it in the UK.
Ray&Sarah
09-12-2005, 20:03
I would love to have them done but am absolutely hopeless when I paint my own nails I always end up knocking them.[msnoo][msnsmile]
julieanne
09-12-2005, 20:05
Just broke two of my lovely nails today [msncry] [msncry]
and they're my own so not easily repaired - if at all :(
I'm afraid to say that I still bite my nails and I'm 40something, I didnt want my daughter who's now 15 to get into the habit so right from her being small whenever she started to have a nibble (which was very regular) I would suggest that if she carried on biting they would end up like mine (show of hands) she has beautiful nails now which she doesnt bite, doesnt do much with them either but they always look lovely. I wish .........