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Kellz 
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Gisborne
Points: 7186
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 Topic: Extreme Nail biting/picking
Posted: 23 June 2012 at 3:05pm |
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How can I help my DD 5 1/2 to stop biting/picking her nails? Or at least stop picking them so short til they are bleeding a lot.
Her smallest and second toes on both feet now almost have no visible nail at all. Her big toe nails are picked so short that the skin of the top of the toe sits higher than the nail. I'm worried shes doing permanent damage to the nail beds and/or will get ingrown nails which worse case scenario will need surgery.
TIA
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Bizzy
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: New Zealand
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Posted: 23 June 2012 at 4:52pm |
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Hmmm no experience with that problem. Have you tried pretty nail polishes? Use them as a bribe perhaps? Or maybe teach her to trim them and file them nicely? I have kind of an opposite problem in that Toby hates me trimming his nails and they are disgusting. But the other week he insisted on trimming his own and said he will do them again next time they get too long.
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Kellz
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Gisborne
Points: 7186
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Posted: 23 June 2012 at 5:10pm |
She loves nail polish, but I havent tried anything as a bribe or anything yet. Just today her second big toe nail on one foot bleed and bleed and there is almost no nail so I feel like I have to do something but dont know what. I would teach her to cut/ file her nails if she had any, lol- there is literally NEVER anything to cut or file 
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Bizzy
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Posted: 23 June 2012 at 8:33pm |
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Maybe try that then. tell her when they get to a certain length she can pick a nail polish colour and paint her toenails? Maybe you could put plasters on them for a week or 2 to help her stop the habit as well?
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Kellz
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Location: Gisborne
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Posted: 23 June 2012 at 8:44pm |
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She doesnt cope with plasters well,... she has issues with things being "uncomfortable/itchy" etc,..mostly her clothes, but she will rip a plaster off after an hr.
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SpecialK
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Joined: 29 August 2008
Location: New Zealand
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Posted: 18 July 2012 at 1:16pm |
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Kellz, my 3 year old has started doing this recently, but on his hands. I think for him it is a stress response, he does it when he is upset, and I have recently had a miscarriage so he's seen me very upset etc and bit his fingernails a lot. Anyway, I told him that if he wanted to bite on something he can have his special toy that he takes to bed to cuddle and bite (he's had since 4 momth old, and uses it like a cuddly/dummy/bitey. Seems to have worked, although he still bites the odd nail.
Also, what about pretty socks/tights so she can't get to her toenails? Socks with toes on them?
HTH!
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fallen
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Posted: 20 July 2012 at 4:33pm |
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My 13 year old has been doing it since she was about 3 and her daycare centre was insisting she still went for a sleep. So she'd lie there bored and chomp away. Unfortunately its become a habit that we haven't managed to break yet.
My nearly 3 year old started biting his finger and toe nails earlier this year. It was the same situation, I would put him in his room for a nap/quiet time and he'd be bored and chomp. Since I've stopped putting in his bed for quiet times (he can now watch a DVD in the lounge) hes stopped biting.
So for my kids its a boredom thing.
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Extreme Nail biting/picking