“How Do I Stop My Son from Biting His Nails?”   

My seven-year-old has started to bite his nails. He was always a very sensory-seeking child, constantly fidgeting with something, and now he’s found an outlet that’s always available: his nails. It’s gotten so bad, he even bites the skin of the tops of his fingers and they bleed sometimes. What’s the best way to put a stop to this?

Most childhood nail-biting is harmless and transitory, disappearing over time without parental intervention. But without an intentional and dedicated protocol for healing, some children will persist in the habit all the way to and through adulthood.

Onychophagia (nail-biting disorder) is part of a larger medical condition called onychotillomania, which includes nail-biting, nail picking, and finger sucking. Some kids are more likely candidates for this diagnosis than others, notably those with close family members who have similar habits such as trichotillomania (hair/eyelash pulling), lip peeling, or skin picking disorders, ADHD, OCD, Tourette syndrome, and other neurodiversities.

Whatever the etiology, once the nail bed is damaged or there is cuticle damage or bleeding, it’s is time to upgrade the issue from an “annoying habit” to a “medical condition” as damaged nails can lead to infections.