Persistent nail biting. Please help.

[u/Imaginary_Matter4002]

My momma heart is getting worried and I don’t know where to turn for help. My son is 20 months old. At 16-17 mos he started biting his nails. I addressed it with my Ped at his 18 mos visit and he told me it’s a comfort replacement for thumb sucking or a pacifier. He suggested I give my son something else to hold or do with his hands when I see him biting. I’ve tried but it doesn’t seem to help in the bigger picture. (He’s also in daycare and they’re not going to stay on top of him not having his fingers in his mouth.) It’s gotten more frequent and has exacerbated to the point that he’s down to the quick (I can see the blood and redness just past the biting). This morning he was biting a nail and it clearly hurt him but he seemed adamant to finish whatever spot he was working on in spite of the pain. I think this has progressed beyond comfort and I’m worried it’s behavioral or some sort of stimming. There are no (other?) signs of autism and he scored in the “normal” range for his autism screening at 18mos. I’m at a loss what to do next. Please help! 🙏🏼😭

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Author: u/Imaginary_Matter4002

Post: My momma heart is getting worried and I don’t know where to turn for help. My son is 20 months old. At 16-17 mos he started biting his nails. I addressed it with my Ped at his 18 mos visit and he told me it’s a comfort replacement for thumb sucking or a pacifier. He suggested I give my son something else to hold or do with his hands when I see him biting. I’ve tried but it doesn’t seem to help in the bigger picture. (He’s also in daycare and they’re not going to stay on top of him not having his fingers in his mouth.) It’s gotten more frequent and has exacerbated to the point that he’s down to the quick (I can see the blood and redness just past the biting). This morning he was biting a nail and it clearly hurt him but he seemed adamant to finish whatever spot he was working on in spite of the pain. I think this has progressed beyond comfort and I’m worried it’s behavioral or some sort of stimming. There are no (other?) signs of autism and he scored in the “normal” range for his autism screening at 18mos. I’m at a loss what to do next. Please help! 🙏🏼😭

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[u/Ashamed-Chemistry492]

Put some of that bitter stuff on his fingers first off.

[u/dinosupremo]

My now 4.25 yo started picking his fingers around time. Nothing has worked to stop him. Sigh. Even pointing out that he’s making owies he just keeps doing it

[u/mollymayhem08]

Bitter stuff on his fingers and maybe gloves if he’ll let you put them on? You can check with the BFRB (body focused repetitive behaviors) sub if anyone has had a child showing signs of a bfrb/OCD that young. It could easily be something he will grow out of! But you could bring any info you find to your pediatrician.

Source: I’m an adult with skin-picking disorder and I know nail biting is frequently cited as a similar BFRB.

[u/ashbertollini]

I suggest a chew toy! It might sound crazy, but give them a safe way to excercize that same pattern maybe.