4 Yr. Old Daughter Bites Her Nails and Then They Get Infected! Help!

Nail and cuticle biting is a stress reliever for your daughter. Now its become a vicious circle because she is picking up the added stress about the infections and taking the medication.
Hypnosis is very effective with unwanted habits. Since she is so young you probably need to find a pediatric hypnotherapist. I only know of one, Alicia Birong. I dont know her # off hand but I'm sure you can google her.If she is too far she may be able to refer you to someone in your area.

I bit my nails all my life and the only thing that has stopoped me from biting them is a product from www.whatshebuys.com. I think you have to buy 2 bottles, but I leave one here at work and the other at home. It's super nasty tasting and unlike the other types of nail polish out there, doesn't wash off. I apply a coat of nail polish on my nails and then do a coat of Mavala Stop (item number mav-90312-nb)

I borrowed a bottle to my girlfriend whose college daughter always bit her nails too and she just called me last week and said her daughter finally has long nails. The hardest thing about having it on your nails is to remember not to lick your fingers or put your fingers in your mouth (like when you are eating chips or nuts). You should tell your daughter that you are applying it and it will taste bad. We used it on my 2 year old daughter (she sucks her tumb) and forgot to use nail polish remover and when she put her thumb in her mouth, she immediately threw up (yeah, it's that bad).

I would have a chat with her. Shes old enough to take the medicine the right way so I would sit her in a chair give her the medicine and tell her "I know it tastes yucky but to make your fingers feel better you have to take it, drink it fast and you can have a treat"

For the nail biting the only thing that I found that ever worked was the Sally Hansen Nail Biter. I haven't been able to find it lately.

Also do you paint your nails? If you do that might be an incentive for her. She can have her nails painted like mommy if shes doesn't put them in her mouth.

Hi C.,
I had this with my 4 year old tried all the above..The only thing that worked was this stop nail bitting and thumb sucking tiny polish from walgreens! Worked immediatly...he was so proud of himself quickly and to reinforce that I explained how proud I was of him and he earned a trip to the $store and can pick something! This product tastes bad but causes no discomfort if swallowed...it tastes bitter with a little tingle.Hope this helps!
Regarding the medicine I would use a syringe and put her on her lap with one of her arms behind your back...tip her so she's laying back (not to far) Then I put my arm around him and have my arm between his waist and free arm so he can't pull it out. Just squirt a little at a time and they have not much choice but to swallow! I'm a Mom of 4 boys..that's the fun thing of having more than one...lots of trial and error! Wishing you the best!!!!
D. T

Just a thought.....When the nails are NOT infected (in a little glass like a "shot glass") I'd have her soak her fingers every night in something like peroxide, or bactine to keep them from getting infected..... It's hard to break that habit. With my daughter I tried all the no bite stuff they sell and finger nail polish......nothing worked.......maybe you could try a pretty ring that would remind her not to bite them???? Good luck hope you find something!!

C., She is young so I don't know if this will work but it is what I did. I bit my nails my whole life until a year ago. I wore one of those small plastic bracelets (Livestrong type). Then every time I noticed my hands in or near my mouth I would stop and move the bracelet to the other arm. It helped me become aware of when I was doing it and it took a bit of effort to move the bracelet. Enough that it got my hands away from my mouth. Another important thing is to keep the edges from being rough. No one likes rough skin or broken nails. It might be worth it to do a home manicure every week with her to soften up the injured skin and nails. WIthout the rough edges there is nothing to grip onto. Does that make sense? For me it WAS NOT STRESS, just a bad habit. Good Luck.