This is the ultimate product for eliminating nail biting activities.  In fact, it can also be used for other things like eliminating the pacifier or thumb.  Warning:  It’s extremely bitter and tastes disgusting.  I’m sure there are other products similar to this, but for both Vanessa and Natalie, it has been effective for a variety of “unique” habits.

Vanessa is the ultimate nail biter.  I don’t know why children do it, it might be a fun habit to keep them busy – but I haven’t been as firm in using this Bite-X as I should be – which means everyday.  Apparently though, a majority of children bite their nails (60% of 10-year olds bite their nails) and as they get into adulthood, about 10% of adults continue to bite their nails!  There are some theories that stress and tension attributes to nail biting, but this isn’t always the case.  For children who seem to have a hand-mouth attraction, nail biting is a natural progression.

Quite truthfully, Vanessa’s nails look like a battleground.  I virtually don’t have to ever cut them because she does it for me!  But with the introduction of Bite-X, lol, she can have normals nails and eliminate this nasty habit.  I say nasty because it increases her chances of getting sick if she’s always got her hands in her mouth.  Who knows where her hands have been!  And knowing children, they have been EVERYWHERE, if not more.  This is why my obsessive habit of washing her hands is so critical.

Like my previous post, “Do You Taste Everything You Give Your Children?”, I actually tried this Bite-X.  I mean, curiousity in how this stuff works and how effective it is.  It’s damn effective because it’s extremely bitter.  It’s not only bitter, but it almost seems to sting your tongue.  As well, the bitterness is stained in your mouth and takes half a day to fade away.  It’s truly a horrendous experience.  My sister has also used this with a 2-day success rate on her daughter’s thumb sucking.  Sadly though, once you’ve got it in your mouth, it’s like the flu and will pass to other objects you place in your mouth (like her pacifier) and then everything’s bitter.  See how wonderful it is?

I think this product is great because it eliminates parental nagging.  I’ve tried nagging and reminding her that nail biting is not a good habit, but none of those work.  So, in the end, I just wean out the nail biting by conditioning.  I don’t think she feels it’s a form of punishment because she doesn’t object (like my other forms of punishment) and she seems pretty content in helping me blow dry her nails after painting on a coat.  Anyways, as parents, I wouldn’t stress too much about it – simply try applying something similar to Bite-X and see what happens.  Hey, why stress about it when they aren’t really inflicting physical damage to themselves and there are solutions available?  You can only tackle so many things at once before you go crazy….literally.

References:  Baby Center