It’s unlikely that your child does this on purpose, as most experts believe this behavior is habitual, meaning that a child repeats a certain action without realizing it. The reasons for it may vary. For example, a child may begin to bite their nails as a way to somehow calm or occupy themselves. It is also possible that they are trying to get rid of broken nails this way.

It’s important to keep in mind that this behavior can be dangerous for a child in the following ways.

Burrs and sores can appear on fingers, which may lead to the development of a serious infection or infectious disease.
Chips and cracks form on the teeth, causing the enamel to wear away gradually.
Ingrown nails may form on the hands.
Over time, the habit can develop into a disorder, resulting in compulsive nail-biting.

At first, if the child is old enough, talk to them calmly, and ask why they bite their nails, discuss together how both of you can try to stop this behavior, and what it can possibly lead to. Remember that this is often an automatic behavior that a child can perform without realizing it and then may feel guilty about what happened. Therefore, it’s more effective to seek a suitable solution together and not to punish them for wrong behavior.

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