Nail biting is a common problem for children and adults

¦ My nine-year-old daughter has recently started to bite her nails.

Last night she was upset and when I looked at her hands she had bitten down some of the nails so far that two of them were bleeding. What should I do?

>> Nail biting in children is a very common problem and many of them will find it very hard to stop the habit. It is estimated that 20-33% of children between the ages of seven and 10 years and 45% of adolescents will bite their finger nails at some point.