Dr Phil Kieran: My 12-year-old keeps biting their nails and then hates how they look... how can I help?

Will they grow out of it or should I find something to help distract them or prevent them biting their nails?

Dr Phil Kieran: "Nail biting is one of the habits most parents wish their kids wouldn’t pick up. It occurs in roughly one in five children, so you are not alone. There are several causes for nail biting — often, it just comes down to repetition."

Tue, 27 Aug, 2024 - 00:25

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Dr Phil Kieran is a full-time GP practising in Cork. He previously presented RTE's 'You Should Really See a Doctor' and 'How Long Will You Live?'.

My 12-year-old daughter keeps biting her nails, even though she hates how they look. She has started talking about false nails. I'd prefer it if she didn't bite her nails in the first place. What would you suggest?

Nail biting is one of the habits most parents wish their kids wouldn’t pick up. It occurs in roughly one in five children, so you are not alone. There are several causes for nail biting - often, it just comes down to repetition.