But before you can do that, it's essential that you deal with the underlying causes of the behavior and think about whether there's stress in your child's life that you need to address." "Our initial response when children do something that worries us is to try to stop the behavior, and that's fine as a long-term goal," says parenting educator Janis Keyser, co-author of Becoming the Parent You Want to Be. What to do about nail-bitingĪddress her anxieties. In all likelihood, your child will eventually stop on his own, but if the nail-biting goes on longer than you'd like, or if it's a habit you just can't abide, there are simple ways to help him quit. See "When to worry about nail-biting," below, for exceptions. If your child bites moderately (doesn't injure himself) and unconsciously (while watching television, for example), or if he tends to bite in response to specific situations (such as performances or tests), it's just his way of coping with minor stress and you have nothing to worry about. Growing up can make kids anxious, and many of these tensions and pressures are invisible to parents. It's also the one most likely to continue into adulthood. Nail-biting is the most common of the so-called "nervous habits," which include thumb-sucking, nose picking, hair twisting or tugging, and teeth grinding. Your child may bite his nails for any number of reasons – curiosity, boredom, stress relief, habit, or imitation.