nail bitting

  My son is three-years-old and will bite his nails until they bleed.  I have searched for that stuff to put on his nails that tastes bad, but I can not find it.  The doctor told me to keep something in his hands so that he stays occupied, it did not work.  He will even bite his toe nails until they bleed if he has a chance.  I do not know what to do because if I take my eyes off of him a second his fingers are in his mouth and he is bitting his nails.
Dear Jennifer:
Sorry for the delay in responding.
Nail biting is a common habit pattern during childhood and adult life. Few children begin nail biting before four years of age. Family studies suggest there may be a genetic basis for nail biting.
Nail biting which results in bleeding as you describe in your son warrants the right kind of attention. It is important to think about any special stressors which might be affecting your family and your son and to attempt to reduce them if at all possible. Few proposed treatments have proven satisfactory. Attempting to distract the child, covering the hands and feet, and using bitter substances on the nails generally fail as interventions.
While your concerns are very understandable, I am sure you know that punishment, threats, and displays of parental anger are counterproductive and that you have avoided them. Behavioral treatment has been most useful. Positive reinforcement (catching your son when he is being good - even for an instant- and praising and rewarding him for not biting his nails will be most effective in the long run. You might find meeting with a developmental pediatrician or a child psychologist quite useful for specific suggestions.
I hope this response helps steer you toward a happy outcome. It is provided for educational purposes only. Your child's pediatrician should be able to help you further in getting the help you need.
HFHS.MD-HSW
KEYWORDS: Nail biting, positive reinforcement, punishment