ds strange habbit.

looby75

Not money saving as such but there are so many great and knowledgeable posters here I thought someone might have some ideas.

Over the last couple of months my ds has started this really gross habit of constantly licking his finger and toe nails _pale_ He does it all the time, he complains they feel dry and when they catch on anything it makes him feel cold and shivery. He even does it in his sleep! His mouth and chin are a mess, full of little scratches of his nails and chapped skin from the constant licking.

I've tried using moisturising lotion on both his hands and feet but it doesn't seem to help and he carries on licking and ends up "eating" the moisturising lotion. Even the nasty taste of the lotion doesn't put him off, and seeing as he does it in his sleep I doubt that the no bite nail stuff would work either.

I'm at my wits end, I'm worried he's going to make himself really ill, it doesn't matter how mucky his hands are he licks his nails, it's almost like a reflex now and doesn't realise he's doing it half the time.

Anyone ever heard of anything like this before, any ideas?

lestinch

I'm sorry for being so simple, but what's a ds?

looby75

dear son

nearlyrich

How old is he?

Sounds like a habit he's got in to, I wouldn't worry about him making himself ill children are very resilliant.

I was going to suggest the nail biting stuff but I liked the taste of it when I was a child.

looby75

He's 6, he's only started doing the last couple of months that I've noticed.

The reason I'm worried about him getting ill is because he's had a really rough few years with constant tonsillitis and ear infections, he had his tonsils out just before Christmas but since then he's picked up every tummy bug thats gone round and I'm starting to wonder if this constant licking of his fingers has something to do with that.

nearlyrich

The tummy bug thing is a bit worrying, sadly lots of people don't wash their hands when they should. I think he will grow out of it before too long, the problem is if you draw too much attention to it he knows it bothers you and he might just do it more for the attention or to wind you up.

Give him some of the probiotic yoghuts to help fight off tummy bugs.

Spendless

My 2 (aged 7 and 4 )also chew their toes. I made their great uncle show them his foot with only 4 toes (he lost one in an accident) and told them that was what would happen if they continued...but then I am evil:rotfl:

looby75

Spendless wrote: »

My 2 (aged 7 and 4 )also chew their toes. I made their great uncle show them his foot with only 4 toes (he lost one in an accident) and told them that was what would happen if they continued...but then I am evil:rotfl:

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: believe me I would try it if I knew anyone with missing toes or fingers

Justie

are his nails flakey or split? If so then he's in need of vitamins (can't remember which ones sorry) and would benefit from a good fish oil as well. If there's nothing obviously wrong with them (and nails are usually pretty good at advertising their health or lack of it) then it's more likely to be an habitual thing, but it does worry me that he says they feel dry etc. Make sure they're always well trimmed and filed so he doesn't catch them as much or do himself damage with them. It's not unusual for children of his age to start with a habit like this - my friend's boy sucks his sleeve cuffs :rolleyes: so it may just be that his nails feel odd because of the licking not the other way round but it's hard to break the habit once it's started. You could try him with socks and mittens but I suspect he'd take them off in his sleep... have you tried the stuff for stopping nail biters? Although many kids and adults keep biting despite the taste.

looby75

His nails look fine, not split or dry at all, they grow really quickly and I have to cut his fingernails at least once a week, i've never tried filing them though I'll try that to see if it helps.

He already takes omega 3 oil and I'm lucky in that he loves fruit and veg and eats more than his 5 day with no pushing from me so vitamin wise I think he should be pretty well covered.

Thanks for the suggestions, its nice to know that habits at this age aren't that unusual

RoCas

Looby, have you tried asking him whether anything has happened recently to start off this habit. Maybe something relevant scared him? Is he at school ... maybe others in his class do the same thing?