[LynnS6]

I posted awhile ago about how ds was twirling/pulling his hair. After a month or so of that (to the point where he pulled out a lot of his front hair), he's really subsided on that. But I've noticed lately that he's biting his nails.

It seems to be a bit out of boredom, but he also does it a bit when he's anxious.

I'll confess to not having taken him to see anyone about anxiety with the hair pulling - partly out of inertia and partly because dh kept saying "well, let's wait a bit." We did wait a bit and things got better.

So, is nail biting as worrisome as hair pulling? Do we need to take him in? He says he's not anxious. He's doing fine in school. He's out playing with the neighbor kids (he just asked if he could go see if the neighbors could play).

 

[sbgrace]

I was a long time nail biter. I used to chew my hair. My parents were really happy with the switch to nail biting. Since he was pulling out his hair nails seems preferable to me given he's not doing damage? I dislike nail biting (my son does it) because of the potential to "catch stuff" sticking your hands in your mouth all the time but it seems really common among kids. So I don't think he's going to stand out as much with the nail stuff if it keeps going as he gets older. I vote nail biting is better than pulling hair. But the anxiety of course is an issue as I know you know. Side note: he's had sensory issues if I remember right. I see both of those as possibly sensory related...just another thing to consider. I think they are sensory for myself and my son.