I've got a nervous habit my son's apparently taken up as well: we chew the sides of the nail and pull until there are hangnails/chewed cuticles. It makes the hands ugly, but I can't seem to break myself of it. I think my son isn't compulsive about it yet, but I am, and I'd like to quit to be a good example. Any suggestions?
I had this habit until
I had this habit until college. Then I bought a box of bandaids and covered all of my fingernails (made contacts harder to put in, but that's a different issue). I would still pick at the bandaids, but that lost it's appeal quickly, and by the time my fingers healed, I had lost the habit.
One other thing though, your cuticles probably tend toward the dry side, which is probably what started the habit to begin with - raggy edges on your cuticles. So after your fingers heal, try to get in the habit of moisturizing your fingernails. I've recently gotten out of that habit, and my cuticles are starting to look raggy again.
Little kids like bandaids, so it'll probably work well for your son.
Have you tried any of that
Have you tried any of that no-nail bite stuff for yourself? I think it tastes really awful (but it's safe). I saw some in CVS the other day.