Nail Biting - can it be hereditary?
nostin posted on Mon, 12/07/2009 - 16:48
My daughter bites her nails. Even if I keep cutting her nails then also she keeps doing the same. She has been doing this since she was about 18 months old. I had a similar habit till my teens, after lot of effort I could get rid of this.
Was just wondering if nail biting could be hereditary
I do not think that it could be hereditary. Its an habit and how can one inherit that.
Mostly I think nail biting is mainly due to stress, nervousness or boredom. We need to get rid of the reason that is causing nail biting in turn.
If a child is in the habit of nail biting make him busy using his hand whenever you see him doing that and slowly he will get rid of it.
Recently I came across some article that said that nail biting could be hereditary. I remember it said something like a parent who bites nails may end up with their child doing the same.
I do not think that nail biting can be hereditary. Its just a habit. May be if you as a mother bite nails as an adult your child looking at you picks up the habit. But it may not be transferred in genes. Nail biting can be gotten rid of it the cause of it is dealt with. Most of the times the causes are mental like boredom etc.