The sound is subtle, almost imperceptible in a room filled with chattering kids and cartoons. But my mom ears are tuned to it. It’s the soft, persistent nibbling that means my daughter is biting her nails again. I look over, and there she is, focused intently on her fingertips, a look of concentration or maybe anxiety on her face. UGH! We’ve been here before.

Nail-biting, or onychophagia if you want the fancy term, is one of the most common nervous habits in kids. My daughter had a very brief phase when she first around 3 years old, and recently (at the age of 5) she picked up the habit once again.

She doesn’t gnaw at them ALL day long. It happens more when she’s thinking or watching TV. This time, it seems like she chews her nails the same way I snack – when I’m bored.

Since she’s older this time, we started with the explanations and (constant) reminders, but after a few weeks, it’s only gotten slightly better. She even admits it herself: “I know it’s bad, but sometimes I forget.” So, here we are again, dealing with the same gross habit, but this time, I’m not trying grandma’s “back in my day” tactics. This time, I’m going straight for what I know works – the bitter melon oils!

Multiple brands make these for kids, and the main ingredient is pretty much all the same: bitter melon extract. The only differences that I’ve found (after testing out multiple brands) are whether the design is easy to use or not. Here are my three recommendations with their pros and cons:

The Heavy-Duty One

NileX is so bitter that when I tried it on myself, I almost threw up right then and there. It’s absolutely the essence of BITTER melon, and you will have a hard time getting the taste out of your mouth. The design is easy to carry and also apply. It’s also so bitter that it’s difficult to wash off, and the taste stays on your skin and nails for hours (which is great). The only downside that I found to this one was that after a few uses and leaving it untouched for a while, I had a hard time checking if there was still liquid inside or if it had dried up.

*If your kid is going to kindergarten and you’ll need their teacher’s help reapplying throughout the day, this is a better choice.

The Cheap One

This one is easy to see how much you’ve got left because of the glass bottle. But to be frank, you really shouldn’t need to use it long enough for this entire bottle to run out. The application is not as convenient as others, and the taste doesn’t last long. The only upside to this one is that it’s cheap.

The Value-for-Money One

Bodorme uses the easy clicker cuticle pen design. It’s easy to see how much bitter melon extract has come out, and it’s easy to carry around and reapply. I’ve also tried this one for myself, and it definitely tastes bitter and disgusting, but unlike NileX, you can get the taste out of your mouth with a swish of water. The taste lasts for a few hours, but with constant hand washing, you’ll need to reapply once every two to three hours.

We’re not 100 percent there yet. Some weeks are great; others see a few nails get chewed down. I’ve learned that progress isn’t linear. The most important thing I can do is be patient and consistent, and to assure my daughter that my love for her isn’t chipped away with every bitten nail. If you’ve got other ways of getting them over the habit, don’t gatekeep that info! Share in the comment section below.

Images: Taobao, Freepik