During the growth process of babies, one of the most common actions parents see them do every day may be getting their fingernails. Sometimes, biting a baby's nails is not necessarily a bad phenomenon, but from another perspective, it may indicate that the baby has physical problems or is lacking in certain nutrients. So, what are the deficiencies of a child eating fingernails?
What is missing when children eat fingernails
Children who bite their nails may not necessarily lack something, but some children bite their nails due to a lack of trace element zinc in their bodies. In addition, experts from the pediatric psychology clinic point out that nail biting is a neurological habit, a symptom of anxiety and insecurity, and a way for children to comfort themselves. So, for most children, eating fingernails is not a lack of anything, but a manifestation of habit or other problems.
What are the reasons why children eat fingernails
The first reason is that if a child's body lacks trace elements such as calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, and blood lead, it can also cause the child to eat their hands. At this time, parents should promptly conduct trace element testing for the child. If it is really a deficiency of trace elements in the body, then it is necessary to supplement the child in a timely manner.
The second reason is that family members do not show enough care and love for their children. Parents may be busy with work or have strained relationships, which can result in their children not receiving the love and warmth of their parents. This can hurt and suppress the children's hearts, leading to symptoms of eating their hands when they are emotionally tense.
The third reason is that changes in the pace of life, such as children changing schools, children just entering daycare or school, or children quitting pacifiers and moving to a new home, can make children particularly prone to tense emotions and cause them to eat their hands.
In fact, sometimes babies bite their fingernails, not entirely due to a lack of trace elements. It may be because they face too much pressure in their daily lives, just like adults biting their fingers. So when parents discover that their babies have such bad behavior, they must have patience to teach them, rather than having an extremely bad attitude that may stimulate them.