What would you think if you saw someone biting their toenails?

I happened to catch this old discussion of yours and wish to comment because I'm an adult guy whose lived his whole life as a compulsive nail-biter. Despite every effort since childhood to stop the habit, I've never been able to overcome the urge. And as gross and unbelievable as it must seem, I still bite my toenails. I would never do it in front of anyone else (though my wife is aware of it) but when I go barefoot or wear flip flops my toenails appear as badly gnarled as my fingernails to any observer. On occason people have noticed and asked me and with some embarrassment I admit that I bite my toenails. But I've always been known as a nail biter by those around me or who observe me publicly chewing my fingernails or take notice of my hands. And I'm accustomed as a hard-core nail-biter to occasionally suffer slight humiliation. But I've never been as embarrased as many nail biters get. I've always had more a business-as-usual attitude about it. The worst was being nagged by former girlfriends and my wife about it. To some I probably seem like a totally disgusting person. But I try to be as hygienic as possible. I'm also an educated professional and family man and pretty good sportsman. There are more out there just like me - more than you would think.

You know, if I really wanted to, I could bite my toenails, but there is absolutely no reason that I would ever want to bite my toenails because of the fact that they are connected to my feet and I tend to think that toes and feet are really nasty. Now, with a little kid, I can sort of see it because they are smaller and don't really understand the germs that they are going to come into contact with. But, I definitely wouldn't encourage it.

My 9 months old baby is doing it, and she wont stop bending her leg until she reached her big toe to her mouth and for me its something cute but for an adult to bite his toenails..?aArgh! I wont look at him or i will vomit.

Ewww! That's kind of a distubring mental picture! I've seen older people bite their nails, and I know that it's just a habit, but I already feel uneasy seeing it. So much so if it were the toenails! And with a big stomach?!

The only time I have seen that is when infants discover their feet and start sucking on their toes!

I could never understand that. But remember, you son is a kid. And I doubt that he will wind up biting his toenails when he gets older. And since he is young and you might fee that he might do that, you could train him now not to do that.