10 Tricks To Cut Your Baby’s Nails

Something as simple as nail care can be a real challenge when dealing with babies because they are small and fragile. Infants’ fingers and toes are small and their nails are even smaller. It is very difficult to see where the nail ends and where the skin begins and this makes many parents afraid to hurt their child.

Babies’ fragile bodies make it a challenge to take care of them. This is why parents need to be extra careful when it comes to feeding them, maintaining hygiene and dressing them properly. It is important to acquire the right products that are suitable for young children and to use them properly.

Babies ‘nails grow as fast as adults’. The fact that the nails grow can even be more noticeable on babies.

We know that it can be difficult to cut them, so this article contains ten tricks to make it easier to cut your baby’s nails.

10 tricks to cut your baby’s nails

It is possible to cut your baby’s nails if you follow the experts’ advice. Experts can of course be both parents and pediatricians.

There are two important things to keep in mind: to have a good view of the nail and keep track of the baby’s movements.

The tricks for cutting your baby’s nails are:

• Take the chance to do so when your baby is asleep. That way, you do not have to worry about your child moving. But you may instead worry that the baby will wake up. If you decide to cut your nails when your baby is awake, you can get help from another person.
• Use the right tools. Use a nail clipper with rounded edges or a clipper specially designed for babies. By not using the correct tools, you only make the task more difficult and also increase the risk of harming your child.

• Make it a habit. Babies should have their nails cut from the time they are born. Nails grow fast and long nails increase the risk of the baby accidentally tearing its face. There is nothing stopping you from starting to cut your nails from the first days of your baby’s life. Postponing it can hurt instead.
• Your baby’s nails are fragile and break easily, so it’s good to use an electronic or manual file to remove sharp edges without cutting them. That way, you only need to cut your nails when they are very long.
• It may be easier to cut your baby’s nails after a bath because the nails are softer then. Cut them straight and without access to the fingers.
• Make sure you have good supervision. It is common for parents to lift their babies’ fingers and toes and cut from above. But it’s harder to see when you do that. A better way is to cut the nail from below and gently press their fingertips to push them away from the nail. 

• Choose the right place to do it. Although it is tempting to leave your child in his bed where he feels safe, it is important to find a place that is light and airy. That way you do not accidentally cut wrong because you do not see properly.
• Be careful, but do not be afraid. It is important to cut firmly. Nervousness makes you clumsier and it is not good for your little baby.
• Use something that distracts your child. As your baby grows, his nails will become stronger and his skin less fragile. At the same time, your child also becomes more restless and this makes it more difficult for you to cut your nails. For older children, it is good to use something that steals their attention. Then they look at something else and will not move.
• Clean up after cutting your baby’s nails. Even if nail pieces look small and harmless, they can be really harmful if your baby gets them in his mouth or eyes. Therefore, it is best to wash your child’s hands and shake the clothes and clean where you cut your nails when you are done.

With a little experience, you will finally be able to cut your nails in a way that is safe, comfortable and suitable for your child.