Trimming Baby’s Nails

Parenting & Children — By 88DB Knowledge on August 8, 2012 4:42 pm

While a baby’s nails may be softer and more pliable than an adult’s, they are still sharp. And with little motor control, flailing newborns can easily end up hurting themselves by scratching their own faces.

Little fingernails grow quite fast and this may require you to cut them several times a week. Toenails on the other hand require less frequent trimming. If you’re worried about hurting your little one during the process, here are some guidelines to ensure ease and safety:

happy baby

Choose the right time to cut:

The best time to cut baby’s nails is when he/she is asleep. This prevents injuries from flailing limbs. Ideally, during sleep after a bath is when baby’s nails are softest.

If you must give your baby a trim while he/she is awake, get someone to help you hold them still and prevent too much wiggling while you work.

Make sure there is enough light:

This is self-explanatory. A baby’s nails are fine and small so make sure the area is well lit. You can protect your baby’s eyes from the lights when he/she is asleep with a soft cloth over their eyes.

Use the right tools and procedure:

Never use a normal nail clipper. Use a pair of baby scissors or clippers made specifically for them. Gently press the finger pad away from the nail to avoid nicking the skin, and keep a firm hold on your baby’s hand as you clip. When cutting fingernails, follow the curve of the finger. For toenails, cut straight across. Then use an emery board to smooth out any rough edges. Sometimes, if your baby’s nails aren’t too long, you can skip cutting altogether and simply file them to the right length with an emery board instead.

What to do if you cut a fingertip:

In the harrowing event that you do nick a tiny fingertip, don’t panic and feel devastated. This happens to lots of parents. Simply wrap a tissue around your baby’s finger and hold it with a little pressure for a few minutes till the bleeding stops.

Resist the temptation to put a bandage on your baby’s finger. It’s likely to come off when he/she sucks on their fingers and they could end up choking on it.

There are however, non-toxic and child-safe liquid bandages that you could use. These generally dry quickly and slough off with the dead skin cells when the wound has healed.

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