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​​​​​​​​By: Laura Jana, MD, FAAP & Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP​

Did you know that fingernails grow about 0. 1 mm each day, and they grow faster in young people, in males, and in the summertime? Well, neither did we until we looked it up, but it certainly doesn't surprise us. While that may not seem like much on the surface, let us assure you that your newborn's nails will keep you busy. Keeping up with them as they continuously grow can be a very demanding task.

As far as we're concerned, the real purpose baby nails serve is to break you into parenthood. They will likely require trimming or filing at least once a week, because long nails on the hands of newborns with little to no control of them predictably result in stray scratches. If you happen to fall behind on your nail clipping, your baby will inevitably remind you (and make you feel guilty) by scratching his face when his nails get too long (or if you leave sharp corners or points when clipping).

Baby mittens: handy, up to a point

Many parents cover their newborn's hands with baby mittens or socks to prevent wayward nails from scratching their faces. As your baby develops over the next several weeks (and you become more skilled at nail clipping), though, it's a good idea to allow babies plenty of time during which they can freely explore with their hands. If scratches continue to be a problem, we suggest limiting covered time to when your baby is sleeping.​

The baby mani​-pedi

A handful of parents are intimidated by the prospect of having to cut their baby's nails and would probably opt for a professional manicure-pedicure if only it was generally available. No such luck. 

If you're lucky, your hospital nurse will be able to help demonstrate the correct technique, but some hospitals dis​courage their personnel from doing so (we can only presume because any unintentional injury may be a liability problem). And while we aren't exactly recommending it (or admitting to doing it ourselves), we're well aware that some parents opt to bite or peel off their newborn's nails rather than fiddle with clippers or scissors. Be aware, however, that doing so can potentially lead to infection.

Newborn nail-trimming tips 

Because clippers and scissors can trim nails in a more controlled fashion, you'll be much better off using one or the other (or both) or simply using a nail file to keep things under control. For best results:

• Trim or file your baby's nails when she's asleep and her hands are less of a moving target.
• Push down on the fingertip skin so you can get the clipper or scissors around both sides of the nail and avoid cutting your baby's finger (or toe).
• Then, just as a professional manicurist would, finish off any sharp or rough edges with an emery board and…voilà! 

Not so bad after all, once you get the hang of it.

More information

​First Month: Physical Appearance and Growth

Bathing & Skin Care​

​About the authors​

​Laura A. Jana, MD, FAAP, is a pediatrician and mother of 3 with a faculty appointment at the Penn State University Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center. She is the author of more than 30 parenting and children's books and serves as an early childhood expert/contributor for organizations including the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Primrose Schools, and US News & World Report. She lives in ​​Omaha, NE.​ Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP, is a practicing pediatrician, author, and mom in Atlanta. Dr. Shu is co-author of Heading Home with Your Newborn and Food Fights. A frequent guest on national and local television, radio, and web-based programs, she is serv​es as medical editor for HealthyChildren.org, is the Living Well health expert for CNN.com, contributes medical information to​ ​BabyCe​nter and WebMD.com, and serves on the Parents magazine advisory board.​

Last Updated

11/23/2020

Source

Heading Home With Your Newborn, 4th Edition (Copyright 2020 American Academy of Pediatrics)

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

A small child won't let his nails be cut - what should I do?

It is important to take care of your child's nails from birth. But what if this ordinary hygiene procedure turns into a real quest for parents? The psychologist Elena Buryeva answers.

Question. Child (2 years old) hates having his nails cut. Every time a fight and tantrum. What to do?

Answer. A child may react negatively to such a hygiene procedure because:

• he thinks it hurts, or had a bad nail clipping experience where you accidentally pricked or cut him;
• you are nervous, so the child behaves the same way;
• in principle, there is often a "fight and tantrum" in your communication with a child.

Tips for cutting your nails as calmly as possible:

1. Show your child how you or other members of your family cut their nails. Comment on this process: “I cut it so that dirt does not collect under the nails, so that there is a comfortable length so as not to be scratched” and more. Focus your child's attention on the fact that nails grow quickly, just like hair. Say that the white part that does not stick to the skin does not cause any sensations when trimmed. If the length of the nails allows, then you can let the child carefully try to cut one of your nails.
2. Trace the child's hands on the cardboard. Paint, stick nails made of a less dense material, give the child children's scissors and ask him to cut homemade nails. Glue them again and again, let the child prepare for the procedure in this way.
3. On the calendar, mark with your child the day when you will cut his nails. Start saying to him every day: "On this day I will cut your nails." The child may start acting up every time he hears that you are going to carry out this procedure. Concentrate the child's emotions: take a bucket or a basin, give the child paper or foil, offer him to crush and throw lumps into the prepared container while crying. Do not forbid the baby to cry and act up.
4. Tell your child in advance that you are about to have a hygiene procedure. You can come up with / learn some kind of rhyme to distract (and relax) the baby at the moment of cutting his nails. You can also cut not all nails at once. Make sure that you do not squeeze the child's hand too much, as children often get hurt precisely from pressure. Speak slowly and calmly. Even if the child cries, still be proud of him, tell him: “You are so brave, you didn’t want to cut your nails, but you cut them, I’m proud of you!”

Ask your question to Mel, and the editors will find someone who can answer it. Write to our social networks - we read all messages on the pages on Facebook, VKontakte and Odnoklassniki. You can also write to us on Instagram. Answers will be published in order of priority in the "Question - Answer" section. By the way, we do not disclose names, so questions can be anything (feel free!).

For help in preparing the material, we thank our trainee Elizaveta Eremenko. Photo: Shutterstock / True Touch Lifestyle

How to cut nails for newborns: technique for performing the procedure

Newborns need to cut their nails almost from birth. In infants, they begin to grow during fetal development. Babies are born with long nails. And they can scratch themselves, since they still do not control the movement of the handles. When to start doing a manicure for a newborn?

When to start cutting

You can cut the nails of a newborn on the tenth day of life. The baby's nails are long and thin, soft. Cutting them immediately after birth is not recommended - the risk of skin injury is high. So that the baby does not scratch himself in a dream, special mittens or clothes are put on the handles that completely cover the handles of the baby.

Which tool you need

Do not use scissors with sharp tips. Since the movements of the arms of the baby are chaotic, injury can be caused. In addition, the whole family uses these scissors, which is also unacceptable for a baby. preference should be given to special scissors for babies. Their tips are rounded, which reduces the risk of injury.

Some mothers prefer to bite off their child's nails with their teeth. It is unacceptable.

Clipping is also not recommended. There is a high risk of injury to the delicate skin on the fingers.

After each procedure, the scissors are washed with warm water and cleaned in a separate place.

Selecting the time for the procedure

Some kids are quite calm about cutting nails. You can cut your baby's nails while you are awake. If the baby protests against the procedure, then the best time is his sleep. This reduces the risk of injury.

You can cut your hair after swimming. But here it is worth considering the fact that water makes the nails softer. Therefore, only dry nails are cut.

With a systematic procedure, the baby will get used to it over time. If you have any questions, please ask our doctors. At a remote consultation, they will explain the rules for cutting nails to a newborn, and help you choose the right tools.

How often is the procedure performed

Trim nails as needed. All children's nails grow at different rates. For some, once a week is enough, for others, two or three times in 14 days. Toenails grow more slowly than on the hands. They can be trimmed once a month or as needed.

How to cut your nails properly

To properly cut your child's nails, you must follow simple rules:

• trimming is carried out only in good light;
• before use, rinse the scissors under water or treat with alcohol;
• do not cut your fingernails too short;
• scissors are held so that they are perpendicular to the nail;
• nails are given an oval shape. Uncut corners can dig into the skin, causing inflammation;
• on the legs, the nails are cut in a straight line;
• the burrs do not come off, but are carefully cut off.

To cut, they take the child’s hand, firmly fix the finger, push the pad away and cut off the regrown nail platinum with smooth movements.

Example

A newborn baby was not given to parents in any way to cut their nails. As soon as the mother took the scissors, approached the baby, took her by the hand, the baby began to scream and kick heart-rendingly. It was also impossible to divert the attention of a one-month-old baby. Then mom decided to resort to this procedure while the baby is eating. The baby was so passionate about the feeding process that he did not notice the manipulations of his parents.

Consequences of improper care of the nails of an infant

With improper care, the following complications are possible:

Important! Self-treatment of an ingrown toenail is not desirable. You need to contact the experts. If the pathology is accompanied by suppuration, severe inflammation, you do not need to open the abscess yourself and try to cut the nail.

What to do if the baby is injured

Sometimes, no matter how carefully parents try to cut their hair, small accidents still happen. When traumatizing the skin with scissors, it is necessary to apply a bandage moistened with an antiseptic. Press down for a couple of minutes. Once the blood has stopped, the procedure is no longer carried out. It is better to postpone it for a couple of days.

FAQ

Why is it impossible to cut the nails of babies in the hospital?

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Nail trimming is unacceptable in the first days of a baby's life. The fact is that the nail plate is very soft and can be injured. This can lead to deformation of the nail in the future.

When should a newborn's nails be trimmed for the first time?

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The first time it is recommended to cut the nails of the baby at 14 days of age. And up to this point, be sure to use special mittens or clothing that covers the handles.

How to properly care for the nails of an infant?

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The main rule when leaving is the timely trimming of the nails on the hands and nails. It is important to ensure that there are no hangnails, ingrown nails, suppuration.

Until what age do children cut their nails?

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There is no exact age. Some children learn to cut their nails as early as 4 years old by biting their teeth. Someone at the age of five skillfully wields scissors, and someone at the age of 10 asks their parents for help. Everything is relative in this matter.

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