Newborn baby nails
Nailing It: How to Trim Your Baby's Fingernails
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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 discourage 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 serves as medical editor for HealthyChildren.org, is the Living Well health expert for CNN.com, contributes medical information to BabyCenter 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.
How to cut your baby's nails
How to cut your baby's nails | Pregnancy Birth and Baby beginning of content3-minute read
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You may feel a little uneasy when you first cut your baby’s tiny nails.
But as they grow, you will be able to take care of their nails with confidence.
Do I need to cut my baby's nails?
You may not need to cut your baby's nails for the first few months. Newborns' nails are very soft and will probably be worn down by their clothing.
However, babies can't control their arm or leg movements for the first 6 weeks. If their nails are sharp or jagged, they may scratch themselves. If you notice your baby's nails need to be smoothed, you may need to trim them.
Babies’ nails grow very fast, so keep an eye on them and trim them when necessary.
How do I cut my baby's nails?
The best time to cut your baby's nails is when they're asleep or very drowsy and calm. After a bath is a good time because their nails will be softer then.
Make sure you have plenty of light and that you hold your baby securely either in your arms or in a highchair. It can help if someone else holds the baby while you cut the nails.
You can use baby nail clippers or baby nail scissors with rounded ends.
Pull the pad of the finger or toe gently away from the nail to avoid cutting the skin and then cut the nail straight across. Sometimes you may just need to use an emery board to smooth and round the nail.
Some babies might not like having their nails cut. You can soothe them by talking or singing to them, distracting them with a toy or making a game of it. Praise your baby when you have finished.
Things to avoid
It's not a good idea to bite your baby’s nails with your teeth because this can spread germs from your mouth and lead to an infection.
If you peel your baby’s nails, you can easily tear them back too far, which will hurt your baby.
Try not to shape the nail or cut down the sides of the nail. This can cause ingrown nails and infections.
What to do if something goes wrong
Even with the best of care, it's possible to accidentally nick the baby's finger or toe. If it's bleeding, gently press a soft, clean cloth over the cut until the bleeding stops.
Don’t put on a dressing like a band-aid as the baby might suck on it and it could come off.
Sometimes young babies get an infection next to their fingernail or toenail. If this happens, you can use a little water-based antiseptic cream, lotion or a saline solution to keep the area clean. If you use cream or lotion, put a mitten on your baby's hand so they don't suck it.
If the infection spreads and the finger or toe becomes red and swollen, you will need to see a doctor since your baby may need an antibiotic.
Sources:
Women’s and Children’s Health Network (Babies - common questions and answers), Raising Children Network (Trimming baby nails)Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: April 2021
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Related pages
- A day in the life of a newborn
- Dressing a newborn
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Video: Baby Nails
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Cutting baby nails & baby nail care | Raising Children Network
Cutting baby nails is important, because short nails mean babies can’t scratch themselves. It can help to cut baby nails when baby is calm, drowsy or asleep.
Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website
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How to cut the nails of a newborn? | Nutrilak
03/17/2021 Reading time: 3 min 60726
Contents of the article:
- Should nails be cut in the hospital?
- What tools do you need to cut your baby's nails?
- How to cut the nails of a newborn?
- How often should a newborn's nails be cut?
- Anti-scratch mittens and other ways to avoid scratches
An elementary, it would seem, hygienic procedure raises many questions in young mothers.
Seeing for the first time what tiny fingers a newborn has, you may even consider the mission impossible. In fact, it is quite simple, but you need to know some rules and show skill, and sometimes imagination.
Should I cut my nails in the maternity hospital?
When buying a dowry for a baby, you probably bought children's nail scissors. Should I put them in a bag prepared at the hospital? No. In the hospital, they are unlikely to be useful to you. Immediately after birth, the baby's nails are very soft and fit snugly against the skin. When you try to cut them, there is a high risk of injuring the baby. Wait with the first procedure for at least a week, and preferably two. Then the newborn's nails will get a little stronger and grow enough to be easily trimmed.
But sometimes a newborn is born immediately with strongly regrown nails. If you see that long nails are uncomfortable for the baby, he scratches his face, contact your pediatric nurse.
If necessary, she will help with the first manicure and explain how to care for the baby's nails.
What tools do you need to cut your baby's nails?
You will need comfortable children's scissors with rounded ends. It would be more habitual and neater to cut the baby's tender nails with ordinary nail scissors. But the trouble is that the baby will not patiently hold the pen still while you pore over his nails. The sharp ends of the tool are too dangerous.
This is important!
Choosing children's scissors must be very meticulous. If their canvases are too thick, it will be very difficult to capture the nail. It will be even more difficult to carefully cut the corners of the nails on the hands. If the canvases are thin, but not rigid enough, they will crush the nail, the cut will be uneven, torn.
The children's manicure set also includes a nail file and nippers. But using them is not easy. Incorrect movements with a nail file can damage the nail plate.
Nails will peel and break.
The maximum that can be done with a nail file is to carefully file the sharp ends of the nail on your hands, if you did not manage to cut them with scissors.
With nippers, it is easy to grab the skin at its base along with the nail and injure it. Set aside the tweezers until the baby is a little older.
How to cut the nails of a newborn?
1. Before starting the procedure, wash your hands - both for yourself and for the baby.
2. Treat the instrument with an antiseptic, such as chlorhexidine solution. Do not remove the antiseptic. You may need it if you accidentally injure your baby.
3. Take the child's finger with the index finger and thumb of the left hand. Slightly pull the skin away from the nail by lightly pressing on the pad of your finger.
4. On the hands, cut the nails in the shape of a semicircle. Sharp ends should be cut off. To make the edge even, try to cut the nail in one motion.
5. On the legs, it is impossible to round the edge of the nail. It must be strictly straight. If the tips of the nail are cut off, it will grow in.
6. In order not to injure the baby, cut the nail not under the root. Leave the edge at 0.5-1 mm.
This is important!
Cut your baby's nails when he is in a good mood and calm.
Cut your baby's nails when he is in a good mood, calm. Sometimes it is advised to cut your nails in a dream. This technique is suitable for those babies who sleep soundly and do not react to any activity next to them. If your baby wakes up from the slightest rustle, do not interrupt her sleep. A sleepy baby will be naughty and may be frightened by a sudden awakening.
Another trick, if a child actively protests against cutting nails, is to cut one or two nails at a time. You can continue the procedure after a few hours or even the next day. So the baby will not have time to get tired and get nervous from your manipulations.
How often should a newborn's nails be cut?
Newborn nails grow quickly. You need to cut them as needed: as soon as the free edge of the nail becomes long enough. On the hands, the nails grow faster. They will have to be trimmed every 4-6 days. On the legs, it will be enough to cut them once every two to three weeks.
Don't try to cut your baby's nails too often. This is not the most pleasant procedure for him. In addition, short nails are more difficult to cut, and the risk of injuring the child is higher.
Apgar score! How is the baby evaluated after delivery?
Read on the Yandex Zen channel - here.
Mittens - anti-scratches and other ways to avoid scratches
Newborns do not coordinate their movements. Randomly waving his arms, the baby can easily scratch his face. The skin of a baby is very thin, delicate, so after such scratches, scars may even remain. But it is quite possible to do without scratches:
• Swaddling.
Supporters of swaddling believe that the baby behaves calmer and sleeps better when his hands are fixed. It also eliminates the risk of scratches. True, from ordinary diapers, the baby easily gets pens. But the diaper-cocoon with a zipper will not let him reach his face.
• Anti-scratch mittens. In them, your baby will look like a microboxer. It's very sweet and quite effective. But some kids do not like them, they begin to worry, they try to free their hands.
• Clothes with closed sleeves. A good alternative to removable anti-scratches are blouses, undershirts, slips and bodysuits with a special cut of the sleeve. It can be folded over to fully cover baby's arms, or left free while awake for a tactile experience.
• Regular hygiene. Trim your baby's nails promptly and carefully. Make sure that there are no creases, sharp edges, or burrs on them.
If you are worried about how you will cut your baby's nails, remember:
- Newborns do not need to cut their nails in the hospital.
Postpone the first procedure for 10-14 days.
- Use children's scissors with rounded edges. You can do without a nail file and nippers, but the choice is yours.
- On the hands, leave the nail semicircular, on the legs - straight.
- Trim baby's fingernails every 4-6 days. On the legs two or three times less.
- To prevent the baby from scratching his face, fix his hands with a diaper or wear clothes with closed sleeves, use anti-scratch gloves.
(3 ratings; article rating 3.7)
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 is needed
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:
| Name | Therapy |
| Suppuration of fingers, redness | Treated with antiseptics, wound healing ointments |
| Ingrown nail | Most often found on the legs. |
For treatment, antiseptics, antimicrobial ointments are used. Important! Self-treatment of an ingrown toenail is not advisable. 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 life. 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.
