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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 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.

Trimming baby's nails | Canpolbabies.com

Trimming a baby's nails is a challenge for every mom, no matter how old the baby is. At first, this is much more difficult to do, since the nails are thin and sharp, like paper, and bend in all directions. Fortunately, over time, the nail plates become denser, and we become more skillful and self-confident.

How and how often should nails be cut?

Fingernails should be cut in a circle and toenails straight to prevent ingrown nails. Remember that you can not remove the skin around the baby's nail. nine0003

Toenails grow rather slowly and need trimming every one or two weeks. But fingernails grow faster. You can trim your baby's nails once every 1-2 weeks. Remember, though, that you don't have to stick to a strict schedule. Nails grow differently for everyone and it is better to trim nails that have already grown.

Scissors, wire cutters or nail file?

Scissors, nail clippers or nail file? For babies, I recommend special scissors with rounded tips and not very thick blades. They are much safer than regular adult scissors. Toddlers can trim their nails with nail clippers. A nail file is best for processing uneven ends of nails. nine0003

When can I start cutting my nails?

There is no definitive answer to this question, but one thing is for sure - do not rush. In newborns, the nail is very often connected to the fingertip by a very thin membrane. The nail is very thin, soft, and you can easily injure the child. Doctors suggest that the first nail clipping be done 2-3 weeks after birth, when the nails have hardened a bit. During this time, of course, the nails continue to grow, so you can put mittens on the child's hands so that he does not scratch his face or head. Opinions about anti-scratch mittens, however, are divided. Wearing gloves day and night, especially in summer, is very uncomfortable for the baby. In addition, we deprive him of his natural sedative, that is, the ability to suck his hand or finger, which was familiar to him during his intrauterine life. Therefore, you should consider the pros and cons and choose what you think is best for your child. You should also remember not to cut your nails in the hospital, as even the smallest cut can lead to a much higher risk of contracting an infection. nine0003

When is the best time to trim your nails?

It is best for babies to trim their nails when they are sleeping. At this moment, the baby is calm and you will not harm him.

The older the child gets, the more difficult it becomes to cut his nails, as he does not always want to do this and is not so easy to force. Of course, you need to find the right moment. If cutting his nails gets in the way of his favorite pastime, like playing, I can guarantee that it will end up fighting, crying, or getting his nails cut unevenly. It is better to wait for the moment when the child is calm, for example, immediately after waking up or when he is focused on something. For example, you can cut your nails while watching a cartoon. As for us, this method works perfectly. The child enthusiastically follows his favorite character and allows him to cut his nails without any problems. nine0003

It is very important not to force the baby so that he does not get upset. If today doesn't work, try the next day. Nothing will happen if you cut your child's nails the next day.

Over time, the child will no longer treat nail cutting as something bad. Try to explain to your child that there is nothing wrong with cutting nails. It is also recommended that you trim your nails in front of your baby so he gets used to it. Over time, he will begin to take this procedure for granted, and you will not have any problems. nine0003

Helpful Hint

If your nails are cracking or breaking, apply baby oil or olive oil for strengthening properties. Roughness and brittle nails can be a sign of illness or a deficiency of certain minerals. This should be reported to your pediatrician at the time of your visit.

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? nine0003

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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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.

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:

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. nine0003

Consequences of improper care of the nails of an infant

With improper care, the following complications are possible:

Important! It is not advisable to treat an ingrown nail on your own. 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. nine0003

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? nine0003

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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?

+

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. nine0003

How to properly care for the nails of an infant?

+

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?

+

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. nine0003

How to teach a child to cut his own nails?

+

Children are very observant. Sometimes they do not need to be trained, they carefully look at the manipulations of adults and repeat them. If it is necessary to teach, then they explain the correct location of the scissors relative to the nail, allocate their own scissors for the child, which only he will use. The task of the parent is to show exactly how the regrown nail plate is trimmed. nine0003

Expert opinion

You can cut your nails for the first time for a baby only two weeks after birth. For this procedure, safe scissors with rounded ends are chosen, but, here, the wire cutters will have to be abandoned. They can injure the nail. It is better to cut nails while the child is sleeping - this reduces the risk of injury. The procedure is carried out as the nails grow. On the legs, they grow much more slowly than on the hands.

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