The world is full of enormous challenges right now; big ones! But for many new parents who are focusing on issues that are impacting their own personal, daily lives, they might confess that trimming baby’s nails ranks as one of their most prevalent first world problems.
I have honestly had parents actually offer me bribes to cut their infant's sharp little nails. Sorry folks. Guess what? I hate it just as much as anyone else. Nail clipping (as well as splinter removal) are among those things that I don’t excel at (understatement!)
I will tell you a secret. In my family the task of nail clipping belonged completely to my husband Sandy. Our kids referred to it as "snip snip." Daddy cut their nails when they were babies and if he accidentally cut them and drew blood at any point, I have blocked that out of my memory and in any case, they survived. He got to continue this job as they got older, clipping nails and applying polish on request to his daughters' fingers and toes, until they learned about spa pedicures with mom, and that put daddy out of business.
Babies have sharp nails that grow quickly. These are thinner than the nails of an adult, but that doesn’t make them any less able to cause damage. It is not uncommon for them to leave scratch marks on themselves if you don't keep those nails short. Some babies actually manage to scratch their eyes, leaving little red marks in the sclera. Those marks on the whites of the eye fade away without any intervention. If there is a worrisome scratch to the eye it would cause watering and obvious discomfort. To deal with the scratching issue, I know some parents who put little mittens on the hands, but really, as tempting as it is to keep those on, it is not a realistic long term solution. Some people actually used to nibble the nails down even while medical sources were giving a resounding yuck to this unhygienic practice.
Fortunately there are special tools for the job.
Some clippers even come with a magnifying glass attached. The special kid scissors have rounded tips that can help avoid injury if your baby moves suddenly. Dr. Anne of Noe Valley Pediatrics used to recommend the Piyo brand for her twins. She says that she used them for at least six years without any nicks.
I recently became aware that there have been new products to come on the market since I last updated this post. In the startup where I am currently working, we have chat groups of moms who share their wisdom with each other. They talk about everything under the sun. Recently in one of the chats, one of the little cuties did a number on her face by scratching herself with her very sharp little nails. In another group one of the dads had caused some bleeding when he was trying to take on the nail trimming task. With all the conversations circulating about nails I learned about the new options linked below.
They call this product an absolute game changer and worth the cost of the replacement files.
Please don't be tempted to use adult clippers or scissors. These are often quite a bit sharper and therefore not as safe.
Regardless of which product you use, consider doing the nail trimming right after a bath when they tend to be softer. You might also tend to the baby’s nails when the infants are in a deep sleep cycle. You can identify this sleep stage because the baby is completely limp and relaxed, the hands are usually unclenched. If you choose this option consider keeping a little pair of nail clippers with you in your diaper bag as you go on outings. If your baby is asleep in the car seat, you can seize the moment. The wise Doctor Schwanke who I worked with for more than 30 years says that the most important thing to do with any nail clipping or filing is to push down on the finger pad to make sure you get a little space between the nail and the finger.
At some point as your child gets a bit older, it is reasonable to simply want and expect cooperation. You may have to work towards this goal.
When we got our puppy many years ago, we were advised to handle her all over so that she didn't have any areas that were "off limits". I would do that with your baby. Get in the habit of doing a gentle, relaxing little hand and foot massage that includes all the fingers and toes so that they get used to you handling the nails. Do a little rhyme or song as you do it. Think "my little piggy". Of course you are only clipping the nails some of the time, but they may stay more relaxed when it is actually nail clipping time if they are used to the fingers being manipulated. Who doesn't enjoy a little hand or foot rub!
If you do accidentally cut a finger or toe, (very unlikely with the new little battery operated file) just hold pressure for a few minutes. You can apply a dab of Neosporin if it seems like more than just a superficial little nick. Hopefully the little cut doesn't need more than a few minutes of pressure but if you need to apply pressure for a bit longer, you can put a band-aid on a finger or toe and then put a sock over the hand or foot so that your baby doesn't pull it off. Band- Aids can be choking hazards so you need to be wary.
Toe nails should be cut straight across, fingernails can be rounded a bit. If your child does develop an ingrown nail, try to soak it or apply a warm compress. A warm, moist black tea bag makes an excellent compress. Apply Neosporin a few times a day. Infections on fingers and toes can actually get pretty nasty, so if it doesn't look like it is improving have your doctor take a look. Any red streaks running down the finger or toe need same day medical attention.
For your older children it is lovely to have the grownup treat of a manicure or pedicure at a local salon. We will need to wait a bit until things normalize before considering this, but when we are free to get back to salons, do your due diligence and make sure that you use a place that sterilizes the equipment. Fungal infections acquired from a dirty salon can be a nightmare to get rid of. Be a label reader when it comes to the polish. Three very common ingredients that are found in many nail polishes are Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate ( DBP) and Formaldehyde. These are actually carcinogenic. Formaldehyde Resin and Camphor are two other ingredients to avoid. It is worth checking online for a list of non toxic nail polish brands. With more awareness these days, safer nail polish is becoming more widely available. If you google kid safe polish brands you will find a robust assortment. Some are even safe for those nail nibblers.
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