Some
babies are born with long nails while others
with short ones which grow rather quickly.
Since babies have the tendency to rub their
faces and scratch themselves you will have
to make sure their nails are kept short enough
to prevent such episodes. This will mean trimming
them at least once a week. This also means
nervous parents out there wondering how to
do it when a baby is very tiny.
Some
mothers peel off the nails which
are very soft in the early months
with their own
fingernails, or bite them off. Others
wear socks or mittens over their
hands. |
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Once the nails harden then it is time to trim them.
Nail trimming requires practice. The more you do it
the more confident you become. You are comfortable
your baby is comfortable. A nervous mother will make
her baby nervous.
Some suggestions to help
you along:
• Use nail clippers designed for babies, as
they come with a rounded tip. Use safety scissors
or blunt nosed baby scissors, if you prefer.
• Try trimming your infant's nails after a bath
when they are the softest.
• Trim your baby's nails when he is asleep
• Try and cut the fingernails round to prevent
scratches. Trim toenails straight so that you don't
have ingrown nails
• Press the finger pad down and out of the way
to prevent nipping the skin as you clip
• Take breaks – you don't have to do all the
nails in one session. If your baby is fidgety do the
rest a little later
• Sing a song or talk with your baby to serve
as a distraction so that he is watching you and not
what you are doing.
• Have someone distract and entertain your baby
while you snip
• Try trimming when your baby's strapped to
the car-seat.
• Enlist the help of an 'expert friend or relative'
till you are more comfortable doing your baby's nails.
• Don’t panic if you nip the skin. Take a tissue
or gauze and press firmly until the bleeding subsides.
The skin will heal itself
What about Toenails?
Toenails don't grow as fast nor do use them to scratch
themselves. Trimming them as frequently is not a must.
Some babies have ticklish feet which will need to
be held down as you clip. Toenails unlike fingernails
need to be cut straight across to prevent ingrown
nails. Like fingernails they are best cut after a
bath when they are more manageable.
