Do you know what causes newborns to develop so quickly? The exact same thing can be said about their fingernails. In point of fact, when your little one is a newborn, it is highly likely that you will be required to attend to their nails once every week…or even more frequently than that!

Maintaining a strong grasp on this activity is crucial: Scratches and other abrasions on the face are a very real concern for newborns since they have so little control over their teeny little hands and fingers. That is something nobody wants. Obviously, nobody wants to accidently nick their child’s skin while they are clipping their child’s nails. Neither does anyone else! However, if you take a few deep breaths and pay attention to the advice that follows, you’ll be able to securely and effectively clip your baby’s nails in no time.

Try filing your baby’s nails.

It is possible that you will find it simplest to simply file your baby’s nails using an emery board (rather than a metal file) during their first few weeks of life. This is due to the fact that their nails are extremely soft, thin, and small during this time. Although this method requires more time than clipping newborn nails using nail clippers, it is significantly safer. You just need to be sure that you don’t mistakenly file the sensitive skin that lies under your baby’s nail bed. When your child’s fingernails have become more durable and you have gained a greater sense of confidence, you can switch to using baby nail scissors or clippers without any hesitation.

How to trim your baby’s nails with clippers:

Nerve-wracking? Yes! Impossible? Absolutely not. Here are a few pointers to help you get through those scary encounters with a nail trimmer so that you don’t have to let your fear get the best of you.

• Check to see if a trim is required. When you snip nails that are already the appropriate length, you increase the risk of accidentally nicking them. It is appropriate to clip your baby’s nails when they reach a length where they can irritate their face and eyes if they are scratched. This is a decent rule of thumb.
• Invest on specialized equipment. Do not make use of a manicure set that is intended for adults! Instead, you should use baby clippers or baby nail scissors, both of which have rounded tips for your protection.
• Keep your hand on your child’s hand. While you cut your child’s nails with one hand, use the other to steady your child’s hand and fingers so you can get a good grip.
• Wait until your infant is sound asleep before continuing. Because you can never be sure when your baby will start wriggling or moving their hands, the safest way to minimise the possibility of an accident is to ensure that your baby is sound asleep before you begin.
• Never put your teeth in your mouth!Never, ever bite your baby’s nails or chew on them, no matter how tempting it may seem. This procedure has the potential to spread germs, which may result in an infection.
• Make a light pressure on the fingertip. You will need to gently massage the skin on your baby’s fingers in order to get the nail clipper or baby scissors all the way around the nail on both sides.
• Round off the corners. Follow the natural curve of the fingertip while cutting your baby’s fingernails, and be sure to leave a little bit of a “moon” so that you don’t accidently cut the quick, which is the core of the nail where the nerves and blood supply are located. This will prevent you from accidentally cutting the quick.
• Using this method, trim the toes. Toenails, in contrast to fingernails, should be cut across in a straight line in order to avoid ingrown toenails.(As a side note, because toenails grow more slowly than fingernails, you won’t need to trim them as frequently.)

What about baby mittens?

If you are too frightened to cut your newborn’s nails, you can use baby mittens as a temporary solution to keep nails safely away from your adorable child’s face in order to prevent injury. However, throughout the first few weeks of your baby’s life, it is ideal to give your child plenty of opportunity to freely utilize and explore with their hands. This should be done whenever possible.

What to do if you cut your baby’s finger:

First off, try not to freak out! Accidents happen. To staunch the bleeding, you need only to wash the wound with lukewarm water and apply gentle pressure with clean gauze. However, refrain from using a bandage because doing so could soon turn into a choking hazard.

You’ll soon become an expert at cutting nails before you know it. It’s possible that you’ll even decide to have a set of baby nail clippers with you at all times, just in case your little one nods off in the vehicle or stroller while you’re out and about with them. That way, you won’t have to worry about putting off the inevitable when it happens!

How to Cut Baby Nails

Make sure you have a little emery board as well as baby-specific nail clippers or baby-specific nail scissors before you attempt to cut your baby’s nails.Put some pressure on your baby’s finger pads so that they are pointing away from his fingernails. While holding your infant’s hand, quickly cut her nails following the natural curve they make. Toenails should be trimmed in a diagonal direction. Engaging the assistance of a second person who can hold your infant and divert his attention can be of great assistance.

Unfortunately, little infant fingernails do not take care of themselves by themselves. Little infants have a habit of continually scratching their cheeks and chins with their fingernails. And despite the fact that their nails are still extremely tender and freshly grown, they can also be quite jagged, which can cause them to cut or irritate their sensitive skin.

Unfortunately, determining how to cut infant nails, and then actually doing it, may be a somewhat stressful experience.

However, if you take the time to learn the proper technique for cutting a baby’s nails and make sure to use the appropriate instruments for the job, the process should be stress-free.

What You Will Need

• Baby-specific nail clippers, baby-specific nail scissors, and/or an emery board are required for this procedure.
• A room that is adequately illuminated or adequate lighting to allow one to see what they are doing.
• A cozy spot for your new little one to rest. You could find it helpful to lay them down on a cushioned belly time mat with some toys to keep them occupied. You might also try using a breastfeeding cushion to support their hand in this position.
• A second set of adult hands to lend assistance when needed
• A means of diverting your infant’s attention, such as a song, a beloved baby book, or a baby toy, will help keep him occupied.
• A gauze pad or a clean, gentle cloth that you can use to hold your baby’s finger in place in case you nick the skin.

How to Trim Baby Nails With an Electric Baby Nail File or Emery Boar

• Choose the Most Optimal Time and Location: Since a baby that is drowsy, peaceful, or asleep is the ideal client, you should choose a time when your child is in one of these states.
• Collect All of Your Supplies: Use an emery board designed for babies or an electric nail file with a tip that is appropriately sized for your child’s age.
• Position Your Child If your child is awake, you should sit your child on your lap with their feet facing outwards for the best angle to clip their nails.
• Keep a strong grip on the baby’s finger, but avoid squeezing it.
• Pull the pad of your fingertip away from the nail.
• First smooth the corners using a file, then use it to gently file across the top of the nail.

Tips for Trimming Baby Toenails

As a result of their slower growth rate, baby toenails do not require filing and shaping as frequently as fingernails do. Even though a baby’s fingernails are more delicate than an adult’s toenails, the fundamentals are still the same.

Make sure that both you and the baby are in a position that is comfortable.

While keeping the pad of the toe away from the nail, trim straight across while being careful.Because of this, you won’t have to worry about getting ingrown toenails.

How to Cut Baby Nails – Best Tips!

Do not attempt to do your child’s nails if you are feeling rushed or stressed out since a calm and cheerful parent is the ideal nail technician.

Invest in quality baby nail tools because they come with their own built-in safeguards and are the right size for the job. This will increase the likelihood that the task will be completed without incident.

Place the baby on your lap with her feet pointing outward. This will ensure that her nails are at the same angle as yours.

Praise your infant for allowing you to trim his nails, and continue to engage him in conversation during the process to ensure that he remains happy, engaged, and content.

Maintain a level of consistency, so that baby is aware of what to anticipate whenever the clippers are brought out.

Try not to give up hope.Taking care of a baby calls for a calm and assured demeanor, in addition to plenty of practice.When you initially attempt to clip your baby’s nails, it is a terrific strategy to boost your self-assurance to have someone around to assist you in doing so.

Before you are ready to cut your baby’s nails, it is acceptable to use baby mittens on newborns until you are ready to do so. Emery boards are also useful in the beginning stages of the process, particularly if you are not yet ready to use clippers or scissors.

FAQ

Do I Really Need to Cut My Baby’s Nails?

Yes. Baby fingernails often have a point that is so sharp that it can cause serious injury. Babies commonly scratch themselves in the face, and it has even been seen that some babies scratch their own corneas.

Young infants do not yet have developed motor control, and as a result, they pose a danger to themselves and others when they flail their hands and sharp fingernails around.

It is important to keep their nails cut so that they don’t hurt themselves.

What if You Cut Baby’s Skin While Cutting Nails?

The majority of parents experience a large amount of anxiety as a result of this. Don’t freak out if you find yourself in a dangerously low point; it happens to the best of us.

If the fingertip continues to bleed, hold it with a clean piece of gauze until the bleeding stops. You shouldn’t apply a bandage to it because it poses a choking risk, and you shouldn’t use any kind of baby lotion, either.

How Often Do I Need to Trim Baby Nails?

The frequency of feedings should be determined by how often your kid needs them. Check the fingernails and toenails of your baby at least once per week, but preferably multiple times per week, to avoid ingrown toenails.

since fingernails must be clipped more frequently than toenails since they grow more quickly.

Can I Nibble My Baby’s Fingernails Off?

This is a terrible concept for a number of different reasons.

To begin, it is simple to remove an excessive amount of nail with your teeth, which may result in a severe injury for your infant.

In addition to that, it’s kind of nasty to think about, but human mouths are teeming with bacteria. If you bite your baby’s nails off, you run the risk of accidentally giving them an infection.