How Do I Cut Baby’s Nails?

Five Must-Know Tips When Cutting Baby’s Nails

Want to cut your baby’s nails? The experts weigh in.

At one point, my little boy would only bite his nails until they would bleed, and then he’d stop. Now we cut it like it’s nothing (or at least I think we do). We’re trying to avoid still-growing nails piercing his skin. In the next few weeks, they’re going to grow again and perhaps he’ll be inclined to hold his nails like the notorious Game of Thrones character, Littlefinger, who continually cuts away his finger tips.

It may sound drastic to cut your baby’s nails, but there are so many great, natural ways to ease any teething pain.

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Here are five helpful tips for cutting baby’s nails while protecting your baby’s skin:

Give the child fingers and talk to them. If your child is only willing to bite, pinching their fingers will cause more pain than a cut. They may also want to be held, which makes for a great opportunity to reassure them that they’re special, can still be play, etc. We have small kids (my daughter has started petting her baby brother), so instead of poking and prodding, we give her fingers and work with her fingers. I like having a knife, a No. 2 pencil, or a sticker with certain designs that she’s used to do. We cover the baby’s fingernails with the stickers, and it seems she doesn’t complain. Although she seems to be digging at her finger tips while using the stickers, there’s no visible skin damage. No skin erosion and reduced trauma to the skin. Choose a nail holder that is age-appropriate and weight-appropriate. Some children will be intimidated by the sharpness of a sharp nail, and need to be supported, in a chair, on their stomachs. Consider using a quilt instead. A quilt may make your child feel less scared of sharp edges, and will help your child find comfort. You can even provide one for your child to simply sit on while you cut.

If you have additional tips to share, please share them below.