When to Stop Shoving Your Daughter’s Nails in Her Nails

You Might Be Groaning Every Time Your Daughter Licks Her Nails

Anyone who has ever tried to get their little girl to stop licking her nail polish — or whose own mom once found herself squirming in her chair because her baby wouldn’t stop — knows it’s something that leaves a lot of parents scratching their heads. But squirming isn’t the only emotion that comes along with this nail-stirring behavior; in fact, painful fingernails can leave a bad taste in your mouth. If you’re looking for some convincing evidence that your daughter is doing the wrong thing, here are five tips to help you make a decision.

1. Keep a Diaper Bag Pop-Up Baby Bottle in Your Baby’s Room

I love my stick-free formula and nothing makes it safer for my 2-year-old son than having this bottle close by. It’s also great to keep on hand in case he gets a little too excited about a treat, and it keeps his hands out of the way. One side of the straw pops out of the baby bottle’s top, and both drinks go straight out of a hole in the side that’s left in after the baby gets cold — when she’s certainly not stirring her baby’s nails.

2. Slow Down

If your daughter insists on prying open her fingernails to get a snack, then walk slow with her. As soon as she leans towards you to get the snack, slow down and lean back toward your daughter so you aren’t entirely squatting in the corner of the room. Notice how her fingers become more relaxed. “That’s cool,” you might be thinking. Well, let me share with you a little secret. As soon as your daughter reaches her mouth, the small holes in her nails open like a spring, making her fingers vulnerable to the slightest pop in her mouth. So rather than being so rushed, slow down and choose the chew up her snack gently and from a safe distance.

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3. Keep Her Safe

We always encourage any moms who have a baby to keep a safety pin (basically a little screwdriver) in her purse just in case. Why? Because if something went wrong and her finger or thumb got hurt or turned black, she wouldn’t be able to turn the screwdriver off. And that could be a deadly situation. So keep her in the car seat so she has one hand free to be safely fastened to the seat with a safety pin — and don’t forget that it goes on her belt.

4. Use Suction Cups

When I was breastfeeding, I used nail scissors and a mask of some sort to gently vacuum up a small amount of nail polish and polish remover to make it easier for me to use. The same idea applies here. Soothing this mess down is infinitely easier with a suction cup — on your own phone!

5. Try Nothing

You might be tempted to just scratch your daughter’s hands off in frustration, but there is no reason to see her nails go dark (while maintaining that the lids are still clean). It will take some time and patience, but her days of nursing and napping will be significantly shortened if she doesn’t take care of this issue. If you just refuse to make the necessary changes, there’s a good chance your daughter won’t either.