Let’s be real, baby nails can be easy to overlook — a cute, spontaneous accessory or temporary change of style can make them a bit more interesting than the ordinary. My personal stylist, Stacie, and I were at an amazing nail salon recently discussing the cute new cuticles my baby was rocking and how they were some of the most adorable of all time.
So I have to ask, should you leave your baby’s nails with a bit of a length to their cuticles? Yes. And how? While it’s important to trim your baby’s nails, it’s even more important to keep them trimmed regularly. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of the very best tips for cutting baby nails while also being environmentally friendly.
Why Should You Cut Baby Nails Regularly?
Simply put, baby nail trims are a super-comfy way to check baby’s nails for signs of infection and quickly clean off old nail polish if necessary. They should also help you maintain a natural manicure to your baby’s nails (which aren’t really growing that much in your first year of life).
What are the Important Rules When Cutting Baby Nails?
First, make sure to learn the right trimming technique before heading into the salon. Check out our basic trimming guide to find the right way to trim your baby’s nails — baby nails need to be short and triangular-shaped, while adult fingernails are typically 6mm or longer. If your baby nails are shorter or shorter than that, your nail salon may simply use scissors to cut off all the nail hairs.
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Once you know how to trim your baby’s nails, here are the tips you need to know to be comfortable when cutting baby nails.
When to Trim Your Baby’s Nails
In the early months of your baby’s life, your cuticles should grow in rapidly. If they haven’t started to grow when you visit your nail salon, make sure to ask to cut your baby’s nails whenever cuticles appear completely bare.
Once your baby’s cuticles start to form, look at your baby’s nails from a variety of angles to see if they’re particularly long, looking for two abutts left from the bottom to meet above the tip. If there’s a few extra toes, cut them off ASAP.
Why Should You Swap Your Baby’s Nail Polish for Professional Nail Polish?
There are several reasons why you should swap your baby’s baby nail polish for professional nail polish. First off, most professional nail polishes are safe for children, which often means they have more NPA (nanobonds, pilling, and fungus) complaints. A professional’s nail polish also typically contains preservatives for safety, which helps prevent harmful contact dermatitis in children.
Facial pedicures aren’t the only way you can create the perfect manicure. Pick the color and style that make the most sense for your baby — they may need to be painted in a different shade to keep them under your same eye color and beauty (unless your baby actually has a sunnier skin tone). When it comes to nail care, don’t worry about your baby matching your nail polish color — most professionals apply just a touch more polish to match the nail pattern on top of the baby’s cuticles.
Why Don’t I Wear My Baby’s Nail Clippings?
Remember, baby nail clippings can encourage bacterial growth, so it’s always best to wash your child’s nails regularly with soap and water (not soap water). Likewise, you can help ensure your baby’s cuticles stay razor-sharp by cutting with a razor, and keep the cuticles trimmed regularly.
Remember to always do more than just cut your baby’s nails. Make sure you clean baby’s nails properly with soap and water and don’t cut your baby’s cuticles too short because cuticles grow too fast to be that thin in your first year of life. Make sure to never use nail clippers or vegetable blades to cut baby’s cuticles.
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