When can you start cutting your baby’s nails, and how to do it correctly?

July 14, 2018

Averyanova Sveta

Caring for a newborn's nails is necessary for the baby's safety and hygiene reasons. Babies are not able to purposefully control their limbs and can injure their eyes and mouth with sharp claws or become infected. Our article will help caring mothers and fathers learn how to properly cut a newborn’s nails.

Getting your nails cut for the first time is an event!

All babies are different, some are born with very long nails, while others have them, on the contrary, barely visible on their tiny fingers.
Most young mothers, finding themselves at home after being discharged from the maternity hospital, strive to care for the baby as carefully as possible. At this moment, the question becomes relevant: when should a newborn cut his nails for the first time in his life? The most important thing is not to rush; you can trim the tips of the nail plates for the first time no earlier than on the 10th day of the child’s life. It's even better to wait until your baby is about two weeks old. The thing is that a baby is born with very thin nails. If you try to trim them before they get stronger, you risk harming your baby. But what if a child was born with very long nails and scratches? Buy special “scratch mittens”; they look like socks that you put on your hands. This simple wardrobe item will help solve the problem of skin damage.

When to perform the first procedure

The worst thing, according to many parents, is to perform the procedure for the first time. After all, the fingers and nails of newborns are tiny and thin, and the skin next to the nail plate can be injured if the baby makes a sudden movement with his hand.

But it is necessary to shorten them, because the child may scratch himself or his mother’s breast. The famous pediatrician Dr. Komarovsky warns mothers that even a tightly swaddled baby can injure himself with his sharp nails while changing clothes, feeding or bathing.

However, he, like other pediatricians, does not recommend cutting the nails of newborns for the first 15 to 25 days after their birth. This is due to the fact that the plates become a little denser by this period, and the procedure is much easier to perform. But in order to eliminate the risk of injury to the baby’s delicate skin, it is recommended to use undershirts with special mittens until he is one month old.

Cutting nails for newborns

For newborns, you can cut the nails after a bath, while the child is awake, or outside, carefully so as not to wake the baby. On the handles, you need to cut off the protruding edges of the overgrown nails in a crescent shape, on the legs, without going too deep, in a straight line. You can ask the child’s father for help at first, so that he can distract or hold the baby.

If your finger is accidentally injured, do not worry or panic. Carefully treat the wound site with hydrogen peroxide and cauterize it with an antiseptic. You need to cut your legs for the first time 2-3 weeks after birth . But if the baby was born with relatively long nails, this can be done earlier.

Alena Paretskaya, pediatrician, medical columnist

4, total, today

( 63 votes, average: 4.56 out of 5)

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Tips for preparation

A positive attitude of parents and the right timing are the key to a positive perception of the hygiene procedure by the baby. By following the simple rules of baby manicure, you can easily cope with the first experience of cutting nails for an infant:

1. Wash your hands thoroughly and treat tools with alcohol.

2. Take a comfortable position on a sofa or chair in a well-lit room.
3. Get rid of fear and anxiety. Nervous tension and hand tremors are transmitted to the baby. He will also be excited and scared.
4. Cut your nails shallowly.
5. Hold the scissors perpendicular to the nail. Deviation to the side threatens to cut the skin around the fingers.
6. Use only sharp tools. Dull blades do not cut, but tear the plate, causing pain and discomfort to the baby.
7. Cut your toenails in a straight line and your fingernails in a circle.
8. Cut off the burrs carefully so as not to injure your fingers. Treat them with an antiseptic.

Are you afraid to cut your child's nails?

• No, the main thing is to do everything carefully 51%, 47 votes
  47 votes 51%

  47 votes - 51% of all votes

• Yes, very 26%, 24 votes

  24 votes 26%

  24 votes - 26% of all votes

  Read also:  Which nail oil is the best: TOP 10 miracle remedies
• Yes, a little 23%, 21 votes

  21 votes 23%

  21 votes - 23% of all votes

Total votes: 92

14.07.2018

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Manicure set for baby

How can a newborn cut his nails, they are so small and fragile? Don't be lazy to buy special manicure tools. Many manufacturers of children's products even offer entire sets of accessories for caring for infants' nails. Manicure scissors for little ones have rounded blade tips. For children older than six months, special tweezers and files are also offered.

What to look for when choosing a children's manicure set? Tools must have the thinnest possible working surfaces. It is also desirable that the accessories are easy to treat with antiseptics. How can a newborn cut his nails without special baby tools? If you haven’t had time to get a manicure set for your baby, regular manicure scissors will do. It is desirable that their tips are blunt. Store your baby's nail care supplies in a separate, tightly closed case. Be sure to clean these instruments with an antiseptic solution after each use.

Safety precautions

In principle, we have already discussed some nuances. But let's repeat it again.

• Choose special scissors with blunt ends
• We don’t cut it to the roots.
• If you bought new scissors, be sure to treat them, for example, with alcohol. You never know who picked them up and how many microbes remained on them.
• If you manage to injure your baby, quickly hold him close to you so that he calms down, and immediately treat the wound.

Well, that’s all, basically, good luck with your haircuts).

Manicure items for newborn

A peculiar list of accessories intended for the care of nails for a baby is in some way similar to an adult manicure set, however, it should be inviolable for a baby. In other words, items should be used exclusively for the little one.

• Tweezers or nippers to remove the main part of the nail;
• nail scissors with rounded ends or plastic caps on top. With their help, the corners of the nails are removed;
• a file with a soft structure and rounded sides - after cutting, it removes all the unevenness on the nail plate.

If you just bought a manicure set, then it’s time to disinfect it. First of all, rinse well in a soapy solution; a mixture containing antibacterial soap, for example, Safeguard Nature or LION Kirei Kirei, would be excellent. Also, before use, the blades of scissors and tweezers are treated with medical alcohol.

Why can't you refuse a haircut?

Neglecting nail care can cause many problems:

• breaking off;
• ingrowth;
• formation of pustules.

Therefore, trim your nails in a timely manner, without reaching a critical length. If the nail plate is ingrown and inflamed, apply a bandage with levomekol and consult a doctor.

A baby's nails need to be cut starting from the very first month of life. Don't be afraid of the tiny size of your fingers and the thinness of your nails - everything will go fine if you prepare your tools in advance and find the right moment.

Preparation for the procedure

The success of the procedure depends on how correctly the time is chosen for its implementation. When can you cut the nails of newborn babies? Many pediatricians advise trying to give your baby a manicure while he sleeps. The most important thing is that the baby is calm and relaxed. Some babies let their nails be cut immediately after feeding. Other babies are calmest after bathing. Still, you shouldn’t cut your nails immediately after water procedures. Wait at least 20-40 minutes. The thing is that when exposed to water, the nail plates and the skin around them soften. Trimming your nails immediately after a bath can unnoticed damage the cuticle or skin near the tips of the nails. Start by preparing for your manicure.

How to properly cut nails of newborn babies, what needs to be done before the procedure? Mom should wash her hands thoroughly, or even better, wipe them with antiseptic wipes. Tools should be disinfected. Now you can begin the most important part of the procedure.

You should not cut your nails immediately after birth, although babies are most often born with a manicure. You need to wait at least 2 weeks. Already when you can cut the nails of a newborn, you need to wait for him to be in a good mood.

Kids are so cute. They are so small, sweet, sweethearts. They have tiny fingers and nails... How to trim a newborn’s nails correctly so as not to irritate the child or cause him harm?

Most babies are born with long nails. In maternity hospitals, nails are not cut, and when they bring them home, many mothers immediately try to give their children a manicure.

This is not necessary at all. It is better not to touch children’s fingers for the first 2 weeks. The nails are not stiff, even if the children scratch themselves, these scratches are not dangerous. On the contrary, some doctors believe that these microscratches will help the child gain the necessary immunity.

When can a newborn's nails be cut? The treatment is carried out on the hands of 2-week-old babies. And then you have to trim your nails regularly at least once every 5 days. On the legs, it is enough to cut the nails once every 2 weeks, they grow more slowly.

Before you do a manicure, you need to decide on the tools. There are special scissors with rounded ends that cannot be used to damage your fingers. But many mothers are unhappy with these devices - most scissors have thick blades and are not sharpened enough.

Therefore, women prefer to use their favorite sharp nail scissors or cuticle tweezers. They are very convenient for shortening the soft nails of newborns. This is really a great way out. But the scissors that have already been used need to be processed. First, they are washed with ordinary soap, and then treated with any product with a high alcohol content.

Some mothers heat the scissors over a gas burner. This precaution is unnecessary, besides, while the manicure accessory cools down, sterility disappears.

The scissors are disinfected, and it's time to start manicure. When can you cut a newborn's nails, what is the best time to choose? Every mother feels the condition of her child by breathing and grimaces in her sleep. Therefore, the time when the child is in a good and calm mood is selected individually in each case. Some kids like it when their fingers are played with.

They are not capricious, they are happy to give their pen. Others have to cut their nails while sleeping. The main thing is that the mother holds the finger firmly, without giving the baby any unpleasant sensations or allowing him to escape.

You cannot cut your nails after your child has been bathed. During this procedure, the nails soften even more—baby nails are not hard—the skin on the fingers wrinkles, and it is very difficult to carry out the procedure without damaging the cuticle around the nail.

You need to know how to properly cut a newborn's nails. The edge of the nail is cut straight, parallel to the finger, but not short. The distance from the soft tissues of the finger should be approximately 2 mm. The edges of the nail are not left sharp; they need to be rounded.

You can turn a hygiene procedure into a game process. Come up with a little count for each finger. For example: finger-finger, boy-boy, where did you go for a walk? I’m going to see my dad today, I need to help him... The kids may not yet accurately understand the meaning of the rhymes, but they understand when they practice them.

While you can cut your nails, it is still necessary to examine your baby’s nails. Nails are an indicator of the health of the body, and by their appearance you can determine whether a child has health problems.

If the nails are pale, more white than pink, then you need to pay attention to the condition of the heart and blood vessels. There are white spots on the nails - the baby’s body lacks such important microelements as selenium and phosphorus.

Brittle nails in infancy indicate low immunity or undetected diseases of the digestive system.

The nails changed color, became greenish, brownish - an infection had settled in the body. Marigolds also become stained when exposed to antibiotics.

Sometimes parents notice grooves on their child’s nails. This phenomenon is definitely worth paying attention to. Transverse grooves indicate a lack of zinc, longitudinal grooves indicate a runny nose soon.

People with contagious skin diseases should not come into contact with the baby. For some reason, there is an opinion that during the first 2 months of life a child is protected from all diseases. It is not right. A baby can catch nail fungus from birth when it comes into contact with a sick family member.

If you cut a baby's nail plate short, it will hurt him. Leave a sharp edge - the child will injure himself if he moves carelessly. You need to know how to properly cut a newborn’s nails.

How to cut your hair for the first time?

There is no universal answer to this question. All kids are very different - one can tolerate cutting their nails completely calmly and even indifferently, while another will be frightened by incomprehensible manipulations and will be capricious all the time. Therefore, watch your child and choose a time when he is as calm as possible to start cutting his nails.

• During sleep . If your newborn's sleep is so deep that even loud music cannot disturb it, try giving him a manicure while he sleeps. This will make your task much easier.
• During feeding . In this case, you cannot do without the help of a loved one whom your baby will recognize and will not be afraid of while he trims his nails.
• During the game .
  This option is suitable for capricious and nervous children. The main rule is to switch the baby’s attention from something alarming and frightening to something interesting and fun. Enlist the support of someone close to you, and while he distracts the child with a rattle or a song, you will trim the baby’s nails, slightly fixing the arm or leg. If you don’t have the opportunity to involve a third person in the process, sing your baby his favorite song or turn on a music mobile above the crib.

How to cut nails for a newborn: rules and useful tips

Before you take the scissors, you should firmly fix your finger with the fingers of one hand. Try to gently move the skin near the tip of the nail. Using scissors held in your other hand, carefully trim the edge of the nail plate. Don't try to cut your nail as short as possible. It is recommended to leave the length approximately 1-2 mm. On the hands, it is advisable to round the corners of the nails, and on the legs, on the contrary, leave them straight. This form will reduce the risk of the edges of the nail plates growing into the skin.

When can a newborn's nails be cut and how often should this procedure be done? It is recommended that the mother observe the growth rate of the baby’s nails. Some children need their nails cut once a month, while others need to have their nails cut at least twice a week.

Care tools

A manicure set for an infant consists of the following special tools:

• Forceps. They are used to trim the main nail layer.

• Scissors with rounded edges. With their help, the remaining edges of the nail and hangnails are removed. Round ends protect the skin of your fingers from cuts.

• File with a gentle coating. Filing the nail is necessary to give it an even shape.
  Use only on a dry plate no more than 1-2 times a month to avoid delamination.

• Disinfectant solution for cleaning instruments. It's cologne or alcohol. Wipe new instruments thoroughly before first use.

• Medical kit for treating wounds. Prepare an antiseptic and cotton wool in advance to treat the wounded skin. Most often they are not useful, but it is necessary to be prepared for this option.

Important ! A children's manicure set must be individual. Adult scissors with sharp edges are also not suitable for cutting. They can easily hurt your fingers.

Rules for cutting nails

Before properly cutting a newborn's nails, he needs to be positioned so that he cannot move his arms and legs abruptly. Doctors advise placing the baby on his tummy. If he's awake, distract him with a rattle and sweet words.

To begin the procedure, the participation of two people is required. One should hold the child's limbs, and the other should hold the scissors.

To trim each nail on the hands of newborn children, you will need:

• fix the baby’s finger in the palm of an adult;
• grasp the nail, slightly pulling the skin away from it, and carefully cut off the plate;
• Carefully round off the tips of the nail and start working on a new finger.

Do not cut your nails very short, leave a length of about 1-2 mm. If you don't do this, your baby will experience discomfort. Don't forget to remove hangnails. They lead to infection in the baby’s body and cause him pain.

The rounded shape of the nail plate on the hands is necessary in order to avoid it from growing into the delicate skin of the fingertips. If trouble occurs, immediately show the baby to the doctor. You cannot fix the problem yourself. You can make the situation worse, and a small wound will lead to severe inflammation.

When trimming your baby's toenails, you should hold both the baby's heel and toe. Shorten the plate along a straight line, without leaving rounded corners, otherwise they will begin to grow into the skin.

Take note

Mastering the skills to carry out this procedure is possible by using simple tips. Here are some of them:

1. You can cut your baby's nails when he is fast asleep. But there is a risk of frightening him if he suddenly wakes up.
2. In order not to tire the child, who is very capricious during the procedure, you can cut only one or two nails at first. Then let him calm down and start the procedure again after some time or another day.
3. By placing the baby on his tummy, it is possible to limit his sudden movements with his arms and legs during the procedure.
4. Do not insist or intimidate your child by trying to trim his nails. This will reinforce a negative attitude towards the procedure.
5. It is advisable to perform manipulations with the help of someone, and not alone.

Following these tips will turn the procedure from complicated to simple for mom and safe for baby. As the baby grows up, he will get used to doing it regularly and the process can be carried out in the form of a game.

What to do if a mother injures her baby’s finger while trimming her nails?

Even if you do everything strictly according to the instructions, there is still a risk of accidental damage to the skin near the nail. What to do if the mother pricked the baby while trimming the tips of her nails? The most important thing is not to panic. The child will calm down and forget about the incident in a matter of minutes. It is important to treat the wound immediately to prevent it from becoming infected. Use any antiseptic solution: iodine, brilliant green or furatsilin. Treat the damaged skin and postpone the manicure until another time.

How to cut a newborn's nails if he is fidgety and fussy? The correct answer is no. Do not try to trim nails when the child is not in the mood for the procedure. If you try to deal with your baby “by force”, you risk injuring him and developing a hostile attitude towards nail care.

If your child won't let you cut your nails

A hyperactive or nervous infant is difficult to persuade to wash his nose or trim his nails. To avoid crying and crying, use some tips from experienced mothers:

• Trim the nails of restless babies at night, during deep sleep . But periodically suggest doing the procedure during the day.
• Set an example for yourself or your older children.
• Explain to one-year-old children . But don’t overdo it, too much psychological impact can harm and frighten the baby.
• Carefully monitor the cleanliness and neatness of your hands and nails . Kids imitate their parents in everything.
• Distract your baby with a song or favorite cartoons.
• Cut your hair gradually , a few fingers at a time, taking a break for 30 - 60 minutes.
• If the hysterics intensify, then take a break for a few days .
  Let the baby forget the unpleasant encounter with scissors. During this period, cut your own and other children’s nails in front of the child, and show how scissors and pliers can be used for other purposes. Let the child get used to manicure items.

The folk method of teaching babies to hand hygiene is also interesting. This is reading poetry while doing a manicure. The baby gets used to finger play, and then does not resist when cutting his nails when mom takes each finger in her palm. The rhyme is very beautiful and interesting, it usually amuses babies, turning the sanitary procedure into a game.

When reading a poem, it is important to have time to treat all the nails, not forgetting to smile and make the baby laugh. You can use other quatrain options:

A terrible procedure will turn into a fun pastime, the foolish baby will stop crying and being afraid. This will make caring for a newborn easier and restore harmony in the home.

How often should you cut your newborn's nails?

The approximate frequency of this procedure on the arms should be 1 time every 4-5 days, and on the legs – 1 time every 7 days.

After some time, with diligence and patience, parents will have practical experience in cutting their baby's nails. After this, the procedure will become simple, accessible and will take a minimum of time.

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How often should a baby's nails be cut?

Pediatricians recommend giving your baby a manicure every week.

However, one should take into account the fact that the child’s body is individual. Some children's nails grow back in three days, while others take two weeks. Therefore, the procedure should be carried out as they grow.

Ingrown toenail: is home treatment possible?

Most adults believe that ingrown toenails are caused by wearing uncomfortable shoes and improper care of the nail plates. These beliefs are partly true. Just don’t forget that even very tiny babies can have ingrown nails. What to do if you notice this pathology in your own baby? The best solution is to show the child to the pediatrician as quickly as possible. Do not attempt to treat or cut such a nail yourself. The risk of causing pain to the baby is too great, and even a successfully removed nail will most likely grow back incorrectly. Only a doctor can determine the cause of abnormal nail plate growth and prescribe effective treatment.

To prevent deformation and ingrown toenails, it is enough to wear only things made of natural fabrics on the baby and avoid squeezing the feet. Try to remember how to cut a newborn's nails correctly and follow these rules.

What to do if a wound appears

Any mother knows what to do in case of cuts. In the case of newborns, the algorithm of actions is almost the same. The mandatory and most important advice would be: don’t panic. You should always have antiseptics, cotton pads and bandages on hand.

When blood appears, it is removed with sterile cotton wool, and the wound is treated with an antiseptic. There is usually no need to bandage your finger. If inflammation begins, then a cotton wool soaked in levomekol is applied to the wound. Usually the situation resolves within 3-5 days.

Ingrown toenails in infants

The nail plate of a baby is soft and practically does not grow in. But sometimes this happens and leads to injuries and inflammatory processes. If you notice that your child has an ingrown fingernail or toenail, contact your surgeon immediately. You cannot try to fix the problem on your own; this can lead to negative consequences and major injuries. Even if you manage to cut the nail without injury, it will not grow back correctly. Leave the problem to a specialist.

It is necessary to trim a baby's nails - this is basic hygiene. The process is not complicated, but both parents and the child must get used to it and adapt to it. Proper nail cutting technique will help avoid scratches, ingrown nail plates and hangnails.

How not to scare your baby?

The baby learns to distinguish good from bad and hostile from benevolent through his mother. He observes her reaction and copies behavior in certain situations. It is very important to form the right association in your child, where cutting nails equals relaxation and entertainment. You can do this as follows:

1. Smile . You must be as relaxed and calm as possible in order to convey this attitude to your child. Stroke, tickle the baby, sing him a song. Come up with your own ritual of preparation for the procedure - the baby will remember this relationship and understand that this is how it should be.
2. No shouting, coercion or sudden movements . Hygiene procedures should not turn into torture. If the baby is not in the mood for cutting nails, is naughty and cries, do not force it.
3. Trim your nails after a bath . The bath calms the nerves, relaxes the muscles and softens the nail plates. This set of conditions will help the baby endure manipulations without whims.

How and when to cut a newborn's nails with scissors for the first time

No matter how familiar the process of cutting nails is for parents, cutting a baby’s nails for the first time is stressful. In fact, cutting the nails of a newborn is very simple and requires only attentiveness and composure from parents.

When to start cutting children's nails?

When the baby's nails will have to be cut for the first time, parents can only guess. Some children are born with long nails, and some have nails that are very soft and fused with the skin and you will have to think about cutting them in 2-3 weeks.

Pediatricians advise children who were born with long nails to cut their nails not immediately, but after 7-10 days. It is necessary for the nails to become stronger.

It also happens that a nail breaks off and brings anxiety and inconvenience to the child. Putting socks or anti-scratch guards on the hands does not always help; a broken nail can cling to them and irritate the baby.

If the nail breaks while at home, contact your nurse. She will tell you whether to touch your nails or not. It is also quite reasonable to ask the medical staff to trim your baby’s nails.

Trimming tools

1. Scissors
2. .Pliers
3. File

Scissors can be different; in the modern world there is a huge selection of scissors for babies on sale. With blunt ends, with balls at the ends - they are all different shapes and sizes. The absence of sharp edges gives parents less chance of injuring the baby.

If your finger gets hurt

There is nothing terrible or catastrophic in this. Do not panic. Clearly remember the algorithm of actions in such a situation. Act coherently and quickly:

1. Apply a sterile bandage or cotton wool to the cut for 5 - 10 seconds . Stop the bleeding.
2. Treat the wound with an antiseptic , preferably without alcohol, so that the child does not feel pain. You can use a solution of furatsilin.
3. If the wound is deep, then apply a bandage with ointment . The wound-healing " Bepanten ", the painkiller " Eplan " or Vishnevsky ointment .

An infant will quickly forget unpleasant sensations if they are not repeated constantly. And the wounds heal quickly.

For reference ! To improve your manicure skills, use your grandmothers and fathers. Practice cutting nails on other people's hands in advance, before the baby is born. It will be a rewarding and irreplaceable experience.

Best time to cut baby's nails

It is important to guess the right moment to cut your nails. There is nothing wrong with postponing this matter for a few hours, or even until tomorrow, if the child is capricious and nervous. It is better to wear a vest with closed sleeves than to scare the child.

When is the best time to cut baby's nails? It’s very good if you can do this in your sleep. Carefully take the handle or leg, lightly press with your fingers on its finger and trim so that 0.5-1 mm remains. And the wolves are fed, and the sheep are safe. If the child is fast asleep, he won't even notice.

It seems that the baby's limbs cannot be secured securely. They are constantly on the move, and the slightest pressure causes them to cry.

There are proven techniques that will help you carry out manipulations quickly and without problems:

1. Work in pairs. One of the parents arms himself with scissors, and the other distracts the child with toys, conversations, and cartoons.
2. Ideal position. For the little ones, a position on the tummy is suitable; the arms and legs are bent at the joint one by one and all the fingers are treated. It's simple: the baby doesn't see what's happening and doesn't worry.
3. Dream. How to trim baby's nails? During a sound sleep, when the body becomes limp and the fingers relax.
4. Counting manicure. The game format is suitable for children aged six months and older: each finger has its own rhyme or story. Any poems and songs with listing.
5. By my own example. A child tends to imitate his parents - when he grows up, you can show him how his parents cut their nails and invite him to do the same. Just in case, you should not give your baby sharp scissors.

Having figured out how to cut a newborn’s nails for the first time, parents are wondering how often they will have to do the procedure again? Children's nails are trimmed as they grow, usually the need arises once a week - 10 days.

With such a procedure as cleaning the nose, parents also face difficulties for the first time. How to do this correctly and efficiently - read the next article.

Step-by-step instruction

The following practical tips will help you get a manicure and pedicure quickly:

1. Take your little son or daughter in your arms, walk around the room, saying gentle words, chanting a song. This way you will set your child in a positive mood.
2. Ask your dad or grandma to help you cope with a difficult task. They can distract the baby with a toy or hold his hand or leg.
3. Place the baby on a sofa or bed with a hard surface. Place the baby on his stomach so that he observes the actions of his parents and is calm.
4. One of the adults should fix the baby's hand or heel. Hold it gently but firmly.
5. Take your finger closer and pull the skin at the periungual fold slightly to the side so as not to cut the edges.
6. Cut the nail in one motion. The trim should not be longer than 1 millimeter.
7. Make a semicircular shape on the arms, and a straight line on the legs.
8. Trim the hangnails so that they do not interfere with the baby or scratch the skin of the face or body with the edges.
9. You need to process the cut edges with a file occasionally if they turn out uneven, with scraps, and hurt the baby’s skin on the face.
10. In case of a cut, treat your fingers with an antiseptic.

If you want to do a manicure in a quiet night, then let the baby fall asleep and carry out the same manipulations with the sleeping baby. But proceed with caution. Pain caused by scissors or fear provokes insomnia and hysteria.

Watch mom and dad cut their baby's nails together.

An unsuccessfully cut nail or an incorrectly shaped plate after a pedicure or manicure often lead to ingrown nails. To avoid such troubles, remember:

• Do your nails on your hands semicircular.

• On legs straight without cutting edges.

• You can't cut it to the roots . Leave 0.5 millimeter of the grown platinum untouched.

It is important to maintain a straight line when treating infants' toes, since the semicircular shape leads to ingrowth. This will bring with it pain, the need for surgery, and discomfort.

What problems do you need to pay attention to when cutting your baby’s nails?

Before trimming nails, inspect your child's hands and feet.

• Pay attention to burrs . If there are any, they should be carefully cut off with scissors. Do not tear them off or lift them under any circumstances. After cutting off the hangnail, treat the area with a swab containing an antiseptic solution.
• A child's nails may grow into the skin. It's unpleasant and painful. Never try to remove ingrown toenails yourself. This is dangerous and can even lead to gangrene of the limb.

Be sure to contact a pediatric surgeon. He will carry out the necessary manipulations and tell you how to avoid this problem.

More often, toenails grow ingrown, so the child’s feet are not left unattended. But hangnails usually occur on the fingers.

Using these recommendations, even a young, inexperienced mother can cope with the process of cutting nails.

Be confident in your abilities and everything will work out!

How to properly perform a manicure procedure

First time adults who have done the same thing with their own hands thousands of times are often confused by the sight of a baby's tiny fingers. So, the main approaches on how to properly cut a newborn’s nails:

You cannot cut the nail to the very root, you need to leave 0.5-1 mm

1. The blades of scissors or tweezers are brought perpendicular to the nail. This is the optimal position to quickly cut off excess without damaging the plate.
2. Approximately 0.5-1 mm of the regrown nail should be left; you should not cut to the very root . Otherwise, you can injure your finger, hurt your child, and cause an infection.
3. To avoid hitting your finger, you need to lightly press on the pad so that the nail protrudes forward.
4. If you cut with tweezers, you need to cut it in a straight line in one motion. After this, carefully cut out the corners with a rounded edge.

How not to scare your baby

A newborn is just beginning to explore the world. He doesn’t yet know what to be afraid of and what not to be afraid of. Therefore, it is important to form the right friendly attitude when cutting nails (and later hair). There should be no coercion, sudden movements, or shouting!

Let these hygiene procedures not turn into punishment or torture for the child. Do everything calmly, with a smile and very confidently - the baby will remember that this is how it should be.

When can you cut your newborn's nails? Doctors recommend trimming infants' nails after bathing . And there are 2 good reasons for this:

• after warm water, the nail plates will become softer and more elastic, it will be easier to cut them without the baby noticing;
• bathing calms and relaxes the child, and he will tolerate manipulation without whims.

Manicure accessories must be disinfected in advance (before bathing) or doused with boiling water. For everything to go well, the baby must be calm and peaceful. Therefore, it is good to do a manicure and pedicure after feeding. You can also give your child some soothing tea.

Not all children allow hygiene procedures to be done in peace. Many are capricious and break out. The easiest way is to distract his attention with a toy. And while one parent attracts all the attention of the baby, the second is engaged in the necessary procedures

Optimal shape

The best option, proven by generations and approved by pediatricians, is a rounded shape so that there are no corners that can scratch the skin. This is not suitable for feet, since the nails in the corners can begin to grow into the toes with all the unpleasant consequences: pain and the need to cut the skin. Therefore, for a pedicure, the best choice would be to cut with nippers in a straight line, leaving the corners.

If your finger gets hurt

A scratch from scissors must be treated with an antiseptic and bandaged. The bandage should not be tight, but it is necessary to avoid infection in the wound.

Why you shouldn't neglect your haircut

An ingrown nail or a wound in a corner can provoke an inflammatory process and the formation of an abscess - felon. The affected area is disinfected and a bandage is applied with Levomekol - the ointment fights purulent inflammation. If the problem is not solved within 2-3 days, you need to consult a doctor.

The best tools for baby nail care – what to prepare?

In order not to cause pain to the baby, and to make the trimming procedure enjoyable, it is important to stock up on tools that are suitable for caring for newborns.

In order to trim nails, your baby will need special tools.

Prepare a kit that includes:

1. Scissors. They should have blunt, round ends. It is important. It is impossible to injure a baby with such a tool.
2. Cotton swabs. It is better if they are sterile. You can replace them with gauze napkins.
3. Furacilin . Sold in pharmacies in tablets. Prepare the solution according to the instructions.
4. Hydrogen peroxide . The solution should be 3%.
5. In addition, you will need a clean diaper . Iron it on both sides and make sure it is pleasant to the touch.

It is important!

Some moms make the mistake of using the same scissors to trim their nails as they do for everyone else in the family. Under no circumstances should this be done. Micro particles remain at the ends of the scissors, which are dangerous to the baby’s health.

also not recommended to use nail clippers. There is a possible danger of pinching the child's skin, or leaving edges on the nails, which the child can then injure himself with.

Buy special scissors that you will use only when you need to cut your baby’s nails.