How to cut baby nails without injuring your little one
Clumsy when it comes to baby nail clippers? Cutting baby nails is tricky. Newborns tend to have soft, supple, fast-growing nails. This condition makes nails easy to get long and dirty. Here’s how to cut comfortable baby nails and reduce the risk of infectious diseases.
Do you need to cut baby nails?
Quoting from Pregnancy Birth & BabyParents do not need to trim baby’s nails in the first few months of life.
This is because the texture of the nails of newborns is still very soft and flexible, so it is still not dangerous.
However, if the baby is around 6 weeks or 2 months old who cannot control the movements of his hands and feet, you should cut your baby’s nails regularly.
The reason is, if the nails are sharp or jagged, the baby can injure the skin while scratching or moving.
Baby’s nails grow very fast, trim them regularly if needed.
How to cut baby nails
Nail cutting is one of the most challenging newborn care, especially for new parents.
The soft texture of the nails, plus the tiny baby fingers, might make you confused when cutting them.
To make it easier, here are some ways to cut baby nails that you can try at home.
Use special baby nail clippers
Quoting from Healthy Woman, because your little one’s nails are so tiny, you need special baby nail clippers.
How to cut it, hold your little one’s hand, then gently push the fingertips to make room for the nail clippers. This method helps you to prevent cut baby fingers.
You can also use baby manicure clippers that look like regular paper scissors.
The scissors grip is sturdier than using special small nail clippers because your fingers are prone to slipping. In addition, the tip of the scissors is usually blunted so that it is not dangerous to hit the baby.
Nail clippers while the baby is sleeping
Clipping nails during baby sleep is a fairly effective way.
The reason is, when your little one is sleeping, the movement of his hands decreases so that you can be calmer when you are going to tidy it up.
Even if you trim your baby’s nails while he is sleeping, make sure the room has good lighting to reduce the risk of injury.
Distract baby
If you choose to cut your baby’s nails when he wakes up, distract your little one.
You can cut the nails while singing so that your little one’s hands don’t clench.
Clenched fists make it very difficult for you to cut baby nails and the process will be more complicated.
When the baby is moving a lot and you start to panic, take a deep breath and stay relaxed. Singing or telling stories can be a way to calm you and your little one.
Cut by hand
The easiest way to keep baby’s nails short is to peel off the tips of the nails with your fingers.
The soft texture of the baby nails makes growing out easy. If you want to cut nails with special scissors, do it carefully.
Press the skin on the fingertips so they are away from the nails, and hold the hands firmly to avoid snipping.
Avoid biting baby nails
Cut the baby’s nails straight, but not too short. Avoid cutting the sides of the nails, as this can lead to infection.
Avoid biting your baby’s nails to keep them short as this can transfer germs from the mouth to any small cuts on the baby’s fingers, leading to infection.
Overcoming problems caused by mistakes in clipping baby nails
If you accidentally cut the skin, take a deep breath to relieve the panic.
Then, gently wipe the injured area with a clean cloth, wipe the cotton that has been given water and lightly press the wound.
In this way, the bleeding will stop immediately. Avoid using bandages, as fingers can choke on them.
Babies are quite common to get a small infection (paronychia) around the fingernails or toenails.
This problem can be resolved without the need for treatment. However, you may need to apply a small amount of antiseptic cream or liquid to your nails.
Sometimes this infection can spread further into the skin of the toes or fingers, causing the infected area to become swollen and red.
If you see an infection in the baby’s finger, consult a doctor immediately. Your baby may need topical antibiotics to clear up the infection.
When using creams to treat infections, be sure to wear newborn equipment, such as gloves or socks.
This should be done to keep the baby from putting their hands or feet in their mouths.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
