Fingernails

Anyone have any tips for cutting their fingernails?? My girls are almost 7 weeks and I have a h#ll of a time cutting their nails. I have tried while their sleeping, I have tried biting them, and I have tried peeling them.

I didnt know if anyone had a trick for successfully cutting 20 fingernails without any bleeding or tears?

 

No tips really. Although I've heard that getting a helmet with a light really helps!! Sounds silly but I could see how that might help.

I just use the baby nail clippers (they are easier to handle then real ones) and cut away. I found that when they are awake is actually easier for me then asleep.

 

When they were that tiny, we'd file them with the brown emery boards instead of cutting them. Now I turn on a TV show and keep them mesmerized while I use the baby trimmer.

Good Luck!
Suzi

 

Biting and peeling never worked for me. When they were tiny, we'd wait till they fell asleep, then one parent would trim (with the Safety First nail clipper) while the other held sleeping baby.

I love that Safety First clipper -- I use it on my own nails now too. It's way better than my adult one! But it is still hard -- their darn nails are just so tiny.

Once they were too old for that (3-4 months), we just held their arms and tried to do it quick. (And honestly -- sometimes the daycare teachers would take pity on me and do it for me, even though they weren't supposed to.)

 

It works best for me to trim their nails while they're in the Baby Bjorn. I just use regular nail scissors. Haven't broken skin yet! Good luck, this is a tough one.

 

When mine were that little we did the emory boards. Then we graduated to cutting while sleeping with the safety first nail clippers...they're great. Now that they're older, they sit in the high chair and I can cut fingernails and toe nails...no problems.

I did have an incident when Jonas was about 3 months old and he jerked when I cut so I barely cut into the hide of his finger...I felt horrible and the thing took forever to stop bleeding. It's hard stuff.

 

Try doing it immediately after a bath, the nails are perfect for the clipping!

 

I'd always do it when they were nursing! After baths are great because their nails are softer. My ds was pretty good at letting me but there were a few times when I had dh hold dd's hand so I could get them trimmed.

 

when they were really little, used the clippers and the emery board. then i started using the baby scissors and find those much easier to use. now, i just cut them whenever i hold them. i try doing their toenails after i do a diaper change.

Lois

 

Thank you for all your suggestions!!
I am going to try to have my sister cut them after a bath while I'm nursing and def going to get some emory boards!

I have only done them twice so far and was a nervous wreck both times! I havent even attempted toenails yet, fortunately those are not long yet.

But now they both like to 'pet' me while they're nursing and they are scratching the h#ll out of me. They stopped scratching themselves and started scratching the momma.
And I am a fingernail fanatic, I hate them, I never have them, I cut my own once a week and file them down to make them smooth so I dont scratch myself and so they dont bend. Yuck!

 

I usually cut them right after their last feeding while they are drowsy and falling asleep. Sometimes I don't get them all at once. I went months without cutting their toenails because it never looked like they need it. I just figured they were wearing down rubbing against their clothes. Until one day I was looking at them very closely and saw the nails growing over the tips of their toes. They were so small I could barely see it. I felt horrible... :80:

 

At that age I filed them down. I had them sit on my lap facing away from me and held their hands and filed while singing a little song ("baby manicure.. baby manicure... meara is getting a baby manicure" yeah I know, stupid!).

I clip or file their toe nails when they are laying on the changing table and I block their hands and hold their legs by leaning over them.

I've gotten much braver.. for months I was terrified of using the clippers and now its no big deal.. at least for their toes. I have to admit I bite their finger nails because they just won't stay still.

 

QUOTE
But now they both like to 'pet' me while they're nursing and they are scratching the h#ll out of me.


Oh yeah. Mine still do that. They also love to grab a fistful of skin and pinch really hard. But I'd rather have them doing that to me than to each other while they nurse!