How do you cut your toddler's nails?

[GiveMeVegemite]

My DS is 13 months and is going to grow talons soon, but he won't let me near his hands or feet with scissors. It literally takes me a whole day of randomly doing one finger at a time to get them down to a reasonable length. I dont really want to pin him to the ground and use force to do it if possible! There is no chance I can do it whilst he is asleep, I have tried. Any suggestions?

[CrazyOldCatLady]

I turn on the tv and hold DS down. He doesn't like it but it's better than him scratching himself! I find doing it early in the day before he gets tired or hungry is important.

[GiveMeVegemite]

Ok, distraction and force! I will give it a try :) thanks

[Ninehoursahead]

I used to do DS's when he was asleep, now I just pin him down or bribe him with chocolate (but he's 4.5 now -still a battle!)

[KatOD]

Either wait til really dozy before nap/sleep or bribe with Peppa pig/room on the broom on TV. Use the baby nail clippers, much easier. Dd is 20mo and I've been varying between these depending on her mood since a couple of months old.

[Phoenixflame]

My DS is 2 and always wants to take the nail clippers off me to play with them if I try to do them while he's awake. So I wait until he's asleep and do it then. I just hold one finger at a time and do it as quickly and as carefully as possible. Never had a problem with him waking up. Thank god!

[breatheslowly]

I think nail clippers are best - but I haven't tried scissors.

[NotAQueef]

Sporadically, ineffectively I'm sure the nursery have me on some kind of list due to DS's odd mix of short and long nails - he is 2.8.

He pulls his hands away while I try and do it so it's rarely achievable I might have nipped his fingers a few times this way. - mainly because we have daily battles with teeth brushing and nappy changes all of which I seem to be tasked with ... it's no wonder he hits me and prefers daddy when I do all the nasty jobs!

Am thinking of investing in these as at least I can ensure that am not grabbing skin when I swoop in!

[GiveMeVegemite]

I have nail clippers and scissors, just haven't been game enough to use them. I got my husband to sit DS on his lap, with C Beebies on and quickly snipped away! It worked! I will try clippers next time though. Thanks :)

[ceeveebee]

I have a TV in the kitchen which gets switched on for 10 minutes after every meal while I tidy/wash up, so I clip their nails once a week or so when they are in their chairs and engrossed in whatever cbeebies are showing at that time (20 mo twins).
Disgustingly, DH bites their toenails off if he sees they are getting long, yuk

[PiHigh]

TV, doing her sister's first, holding down and ignoring screeching . Actually now she's a bit older (3) a bit of bribing her by saying I'll paint her nails afterwards helps too.

[GuffSmuggler]

Whilst he's drinking his bedtime milk, works a treat!

[missesjellybean]

I do it while they're asleep or with a nail file which they will happily sit and let me do though it takes a bit longer

[littlemefi]

My dd age 3 has eczema so have to keep nails short as otherwise she scratches til she bleeds at times!
After a mishap with scissors (eek!) I use an emery board while watching cbeebies, works for us with no problem.

[valiumredhead]

I used to do ds's when he slept.

[Babouche]

I've got tweezerman tiger print baby nail scissors.
They don't seem to mind their nails being cut with these.
If it's a battle I'd go for distraction with the TV,bribery and if all else fails,force!

[OKnotOK]

Sod scissors & baby nail clippers, those things were so bloody sharp!!

I use an old small set of nail clippers i had in a set, after a bath (while watching Ina Garten cooking...strangly hypnotic!!) i just sit her between my legs facing the TV.
Shes just used to is now.

[nancerama]

Distraction, and always go for the hand they use most first.

[Slavetominidictator]

When she's asleep...

[rrreow]

I use nail clippers and have several pairs. I give one to DS to play with, while I use another to clip his nails.

Sometimes if he's not very compliant I get DH to distract him (usually he does something in the form of "OOH what is that on your hand (the other hand than I'm clipping obviously), FINGERS?!! How many fingers have you got?" etc etc

[showtunesgirl]

I do them when she's still strapped into her buggy so she can't get away!

[shoesontheglasslamp]

I do toenails in high chair whilst eating favourite meal. He's also at a height where I can get them done quickly and effectively!