Toddler lost a toenail - what to do?

[SinkGirl]

Recently got new shoes for my twins, a brand they always wear and have had no issues with. Definitely the right size.

Picked him up from nursery on Friday and went straight to London to visit family - noticed he was walking a bit funny in his shoes but nothing else (he has ASD and doesn’t show pain like other kids).

Took his shoes off and he had a huge blister / lost skin on one little toe. We didn’t have any other shoes for him with us - applied a blister plaster and went out for the day. He did some walking (lots of carrying) but seemed fine. Got back, took the blister plaster off and his whole toenail has come off his little toe.

I feel absolutely awful - obviously the shoes are never going near him again

I’ve put a plaster on temporarily because it was bleeding - not sure what to do. Does he need to see a doctor, can’t think there’s much they can do? What should I do to protect it when he goes to nursery in the morning? Worried about socks sticking to it etc.

I don’t know if it’s hurting him, he doesn’t respond at all (only when taking the blister plaster off), he’s walking fine barefoot but it could be really painful and he’s just not showing it - I’ve given him some nurofen just in case.

My son dropped a brick on his foot when he was 2 and broke his toe and the nail came off as well. There isn't anything you can do really, just wrap a bandage around it.

Nothing. It will grow back.

Phew. I figured it would grow back but didn’t know if it needed to be dressed with something, or something like that? I don’t know, I think I just feel so guilty!

Don’t feel guilty, these things happen. Can you pop some soft slippers on you son when he’s at nursery to give his feet some extra protection? I would also try and keep a little cushioning bandage on it too, but appreciate that might be difficult with a toddler.

MIL slammed DD's finger in the door and her nail came off. It grew back.

Has he had hand foot and mouth recently? That can actually cause nails to fall out (found that out the hard way!!). Hope it's not causing him too much pain poor thing.

No, no HF&M luckily!

It’s definitely the shoe - they’re quite firm winter shoes and I’m guessing one of his feet is now slightly larger than the other hence only rubbing on one side.

I’ve got some softer pumps he can wear indoors, he will have to wear wellies if he goes outside. I do have some gauze and tape in the cupboard so maybe that? Just worried about it getting stuck and then it being painful to take off.

He’s absolutely fine, this is the issue - if my shoe was taking all the skin and my nail off my little toe I’d be crying but I honestly had no idea he had an injury.