Active discussions

Help end medical misogyny. Sign our petition.

Help end medical misogyny.
Sign our petition.

Sign the petition

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Could you cut someone's toe nails?

86 replies

Gardenimp · 28/04/2026 12:08

My BF has the opposite of a foot fetish. He really hates feet. I've never seen anything like it. I feel fairly ambivilent about feet. I wouldn't go out of my way to touch anyone's foot, but would do what needs doing to help most people. In fact I did trim BF's nail when we were on holiday, a sharp edge was causing some bleeding on the adajcent toe and we didn't really have the correct implement, so it was awkard for him to do. I didn't love or hate it, it was just something that needed doing to solve a problem.

My Dad has just called because he needs his toe nails trimming. He's old and immobile and what he was actually asking was if I'm available to give him a lift to the chiropodist. BF thought he was asking me to do it and absoultely completely horrified. The only reason I wouldn't is because of Dad's condition, it's important not to get it wrong.

Yes I know we could find a mobile chirpodist. That's a battle for another day 🤣

OP posts:
WindyBeech · 29/04/2026 22:38

I do my elderly mother's once a month as she can't reach them. I don't enjoy it but their funds are better used on keeping themselves warm and other medical bills than paying for this. In turn she does my father's. Every time a physio asks her mobility aim she says to be able to cut her own toe nails again.

Shinyhappyapple · 29/04/2026 22:40

I’ve done my parents nails in the past, and of course my child’s.

XenoBitch · 29/04/2026 22:55

No! I struggle to cut my own because I really really hate feet.
No way could I even touch someone else's weird leg hands.

Hall84 · 29/04/2026 23:02

I cut DDs, hypothetically I would cut my Mum's if I had too. I would pay someone to cut my Dad's. Love them both equally but I hate feet. DD and DMs are the only feet that can touch me.

Meteorite87 · 29/04/2026 23:10

Gardenimp · 28/04/2026 12:08

My BF has the opposite of a foot fetish. He really hates feet. I've never seen anything like it. I feel fairly ambivilent about feet. I wouldn't go out of my way to touch anyone's foot, but would do what needs doing to help most people. In fact I did trim BF's nail when we were on holiday, a sharp edge was causing some bleeding on the adajcent toe and we didn't really have the correct implement, so it was awkard for him to do. I didn't love or hate it, it was just something that needed doing to solve a problem.

My Dad has just called because he needs his toe nails trimming. He's old and immobile and what he was actually asking was if I'm available to give him a lift to the chiropodist. BF thought he was asking me to do it and absoultely completely horrified. The only reason I wouldn't is because of Dad's condition, it's important not to get it wrong.

Yes I know we could find a mobile chirpodist. That's a battle for another day 🤣

I did my Dad's as his carer. Had to go little by little. Any skin nicks and the blood thinners showed their effectiveness 🫣
Yes I filed them afterwards too.

Would I be ok with doing anyone else's? Not sure, but probably not.

3678194b · 29/04/2026 23:43

No. And I can't even cut my own! I go to the chiropodist regularly and she says I have well looked after, nice feet, but they must see some really horrible feet. I can't imagine what horrible condition some feet must be in that they see. It's a job I couldn't do!

DierdreDaphne · 29/04/2026 23:54

I'm so reassured to find Im not an awful person (i hope) for really struggling with elderly dms nails..i can just about do her hands but feet - can't shan't won't. How people actually make a profession of podiatry...the horror.

My amazing dsis will do mums toenails (and I say amazing because she doesn't like it, but still does it)

But she is definitely more matter of fact than me.

My dh sometimes absent -mindedly picks his feet while he's reading... aaaaaaargh!!!!!!

(He is even a bit vain about his feet (but absolutely no other part of his perfectly nice body), he says he thinks they are "nice" feet. No mate. They are feet, ergo, that's an oxymoron.)

ImogenBrocklehurst · 29/04/2026 23:56

I do my husband’s. Wouldn’t do anyone else’s though.

MayDaySunshinePlease · 30/04/2026 00:04

Yes, I would happily do it for anyone I know that needed it doing & couldn't manage themselves, but not just because they fancied having it done.

Strangers it would depend on the situation.

Flittybee · 30/04/2026 00:13

The thought of being anywhere near the in-between bits of toes bleughhh 🤮🤮🤮

I've avoided absolutely everyone's feet apart from my own until my DC arrived..baby feet are just ❤️ and I've never been repulsed by my DCs feet since.

I have to trim my disabled teenagers nails which don't bother me at all but DHs perfectly clean, normal feet? The thought of touching them and their in-between bits makes me heave! 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮😅

Megsdaughter · 30/04/2026 00:18

When I became disabled and couldnt bend to reach my feet DH just started doing them just like he does everything else I cant do.

It took me 3 tries at marriage but I found a Prince eventually 😀

mathanxiety · 30/04/2026 00:23

I'd only do it with latex gloves on. Same for rubbing lotion into other people's legs/ heels, etc.

Fifthtimelucky · 30/04/2026 00:30

I used to cut my father’s toenails sometimes when he was in his late 80s and couldn’t easily reach them anymore. I also did my stepmother’s (similar age).

I’m not particularly squeamish, fortunately.

Mumtobabyhavoc · 30/04/2026 00:43

I've got kids, so yes, easy. I also help my mum with hers due to her limited mobility.
The fact that OP's bf was horrified is far more concerning.

jay55 · 30/04/2026 00:46

I did it for my dad during Covid when the chiropodist couldn’t come round. It wasn’t pleasant but it was better than him complaining all the time.

rainbowunicorn22 · 30/04/2026 10:48

i do my partners he has diabetes and due to age he is a lot older than me struggles to cut them. at one time they got very horny and thick so i paid a chiropodist to come and file them down a bit but now i know what she did i can replicate it myself.
i also used to cut my dads toe nails as he could not manage either

Harrriet · 30/04/2026 11:24

I do it for family of all ages but draw a line at my cousins feet.

DancingLions · 30/04/2026 13:23

I hate feet so no I wouldn't. In fact I'm feeling queasy just thinking about it!

I saw a TV show where a mum's punishment for her DC if they argued or fought was that they had to cut each others toenails while saying they loved each other 😂I thought that was quite genius because I would do anything to avoid that!

Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 30/04/2026 14:17

My kids. My elderly mum.
And, im going to get slated, but dh. He's not as footphobic as ops bf, but cutting his own toenails makes him feel sick and dizzy, a bit like people who feel faint at blood. Im not proud of it, but there we go.

TotallyAddictedToCoffee · 30/04/2026 15:02

I do it for my mum
She did it for her FIL (my Grandad)
She also used to bathe and dress her MIL (my Gran) in her final years

I don't mind in the slightest, though sometimes I think I should get hazard pay! Those flying shards are bloody dangerous 😂

donotmissyourchancetoblow · 30/04/2026 15:09

Yes I’m not bothered by feet at all. I cut my DPs toenails, due to an injury he can’t do it himself and I often massage his feet if he wants.
i wouldn’t if they were thick or looked a bit dodgy but only because I wouldn’t want to do something to hurt the person or cause any damage to the nails.

IdaGlossop · 30/04/2026 15:14

Of course. But for this thread, it would never have crossed my mind that it could be an issue, maybe because as a child I watched my mum cut the toe nails of one of her uncles when he was elderly.

2026newname · 30/04/2026 15:46

@KeeleyJ Podiatrist is the new name. Have to be HCPC registered and complete degree. Chiropodist is an old name and some may have the degree, or were allowed to register with HCPC due to existing experience. In Scotland NHS guidance for foot care actually encourages carers and family to be doing basic foot care. Many carers expected to cover routine foot care.

hattie43 · 30/04/2026 15:49

No . I sort my own and that’s it . Elderly mother has a home chiropodist who comes regularly .

pollymere · 30/04/2026 16:08

I broke the toes on my right foot and can't cut two of the toenails myself anymore. My DH does it for me.

I guess it's just something that needs doing so he gets in with it. Certainly not a big deal.