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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To get my baby declawed

43 replies

r3d3 · 21/09/2013 09:00

I cut his nails as well as I can, but my face is permanently covered in bloody scratches, his occasionally has one or two, and I fear for the other babies at playgroup.

AIBU to have him declawed? It's only a matter of time before he starts on the furniture :( And I'm worried about him climbing up the curtains.

(While I was typing this, he has actually managed to scrape something delicate way up inside my nose. Possibly it was my brain.)

OP posts:
thekatsatonthematt · 21/09/2013 09:05

[Grin]

frogspoon · 21/09/2013 09:05

Could you not file them instead of cut them?

Cutting can leave sharp edges which would explain the scratches.

DoJo · 21/09/2013 09:25

When my son scratched my husband's eyeball, I went onto the NHS website to see if there was anything we could do and it specifically listed scratches from children as one of the main causes of injury to the eyes. Not that it helps, but at least you are not alone - my son was born with scratchy, raggedy fingernails so heaven only knows what he was doing in there!

catgirl1976 · 21/09/2013 09:27

DS used to claw.

Boobs, eyes, faces,n oses - everything. Was awful and had I thought of getting him declawed I would have. It was like bfeeding a Tasmanian devil at times.

He did grow out of it though

SilverApples · 21/09/2013 09:28

Mittens?
Filing them?
TBH, I used to bite my little one's fingernails when they had raggedy bits that I couldn't cut without damaging their fingers.
Declawing is a drastic measure, it would mean removing his fingertips to the first joint. Shock

HungryHorace · 21/09/2013 09:32

My DD was born with scratches all over her face and continues to scratch herself and us every now and then.

No matter what I do with them she finds a way to scratch.

I feel your pain! :-/

CailinDana · 21/09/2013 09:33

Another recommendation for filing them. After reading dojo's post I'm glad I wear glasses!

Tee2072 · 21/09/2013 09:34

I used to chew them off my son when he was sleeping. Grin

Famzilla · 21/09/2013 09:35

DD claws. I have to file her nails down to basically non existent otherwise we both look like we've been dragged through a rosebush.

MurderOfGoths · 21/09/2013 09:39

DS is the same, somehow even with his nails cut as short as possible he still leaves horrible great scratches all over his face and neck.

LadyCelia · 21/09/2013 10:14

I bit them off DS after his bath when he was very little, it seemed the only way to do it, as he wouldn't sit still enough to file them. You wouldn't think that little nails could scratch so much!!

Original poster
r3d3 · 21/09/2013 10:28

Dojo that's horrible and I'm scared it'll happen! Yesterday he managed to punch me while my eye was open :/

Do you use grown up nail files or are there baby ones? I've never filed my own.

Celia one of my friends bites them but I can't bring myself to. Maybe she or you would do DS's?

OP posts:
DreamingOfTheMaldives · 21/09/2013 10:29

My DS is 3 weeks old and I've already got scratches on my chest where he flails when he is crying screaming like I'm murdering him

I've tried nibbling his nails but it's hard when they're just so tiny and I'm too afraid to try to cut them in case I cut his fingers.

SilverApples · 21/09/2013 10:29

Biting does sound barbaric, but in reality, you have far more control and sensitivity with your mouth than any implement.

Original poster
r3d3 · 21/09/2013 11:55

I don't mind it being barbaric, I just don't like fingernails much! He has vommed into my mouth a few times and I think fingernails is worse.

OP posts:
Original poster
r3d3 · 21/09/2013 11:55

Is declawing really removing their bones? God, that's horrible.

OP posts:
SilverApples · 21/09/2013 11:56

With cats? Yes, it is truly barbaric.

DameDeepRedBetty · 21/09/2013 12:01

DBro was a scratcher, mostly of himself though. I remember my mum sewing up the ends of his sleeves in sheer frustration - he'd do it all night left to himself.

My mum taught me how to bite dtds nails, it was actually incredibly easy, you can really feel what you're going iyswim. Also your spit softens the nails and makes it even easier!

Yes declawing is horrible, which is why British vets generally refuse to do it to cats thank god - american ones used to do it though Sad

Lorelei353 · 21/09/2013 12:14

DS scratches loads too. Have to be really vigilant with his nail cutting.

However it's not as bad as me when I was a baby. I stuck my sharp nail directly into my father's eye, piercing his cornea. They weren't sure if he washing to lose his sight (he didn't) and he describes it as the single most painful thing that has ever happened to him. Blush

SueDoku · 21/09/2013 12:27

Use an emery board to do the filing - it won't hurt if you get it smacked into your face by a flailing arm Smile and it's much easier to control.

sashh · 21/09/2013 12:44

Isn't this why babies used to wear little cotton mittens?

HungryHorace · 21/09/2013 12:47

Ah, scratch mitts. Those things that cannot be kept on without superglue!

DuffyMoon · 21/09/2013 13:07

Could you use these am thinking practical and fashionable

Silvercatowner · 21/09/2013 13:27

My son is 26 and has a scar on his face from scratching himself. I was devastated - everyone said it wouldn't scar but it did. :(

HungryHorace · 21/09/2013 13:30

Ooh, nice thinking Duffy! :-) DD would look awesome with a set of those.

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