To get help for my baby's toenail?

[georgarina]

Since she was born, one of DD's toenails has been malformed. It's like a ball rather than a nail. I haven't ever been able to cut it (she's 12mo) and it's just getting thicker and bigger.

HV has gone awol and I keep being told the duty HV will call me but nothing. Baby drop in is closed.

Friends have told me I shouldn't bother the GP with this but I'm not getting anywhere.

AIBU to ask what this is and what I can do?

My little toe nails are like that just clip it after a bath when it’s softer with nail clippers not scissors.

My HV sent me to the podiatrist with a similar problem in DD.

Thank you - can I ask what the podiatrist did/suggested?

just file it. Or if you insist that can’t be done, use dog claw clippers

The GP won’t do anything. They’re not there to cut toenails.

You could file the top of it down each evening after her bath when it’s soft, then cut it when it’s thinner.

Or pay money to see a podiatrist.

My DD has a funny toenail too. It grows slightly upwards and sideways. It is quite tricky to cut. I generally use clippers after a bath. I also use a nail buffer on it to file its thickness down a bit. I keep meaning to mention it to a GP when we are there for anything else but actually we very rarely see our GP.

OP I can believe it is very difficult to cut. It looks more solid than DD's nail and that's tough enough to cut.

I would follow the recommendations if seeing a podiatrist or chiropodist (I'm not sure of the difference). In the meantime a nail buffer and applying something like olive oil to try to soften it a little might help.

He suggested I file it with a nail file, but I found that it was better if I used a small pair of nail trimmers frequently. And after a bath when it’s softer. Little and often is the answer.

Two of my kids have nails like that on their little toes - it kind of grows folded round into a cylindrical "claw" rather than a flat nail? It's not caused them any problems though! Try cutting it after a long soak in the bath, and just be careful not to cut it too short

I would also suggest going to see a podiatrist.
Sometimes with a thickened nail like that the nail bed can be raised up and irregular making it difficult to cut and uncomfortable.
Give it a gentle file over the surface.
A podiatrist should be able to reduce the thickness of the nail down and advise you on cutting and maintenance going forward.

Okay so my big toenail was like this, i also couldnt cut it.. just wouldnt cut, just dented the nail. I would file the top, have a hot long bath with it soaking and then cut and file for as long as i needed, then id use foot lotion to help smooth my nails. I had to do it every 3 days for about 2 weeks and now my nail is fine and normal :)

Also if cutting with nail clippers, make sure to hold the toe/rest of the nail really firmly like almost strangling the toe. stops the nail lifting to much and just snip off little tiny bits mostly focusing on the filing,

Looks like a normal nail under the ball of nail it's just that but needs to be cut off. Try cutting it after a long soak in the bath or filing it down.

Bit*

A podiatrist will be able to help but that may be expensive. Are you able to file it down rather than cutting?

Bath to soften the nail, then cut with clippers or nail scissors. I think you're being a bit overdramatic. I don't think the GP will be able to do anything??

You need clippers like a PP posted. You don't need to go to the GP.

I have two toes like that where the nail bed has been damaged (bad shoes, injury)
I use my scholl electric foot file to speed up the thinning process rather than a normal nail file, works well. Then it's thin enough to cut.
I'm also rather a fan of the toebro on YouTube and watch him do this sort of thing a lot with his dremel sander then clippers.

My daughter’s ones were as thick as they were long on her pinky toes, almost like a cube of toenail. I just filed it carefully after a soak in the bath (even from a few months) and then carefully trimmed the length.

Even at 25, she still has the same weird little toenails! No GP needed (and I have caught her using my XL dog nail clippers, but in that she takes after her father. Both have toenails of steel).

I'd go to a chiropodist but I wouldn't bother the GP, I'd just go to a private one, if you can afford it. You'll be waiting ages via the nhs.

You’d be best making a private podiatrist or chiropodist appointment.

Thanks everyone! Really helpful advice

File it down before cutting. And a decent pair of clippers will do it, not baby ones!

I would try to get advice from a chiropodist.