How to cut a headstrong 3yo toenails?!

[Alaska77]

Seriously, it's impossible. Fingernails OK. Toenails, too tickly (so he tells me). I've tried pinning him down firmly so it doesn't tickle. I've tried bribing him with chocolate buttons (only worked for one toe). When he used to have a daytime nap I'd do it whilst he slept, but now he only sleeps at night I'm not attempting it in the dark!

Any tips?

My DD (3) likes me to clip about 95% of the way and then peel the rest herself. Otherwise she won't have anything to do with it. Still have to pin DS (2) down.

Was going to suggest while he is sleeping...torch maybe?

Or how about getting someone else to do it. My sister's kids won't sit still for her, but will quite happily sit for fringe/toenail/fingernail trim for me.....!

Tell him is toes will drop off if his nails get too long - lol!

We had an aupair, and she was the only person my DD would let cut her toenails. (bit of an expensive solution to the problem though!)

Trim the nails after they are asleep.

Do it when he is sleeping and put the light on or will that wake him, if so, then get a head torch or get someone else to hold the torch.

I could do anything while mine were sleeping - we even showed people round their rooms (with the light on!) when we were selling our house and they were in bed. :)

Play a game. How about 'this little piggy'?

I do ds's when he is asleep at night. He doesn't wake when the light goes on though.

Emery board adnd let them do it them selves little and often?

I used to bite DDs - so much easier.

File them? Going anywhere near my wriggly toddlers toes with scissors makes me nervous.

Stick the tv on and do it then?

I have to do ds2's when he's asleep at niht, with minimal light! And he has to be in the right stage of sleep (deep sleep?) otherwise he still resists and squirms and complains.

Can someone please explain to me how it can possibly be easier to bite a wriggly 3yo's toenails?

Thanks everyone. Maybe I'll give it a go at night with a torch or the dimmer switch on! I hadn't thought of asking someone else to do it. Nana is in favour with DS at the moment so maybe I'll ask her to give it a go!

Got to say, I wouldn't fancy biting my DD's! I used to do it when she was tiny but it's clippers all the way now.

Playing with bare feet in sand e.g. sandpit - it's supposed to 'file' them down. I've not tried it, but may well do soon with my 2.9 y.o. as he hates it.

A nail file might be better than scissors or clippers.

Put a lamp on in his bedroom and do it while he sleeps. I had to do this for my son too, he has ASD and will go bananas at anyone trying to cut his nails.

Flossie, at night, no light needed and no danger of cutting her

I would up the bribe. At one stage we were at several smarties per nail. Soon afterwards the bribes weren't required any more, I think because she realised there wasn't really anything to be scared of. Also doing it while watching TV as it's a good distraction, but TV gets turned off the second the nail cutting gets interrupted.

Doing it while asleep woke her up, annoyingly.

NB dd didn't ever spot that I had substituted mini smarties for the normal kind once we had offered more than one per nail...

Try doing them in the bath, he'll already be distracted...?

I bribe dd1 (2.5) with the promise of sparkly rainbow toes. works every time.