grooming the ungroomable

[Evita]

Anyone have any miracle suggestions about how to cut finger and toe nails and hair of a v. wriggly ungroomable 17 month old?

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Nails when they are asleep?

Bite them off.

Agree nails when she is asleep. I did that with DS1 for years.

Hair - I used to get DS1 watching a video and then chop bits off it myself. He wouldn't let the hairdresser cut it until he was three.

I have to cut my 9 month old every week, and it is rather easy.

If she sits on my lap. I play with her feet and toes, hence used to being touched and tickled.

We cut them last night just before she went to bed, after she had a bottle and was falling asleep. She was aware I was cutting them too.

I could never have done that when she is all over the place during the day.

after abath when they are relaxed and having a cuddle. dd1 loves having her nails cut buts it essential as she has ezcema so have been cutting her nails every couple of days for years. we also paint her nails for her to make them seem special.

I cut my dd's nails when she is asleep. I wait approx 15 mins before I start so that she is properly asleep, but even then she still seems to know and tries to remove her hand or foot from mine. It still takes a good 20 mins of foot/hand squirming until the nails are neatly cut. Aren't they difficult!

I can't believe so many people cut nails when their kid's asleep, I mean, how? Asleep where? My dd is only ever asleep in her cot in the dark. She never dozes off on my knee or anything and if I went and hung over her cot with my scissors she'd wake up like a shot. I've occasionally had success with her locked in her high chair with a video on but she just HATES it.

Today she's been sporting an, ahem, unusual haircut as she wouldn't let me finish. Kind of punk. I hope.

Don't they ever tire and just want to rest on your arms and fall asleep? Have a cuddle.

That is usually when I know she is tired, she lingers around and comes over to us with lots of interest, otherwise she is happily playing with her toys or doing something else.

nails whist asllep on my knee.
Hair while she is sitting at the "pretend" hairdressers,(usually the loo), and i have to tell a VERY interesting story to keep her head still. +

GenT, my little dynamo NEVER sits on my knee and nods off unless she's ill or absolutely exhausted. She goes on and on and it's only when I pick her up and tell her it's time to sleep and put her in her cot that she goes out like a light. Quite amazing really as to look at her you'd never guess she was tired!

Evita, in answer to the question of how do you cut them in the dark, my DH and I go through a right performance with torch and card (to stop light getting in eyes), how crazy is that!! If I tried when he was awake I would more than likely get up cutting of a finger, and it probably be mine.

Hair is a toughy. The best I can find is to do the bare minimum, even only 2-3 minutes'-worth, while she's watching something really fascinating (in our house that has been certain videos or screen-savers, or Daddy being a lunatic).

As for nails, my ds went through an extremely unco-operative phase at about your dd's age, so we ended up taking him to sandpits as often as possible and taking his shoes and socks off, even in the winter. That kept his nails 'filed down'. We did get some strange looks, though!

After about a year of this, I suggested that he count '1, 2, 3' while I was positioning the clippers, and then shout 'ELEPHANT' and by the time he'd finished, the clipping would be finished. Again, I only ever did 2 or 3 nails at a time. The 'Elephants' has become our mantra for anything unpleasant.

He has grown out of it now, and lets me trim his nails with my manicure scissors, so it does improve!

Evita my dd is just like yours, on the go until bedtime then out like a light - only falls asleep on me if she's ill. She hates having her nails cut, I do bit her finger nails while she is having her bedtime bottle and try and make it into a game. Or I wait until she in engrossed in something and try then, sometimes get 1 or 2 done before she notices!

She has just got into a doll so I may try "cutting" the doll's nails and then hers, as she seems to like imitating life a lot with the doll. Will let you know how I get on...

I trim my own nails in front of the sluglet. She becomes so intrigued that she demands I do the same to her.

As to the hair problem......that's why it's long. She has the occasional fringe trim which usually takes both MIL and myself to do and requires much distraction and soothing. Usually it ends up wonky despite all this.

Countess, I did the doll nail cutting, as you suggested and dd got quite into it. She herself, however, is going for the Guinness Book of Records for longest nails. Especially her toes ...

Do it when they're asleep. Reminds me I must do ds1 (4 and a half!) tonight.

jimjams, not sure I can be quite as patient and inventive as pollingfold suggests in her post here. So during sleep isn't really an option. Luckily she doesn't scratch herself too much and she's so beautiful (of course!) that she can get away with her wonky fringe. She's a trend setter, I can see it now. Long, long nails, weird weird hairstyle.

My ds has kept his own nails short since teething, he just bites them (including his toenails)

Makes me feel sick, but I can't stop him (does it after i've put him to bed), and it does save me the job.

I bite dd's nails off, while growling and pretending to eat her hadns/feet.

lol at the torch and card!