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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

How do you cut you 1year old nails???

25 replies

sunandmoon · 09/08/2006 11:26

I find it impossible to cut my DD (1yr old) fingers or toes nails. It always have been an impossible thing to do but before i could do it while she was asleep but NOT ANYMORE!!! She wakes up as soon as I touch her skin... GRRRRRRRRRR...
How do you do it??? Thank you

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Marne · 09/08/2006 11:30

I hate cutting they're nails dd2 doesnt mind me doing them, sometimes i bite them off which makes her giggle. DD1 will only let my mum cut her nails and will only have her toe nails cut if i paint them after (she's 2.5)

merrily · 09/08/2006 11:32

with great difficulty... I find the only way to do it now is when Teletubbies or other favourite programme is on. If she's really absorbed in the programme she'll completely ignore me while I cut nails, trim hair, etc.

PinkTulips · 09/08/2006 11:34

she lets me do it while dp carries her around the kitchen.... all hell breaks loose if i try any other time.

Original poster

sunandmoon · 09/08/2006 11:40

So glad DD isn't the only one then. I will try all your suggestions. DH doesn't want to give a go and i am sure that she would let him do it... he is worried to cut not only the nails but her skin (he is quite rough...)

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1Baby1Bump · 09/08/2006 11:44

i do ds when he is asleep on my lap

sleepysooz · 09/08/2006 12:40

I have the same problem with my twins dd and ds
they are 2.10 we can't even do it when they are asleep, they wake up screaming!

Its the same when I have to trim ds hair! and its the same when we wash their hair!

Anybody would think world war 3 had started!

Onto a more positive note, I have a 10yo ds and he was the same, so don't worry it won't last forever, my eldest was ok when he hit the 4 yo barrier, then you could trim nails, go the the barbers, ok washing hair was a little harder, infact he still doesn't like it much but at least he doesn't sound as if your're murdering him!

Only consolation is, the twins nails do drop off, they peel them themselves and pass them to me. Toe nails are a bit harder, they arn't so soft, and can grow funny if you don't trim them!

We also use the word 'trim' instead of the word 'cut' a bit of reverse phsycology. To a toddler cutting nails is like you're going to hurt them, they don't understand cutting on this occasion doesn't hurt! so trimming, they don't quite understand, but realise it doesn't hurt!

All else fails, two people and torture time! I know they wriggle alot, we use 'clippers' but each to their own preference!

Was that gobbledigook or what, anyway hope I have helped!

sleepysooz · 09/08/2006 12:44

I have just read down the thread a little and I agree, if you paint nail varnish on nails that also works, I have a pale colour for my ds though (plus just a 'dot') dd loves to have pretty nails.

Try doing your own she might want to have pretty nails like mummy!

Good luck!

CodGuevara · 09/08/2006 12:44

you go to Johb klewus abd buy tiny clippers

fuzzywuzzy · 09/08/2006 12:46

very quickly, whilst holding the hand firmly and giving toddler something ot play with with the other hand...also chat to her whilst cutting her nails to keep her mind off what I'm doing.

Have also found strangely she is happier for me to cut her nails once she's seen me do mine, in fact she pleads with me to cut her nails if I am cutting mine!!!!

Original poster

sunandmoon · 09/08/2006 13:55

Lots of good tips here...
Thank you

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Original poster

sunandmoon · 09/08/2006 13:57

CodGuevara, do you mean John Lewis (Johb klewus)?

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muma3 · 09/08/2006 13:59

my mother brought me some nails clippers from boots . they are tiny i have had them since my first child nearly 9 years and i have had no probs with any of dd's . i tend to say " oh whats mummy got "or "im coming "and make a game . wait til she in a deep sleep ? entertain her with something else tyo keep mind off what your doing? sorry not much help good luck x

muma3 · 09/08/2006 14:01

here

kibs · 09/08/2006 14:25

I always play a game when cutting nails - this little pinky - u gotta be quick and cut nail before going on to next finger.

Original poster

sunandmoon · 09/08/2006 15:14

I have try to sing or play games but as soon as she sees the clipper, that's it, she wriggles as much as she can and she wins her game by crawling as far away as possible from me!!! She is only 1 yr old, maybe the games and nails painting will work one day... But thank you again for the advice.

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lazycow · 09/08/2006 15:22

ds usually lets me nowadays (at least for a while) but only because he wants to see how the scissors work. He then always proceeds to scream and have a tantrum when I won't let him have the scissors for him to try it afterwards.

Until he was about 15 months I used to bite his nails (hands and feet) while breast feeding usually if I could get his hands to stay still long enough- it was just less hassle.

I started using scissors when he got a bit older as I thought it might encourage bad habits - i.e it might teach him to bite his own nails.

Original poster

sunandmoon · 09/08/2006 15:45

I like your point of stopping biting his nails!!
It does make lots of sense.

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Reece · 09/08/2006 15:52

I manage to do one hand 1 day and the other the next!

ja9 · 09/08/2006 16:01

i used to sit ds on my knee in front of the tv and wrap him in a tight cuddle so that he couldn't easily move his arms! He was usually distracted enough by the tv to sit for long enough.

Also, 'this little piggy..' helps for the toes.

Original poster

sunandmoon · 09/08/2006 16:25

I will try the TV watching tomorrow am and maybe do one hand each day (thanks reece) and if it doesn't work will do one finger each day ..

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tassis · 09/08/2006 18:28

NIGHTMARE here at that age (sorry that's not v helpful).

2 parent job - one to hold him down and one to do it as quick as possible!

Thankfully at 3 he's pretty much over it!

castlesintheair · 09/08/2006 18:46

Had this problem too but DD now wants to do what mummy does so I always cut (or pretend to) mine 1st and she then sticks her little fingers out to be done. I always use diddy little nail clippers too from Boots. If all else fails get someone to pin them down and go for it

Original poster

sunandmoon · 10/08/2006 09:17

Thank you girls

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99redballoons · 10/08/2006 14:02

Hi sunamdmoon, we don't clip in our household but 'file'. Use an emeryboard whilst they're watching tv or give them a breadstick to eat with the other hand. I also find filing toes whilst they're eating in the highchair a good time too! HTH.

Original poster

sunandmoon · 10/08/2006 14:24

Great idea... so no sharp nails!!!!

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