Cutting toenails of wailing, wrestling toddler

[notnowbernard]

I've just about sussed a system for getting her teeth brushed (she goes completely mental about this, too) It involves restraining, waiting for the screams then attack with the brush

But I am stuck with the nails. She lets me do fingernails, but goes apeshit when I try and do her toes. Armed with scissors this is a dangerous business

She's 20m... any tips gratefully received!

bite them.

use an emery board in or after the bath

the nails, btw... not the kid!

Wait til she's asleep
don't use scissors - use nail clippers

ds will only let me cut his toenails if I leave them 'attached' by a tiny tiny bit and let him pull them off (yuk).
Even then it doesn't always work.

Until recently, it took 2 of us, one to pin her down and one to cut. She needed doing yesterday and sat there as good as gold, she is now 26 months.

Bite them!!

They're titch! I'd never get my gnashers into them!

She would wake, I think, but worth a try

I t's very wearing, all this wrestling

wrestle to change nappy (highly irritating)
wrestle to get dressed (mostly humourous)
wrestle to brush teeth (a bind, neighbours must think we have terrible parenting skills)

now a wrestle to cut nails

Bless her

Clippers not scissors and wait till she's asleep

I use nail clippers and make a game of it where I pretend the snipped off bits are flying everywhere and I have to duck and dive to avoid them. Sounds bloody ridiculous now I've written it down but it works a treat!

Thankyou for all these ideas

She is a bit like Pavlov's dog, though...

sees toothbrush... scream and run
hears "nappy"... run
sees clippers/scissors... gets ready for a slamdunk

Might have to start trying to do them at random times, when she is least expecting it

We went through this stage, we made a game of it, didn't actually cut the nails but prentended and said good boy and got all silly, after a few days of doing this alot we cut a few nails. Now very co operative espically if in the night grd is on. But teeth brushing is a different matter.

I used to use the telly. turn it up louder than usual and stick ds on my lap. Distraction works every time

DS is 2.1. We use clippers and we get in the bath together to do them. I cut mine first and then his. He usually gets bored towards the end and starts to fight a bit but he likes the fact we both have them done.

Brushing teeth is a nightmare though.

Re the teeth thing, I tried to do the "you do Mummy's and I'll do dd" thing (advice from MN)

It worked about 3 times then rebellion set in again

let her run around outside bare foot for a while ....

Agree the I'll do yours you do mine approach does not work for teeth.

i do ds toenails when asleep and after talking to the dentist we got him an electric toothbrush from jojomamanbebe and he loves it and says it's his airplane toothbrush he is 2.7 by the way.

Sing a nursery rhyme together - Hickory Dickory Dock was always a favourite. Distraction is the way forward. If they are too tired just forget it.

Why are toenails such a problem, fingers are fine.

distraction, bribery and stealth

mostly bribery

do just one a day, let her pick which toe

they'll all get done eventually!

Stealth and determination, yes

She's too young to bribe

Distraction DOES NOT work

Nursery rhymes? Good God, by the time she clocks the scissors there's no chance of me getting the opening line in!

Good ideas, though and will apply to other wrstling scenarios instead

Bite her toenails

Let her brush her own teeth

Use pull up nappies and change her standing up or over your knee with book or toy on floor to look at - or in front of tv.

Dressing.... ah well I can't help you there - put the Tweenies on maybe...

Oh actually I tend to pick the toddler's toenails off - I bite the fingernails

Fondant, you are the second person to recommend biting toenails. I just CANNOT do this!! My huge teeth getting to grips with her titch toenails? Nooooooo!!

Her teeth will rot if I left her to it. She just eats the toothpaste

Pull-ups might be a way forward