Help - toddler's toenail coming off, what should I do?!

[RedPandaFluff]

Hi everyone - I noticed about three weeks ago that 15-month old DD's big toenail was bruised. I don't know if her shoes were ill-fitting or she stubbed it (her walking isn't great, lots of bumps and bruises) but I got new shoes just in case.

This morning we noticed that the toenail is coming off - I'd noticed it going paler and thought maybe it was damaged, but it's clearly dead. It's hanging on along the side, so opens to the side like a flap. The toe itself is quite red.

What should we do? Leave it until it comes off by itself?

Maybe tape that edge down with steri strips or something so it doesn’t catch and get ripped off.

Oh I did wonder if I should put a sticky plaster around it to keep it in place, @Everythingiswonderful - thank you.

Foot specialist here, can you gently clip off the broken nail? Leaving it in situ will create further soreness. It will grow back,but if you leave it, it may get infected.

Pm me if i can help.

Oh thank you @WowIlikereallyhateyou - she's in bed now, should I try to clip it or let her sleep and do it in the morning?

Do it in the morning if it is going to disturb her. I would suggest you clip away the loose nail and gently file. If you try to stick the nail, all that will happen is it will remain sore and possibly get infected. Better to remove the problem so no debris or dirt get trapped underneath and cause further problems. Don’t clip any nail that is firmly rooted though,just the loose, shape may be odd but it will grow out.

Thank you so much! Will do as you've advised

@WowIlikereallyhateyou hoping I can get your attention for another piece of advice . . . I've just collected DD from nursery and her toe is really red. Is it infected, do you think? I'm honestly about to cry as it's been one thing after another recently - she fell and broke a tooth and had to have it removed under GA, she fell and bumped her head and had two black eyes, her eczema flared up, and now this. My poor baby

Pmd you.

@WowIlikereallyhateyou 💐 for helping op.

Thank you so much, @WowIlikereallyhateyou