Tips on cutting baby’s nails

[Heartburn888]

Please can someone give me some tips on how to safely cut my baby’s nails

He’s 7 weeks and his nails are gross it looks like he’s been digging in the garden. My partner makes a joke that he’s been scratching scratch cards all day and asks him how much he has won lol

My hv said bite them but I do not feel comfortable biting them. I did have a go at his nails with the baby clipper set I bought but it was terrifying I was scared I’d catch him delicate skin!

Even if I can’t cut them is there any tips on how to get the dirt from under his nails

Use a soft nail brush when he's in the bath.

After a bath when the nails are soft, I snip DS's at the side with the clippers, then peel the nail off.

I found baby scissors the easiest option. Maybe get your OH to hold his hand, and do it after he has had a bath the first time.

I use baby scissors as well for nails. I used the clippers a few times, but I accidentally clipped DD's finger twice. 😭 Far safer using the scissors even though she's super wriggly.

Get your partner to do it. That's my advice to every new mum.

Don't blame him if he nicks a finger (happens to most people at some point) and then you have it to pull out of the bag the first time you whack the baby's head off the door frame as you walk through or let them roll off the bed by accident.

Not funny @room

Gently file them, then there's no danger of nipping the skin. And don't let them grow so long again.
How did a 7 week old end up with such grimy nails?

Wait until they’re fast asleep and gently snip with nail scissors.

Even if I can’t cut them

Of course you can cut them, you’re going to have to learn, and fast! He shouldn’t have long, dirty nails at that age. Babies put their hands in their mouths constantly, it’s incredibly unhygienic.

And you could try doing it whilst he has his milk. I always found that it was the best time to my DC as they were settled, pre-occupied and not flapping around.

Are you giving baby a good soak in the bath? If I only shower my toddler for a few days his nails get grimy, even though he washes them and is showering. I use a nail brush myself.

I hate doing nails, but I do them because otherwise they can really hurt themselves (or other people!) by scratching and if they get overly long they can in grow. I have caught my older two once each, but that is out of hundreds of times I've cut their and their younger siblings nails (and my own!) and that was using the clipper type not the scissors. With proper baby scissors I have never nipped anybody, so I only use those now.

I can only do DD’s when she’s asleep.

Cut them, I mean. Use baby nail scissors, tried clippers once and hated them. She’s 10 months old and I have to trim them every two or three days.

You have to start doing them, start tomorrow and make it a habit. You don’t want him to scratch himself even if you’re alright with him scratching you.

Baby scissors while deeply asleep worked for me, or I nibble them a bit while feeding her if she’s calm if i notice one getting long - and don’t beat yourself up if you or your partner accidentally nicks her a little. You probably won’t but it won’t do her any real harm.
At 7 weeks she will be scratching herself / putting her hands in her mouth soon so you really can’t let her carry on having long nails - and they really shouldn’t be dirty?

I found boots own clippers to be the only ones that worked and I cut his nails when he is solid asleep on me - I feel like they grown super quick, I have to do them 2-3 times a week. I was also really scared at first but you soon get used to it 😊

Giving baby a good soak in the bath before cutting their nails serves root purposes, it gets all the muck out and it softens the nails so they are easier to cut.

Yes I didn’t think they should be dirty either I bath him regularly so I don’t know where the dirt is coming from. I have noticed that when he’s having a screaming fit when he’s over tired (so laid down in my arms) he will reach up and scratch down my chest but I didn’t think I was as filthy as what his nails are saying as I too shower regularly!

I have noticed his hands do get dirty and he has fluff in between his fingers which I do clean with a baby wipe in between baths but I just put it down to him getting a bit of milk on his hands and then picking up fibres from my top or from cushions on the sofa

He’s asleep now so I’ll have a go!

I used to file them and bite the sharp bits off (sorry, it's gross I know). Then I got my husband to clip them but it was a two person job. It's much easier when you can bribe them with cartoons.

Didn’t manage to do it while he was sleeping I clipped one and he woke up so me and my partner have just teamed up and they are looking much better

OP, do you wear fake tan? If he’s scratching your skin, he might be scratching away fake tan and that is making his fingernails look dirty?

I bite them.

Biting them is really unhygienic! I found at that age the clippers are wiser than the nail, slide them across from one side to the other and it's done in one clip. Doing them asleep is fine, but I've always done it awake and they've gotten used to it and let me do it easily now

I find using regular curved nail scissors but with the curve turned away from the nail instead of inwards (like it would be when cutting your own) works a treat on baby nails. It seems to just pick up the nail bit and avoid their little fingers when the curve is turned away.

For who? I'm on my third. It was advised to me by every mother I know including my HVs. Always worked never regretted it.

I was also advised to bite them but couldn't make myself do it. Our DD is also 7w old and tiny nail file works for us. She also doesn't seem to mind it too much.

I used scissors, and after cutting the top off a finger in the early days, DH did all baby nail related things with clippers.
Kids now cut their own, with clippers. I'm the only one in the house using scissors.