How to cut baby’s nails?

[newmum234]

My DS is 5 months old and his fingernails seem to grow at a rapid rate. Now he’s older it’s getting harder to file them, because he rarely keeps his hands still for long. I don’t like using scissors because his nails are so small and it’s very fiddly.

Has anyone tried one of those electric nail files you can get off Amazon - or is there another way I can trim his nails more easily?

Don’t use an electric file, sounds like a recipe for disaster. Can you carefully clip them when he’s asleep?

Definitely just clip them with baby nail clippers when he's asleep. It's the safest way.

My technique is to get DH to do it! 😂 I’m crap at it and it seems to be his special skill. We do have some of those baby nail clippers and do it while baby is asleep. Agree they grow at a ridiculous rate

I have an electric file from amazon and it’s great. I couldn’t get DS1 to stay still to cut his but have them all done in a couple of minutes with this and it’s quite gentle.

www.amazon.co.uk/Electric-Manicure-Fingernails-Grinding-Operated/dp/B083NZ62LM/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?dchild=1&smid=A3AOR4CAWDE9BM&psc=1&keywords=baby+nail+file&sprefix=baby+na&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUE3Uk9MVVVZVEowRkomZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA4MDY1NTMxWjNCUTZBUDlEMTRZJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAzOTc5OTgxWjc1Qk8wRVRSWlFSJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfcGhvbmVfc2VhcmNoX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1600224950&sr=8-2-spons

Definitely clip when asleep. DS used to wake up a bit with each nail so it took ages to do with breaks in between but he just does not stay still long enough when awake. Now he is older I speed through them while he is concentrating on Sesame Street for 10 seconds

I've always used the nail scissors that came in the tommee tippee healthcare set. I couldn't get on with a file. Hard to explain but i hook the nail, usually on either side, under the scissor blade and cut with the blades at an angle so that it faces away from the finger. I usually do it when she's awake. I haven't had an accident yet and she's 5 months and very wiggly.

I wait until my little one has a bath and then bite hers as I can feel/guide how far to go down. I sit her on my lap facing forwards whilst she watches tv.

She thinks it's hilarious

With her toes though I use clippers as they grow slower and are more tough

Bite them, easiest way

Agree with others bite. I did it with my son and then started using clippers when he was old enough for me to get him interested in what I'm doing. Now biting my daughters lol sometimes clippers if she's calm.

I've got an electric nail file (like the one posted above) that I use on my 4 month old. It is gentle but there is still the issue of baby keeping still/hand scrunched up when asleep.

It also trims the nails and sometimes I would like a bit more nail off. I therefore find I use it about every 3 days, so quite often.

I never did it. I found they would naturally come away a bit if they got long, and then I could just tear them the rest of the way off. Doing it in the bath is good because everything is soft.

Thanks all. Those electric nail files look good - are they definitely safe? There’s no way I could do his nails while he’s sleeping as he’s quite a light sleeper and would almost certainly wake up.

I bought these in Sainsbury's and still use them now with DS (he's 6). I like the viewing window at the end so you can see exactly what you're doing. They're great!

Stylfile Nipper Clipper Baby Nail Clipper. https://smile.amazon.co.uk/dp/B014LKGTHW/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_f8AyFb1W628W0

Bite them. Definitely the easiest

I wait until after a bath so they're soft, then get him in his bouncer and put hey Duggie on (the only time I use the telly for him!) This just about keeps him still enough. I found the special baby scissors much easier than clipping or filing them.

My daughter is six months, and I do it by singing a rhyme that involves me taking each of her fingers in turn a few times ("Tommy Thumb, where are you?"). It makes her laugh, and then by the third go she's happy enough to let me hold each finger and clip it while singing.

It was a two person job at that stage for us. Now I deploy "little baby bum" on my phone once a week.

Bite them off .It is much safer than using a scissors.

I don't have the confidence to bite them - what if I accidentally bite his fingers instead?

I think I will invest in one of the electric files as that looks like the easiest solution to me.

Thanks all.

I find blunt end baby scissors fine with 4 month old here. I sit on the bed with him sitting in between my legs and leaning against me. Then I can kind of hold him against me and with legs so I have two hands free. I usually do one hand one day, next hand the next as he looses patience after 5 fingers!

@newmum234

I don't have the confidence to bite them - what if I accidentally bite his fingers instead?

I think I will invest in one of the electric files as that looks like the easiest solution to me.

Thanks all.

You can't that's the beauty of it. As I said, sit with them on your lap facing the tv, then just raise their hand so the back of their hand is facing you and just bite the tops off. Don't bite them as we would (palm facing forwards) as it's much harder