What is it with the long dirty nails?

[AlwaysHungry123]

Not judging just trying to understand why so many children have long dirty nails. I get it’s their least favourite thing to get their nails clipped, my kids hate it but they know it needs to be done. It’s harder when a child is ND but see many children that are not SEN with long dirty nails. isnt it a basic hygiene to have clean nails? They put their fingers in their mouth often, why so many parents over look that aspect?

How do you know they don’t have SEN?

I think many parents just don't notice it or don't remember to do it.
I have a thing about long, dirty nails, on adults and children alike, so it's something I always notice. Probably many people just don't care as much.

Totally agree Op.

I say that as a parent of 3 dc with SEN.
I needed to find a way to manage all aspects of my dcs personal grooming.

Each dc was different and 2 had very extreme sensory issues.

I admit I do struggle to understand parents who don't care for things like nails, teeth, hair and clothes.

It’s laziness. I know it’s a sin on here to admit that some parents might just be lazy and neglectful for no particular reason, but work in a primary school or similar setting and you’ll find that quite a few are. Laziness is a very human trait.

I completely agree. Looking at the children in my DD's class makes me feel itchy. And it's not the children with SEN. After the break they'll be baking Cupcakes and all I can see are Threadworms. My daughter asked her friend why her nails are in such a state after she scratched her playing tag. The reply was " Mum and Dad don't have time. " But there's time for them to be at drop off in full makeup and straightened hair. I think they do not pay attention. And it's not just the fingernails. The toenails are even worse. I hate summer play dates when they turn up in sandals without socks. It is basic hygiene. And unless there are good reasons why this hasn't been taken care of, it's just lazy and doesn't do the children any favours.

Shit parenting.

My daughters best friend has these nails & it turns my stomach, when she comes over for dinner or to play I have to purposely not look!

exactly this 🫡 personal hygiene is still essential @Senmum2026

SEN or not, nails need to be cut and clean. No excuses for it at all, it's basic hygiene and a health risk for the kids and any other kid they come into contact with. You wouldn't excuse a parent for letting their child walk around smothered in feces. It's utter neglect.

It's sheer laziness masquerading as teaching kids to be "independent". Many parents force their children to do things beyond their age so it takes the mental load off themselves. They smugly proclaim that their kids can do XYZ already but it's simply because they are neglected until they figure it out themselves. These are the same parents that loudly proclaim that they always do drop-offs at playdates and parties, that their kids can make meals and do chores already, that they can take care of their siblings or walk home from school at an unnaturally early age.

Cutting fingernails is one of those tasks that children find very difficult to physically do, no matter how advanced they are in other areas. So it's the dead giveaway that they are being neglected by parents who just can't be arsed.

They seem to grow out of nowhere. We do cut the DC's nails but every couple of weeks I will suddenly notice they are long and dirty again. They certainly need cutting much more frequently than mine do.

I agree they grow so fast. All of the sudden they’re long again! I do it once a week usually when they get their tv time so they don’t fight it so much. I thought I was going to be roasted here as it does seem like more children have them long and dirty. The schools really should send the reminders just like they do with checking for lice.

Me too! I can’t stand when people have dirty nails. But it’s more that adults look after their own and ignore their kids’ nails.

Don’t you make them wash their hands and scrub their nails with a nail brush?

I have one child whose nails grow incredibly slowly and one whose nails seem to grow even as you are cutting them (his hair is the same - have to take him for a haircut every few weeks to stop him looking like a scarecrow). I have to admit that in winter it is easy to overlook the toenails of the one whose grow super quickly as I don’t see them that often - he is old enough now to shower himself. However, whenever I do notice them I am there straightaway with the nail scissors!

I can't stand long dirty nails and yes it is neglect! I have to cut my 5 year olds twice a week as they grow so quickly! And I agree it's a tell tale sign of lazy parenting and agree that a lot of these children are dropped off by parents with beautiful hair / full make up but "don't have the time"

I’ve never noticed a young child with dirty fingernails tbh. My dc had a bath every night so never had dirty nails. It must be kids who aren’t washing/showering/bathing.

I also don’t remember cutting their nails often but must have.

My daughters grow so quick and she’s a mucky little sweetheart 😆, I keep a nail file in the car which I can clean them out with before school. A bath sorts it easier but she prefers showers so I have to force her into me cleaning them which is fun for everyone haha. Some days it gets missed….I pick my battles.

It's not always children you can pass off as being independent enough to cut their own nails. I remember a friend's friend's daughter having very long and dirty nails when she was just 3 months old!

DD has filthy nails for some reason. Even after a bath/shower, she could be sat on the sofa doing nothing/watching telly and an hours later , they’re filthy, like she has digging with her nails in the garden. It’s really weird. For that reason they’ve always been cut as short as possible and I always check them.

Yes of course. But I don't always make them use a nailbrush, I don't use one myself every time either. They don't have access to one at nursery/school and are not encouraged to use one there and that's where they tend to get dirt under their nails. I don't think most people use a nailbrush these days TBH, I don't see them in people's bathrooms any more.

When they are too long it's hard for washing alone to remove the dirt, it's when I notice that that I cut them.