Scratch mits - are they essential?

[wondering7777]

I'm not sure whether I need to buy these or not. Are they really necessary - can't you just keep the baby's nails short? Doesn't the baby get frustrated that they can't really touch anything properly while wearing them?

They fall off all the time.

I never used them but some babies scratch their face more than others even with short nails. Socks work better as they don’t fall off. Or Some sleepsuits come with a turnover cuff.

No not necessary. Many all in ones have something to fold over which I didn't realise until it was too late, but they didn't stay on anyway.

No totally pointless. The built in ones on sleepsuits are sometimes useful though.

I've seen research that says exactly that, that it prevents them from recieving necessary sensory input etc. The seperate ones are useless and fall off and get lost anyway. Newborn nails are much harder than you'd expect to cut though, they are papery and don't cut and all their reflexs makes it difficult. It's easier to bite them or tear them at first. They can be born with long nails so it is very common for them to gouge their own faces, so sleepsuits with built in scratchmits (Next) are useful but shouldn't be used all the time.

Newborn hats aren't a great idea either, the oxytocin from newborn head sniffing is more important than keeping them warm unless they are prem.

I found them very useful for my children, cutting baby's nails is very tricky, it's hard not to leave sharp corners.
If you can get the suits with the little turnover cuffs they are the best as they can't fall off, but yes I would say they are essential.

No. They just fall off. Built in mits that can be folded back are much better.

I've never used them, and DD has never scratched herself.

In the first few weeks I filed her nails rather than cutting them.

Didn't buy any with DD. Most sleepsuits up to six months come with the foldover mitts stitched into the sleeves, even the cheapy ones I got from Matalan and Sainsburys. Just check the labels on the ones you have or are looking at buying and save your money.

I just used sleepsuits that had them built in. They just fall off as PP have said.

I didn't get any but DD scratched her face to shreds so then I did

See how you go maybe

We were advised in our antenatal classes not to use them - using their hands is an important part of how they explore the world. The built in mitts in babygrows are handy as gloves when you're going out though!

agree with others..sleepsuits with built in ones are much better (stay on)

I wouldn’t bother with those. I have just finished sorting my 9mo’s 0-6 things and have put 4 pairs of unused scratch mitts in the “give away” pile. As others have said, they fall off; those sleepsuit sleeves you can fold over are much better. That said, we didn’t really use anything like that.

While I’m here and the baby is asleep, in case helpful, our other unused things were:

• Baby sunscreen (many MWs recommend not to use anything on skin until 6 months and also the baby needs to be in the shade or indoors during the v hot hours);

• Fancy forehead thermometer - we found it too tricky when it was all systems go;

• Little plastic bags for binning nappies when out (usually bins provided and you quickly learn to fold them neatly anyway for binning later if needed);

• Baby “cold weather cream” - same as moisturiser, honestly;

• Love to Dream swaddle - baby absolutely hated it and screamed endlessly in it.

Things we ultimately bought more than one of:

RockIt;

Ewan the white noise toy (yes you can use your phone etc, but something that sits near the cot and just does it is far easier);

Cherry-shape dummies.

Mum-wise, I bought gel pads for boobs that can be heated or cooled to use when BF. Never used, too much of a faff/always forgot.

Thanks for the advice!

@StargazyDrifter thanks for this - I think the only thing I've bought on your unused list is the little bags to put dirty nappies in!

To be fair, there are some nappies that you'll want to be able to seal up in a little bag 😷

Scratch mitts are advised against now. Babies need their hands ☺️

Use baby socks instead of mitts they stay on and cheaper

Socks on hands work well. I don't think all babies scratch themselves

My little one always wore them she was 7pound 9 and I found that the baby grow with the built in ones her arms would end up have way down the sleeve I use to fold the built in scratch mits over then put a pair off individual ones over them and they always stayed on do it with socks on there feet aswell specially when they are little stops the baby grow being so baggy if they are still abit big for them! X

Primark do 3 pairs for £1 so not really a massive money lost if you end up not liking them or using them! X

I I always tried to get babygrows (sleepsuits) that had the built in mittens as they are much easier. Do think they are needed though

I didn't use scratch mitts with any of my 3. I have a small pair of travel nail clippers which is what we used to cut their nails from when they were new born. The full sized ones are too big, but the little travel ones work well.

Unlike a previous poster we have always used the little nappy sacks, mine frequently got poo almost all the way up the back of the nappy so it would spill out otherwise. We also found the love to dream swaddle invaluable for 2 out of 3 DC.

I think the only thing I've bought on your unused list is the little bags to put dirty nappies in!

Nappy sacks are very useful! Plenty of poos overflow a nappy and it's much easier to scoop all of it plus dirty wipes into a bag before chucking.

Plus anytime you have an explosive poo out and about you'll want something to put the dirty clothes in till you get home and they are great for that too.

I found baby mitts useless. DD found her hands very early on and loved to suck her fingers. If they were covered, either she'd soak them and cry, or she'd get extremely frustrated by them and cry.

They’re crap, they fall off all of the time. Most babygrows have scratch mitts incorporated nowadays anyway.