4 Helpful Tips For Cutting Children’s Fingernails
As children grow and develop, they become stronger and more active. However, this can make it difficult to cut children’s fingernails. However, it is a fundamental part of personal hygiene.
In addition, trimming the fingernails also helps ensure that your child does not injure himself or others. With our 4 helpful tips for cutting children’s fingernails , this task will be easy to cope with in the future.
4 helpful tips for cutting children’s fingernails
Cutting fingernails is a routine task, but also a challenge for many parents. Therefore, today we would like to give you some tips that will make your work easier:
1. Use correct technique
First, you need to have your child’s back to you. Hug your child, including their arms, to avoid sudden movements.
Be careful not to cause injury while using the nail clipper. At the same time, as you gain experience, you will be able to determine which position works best with your child.
We recommend that you squeeze your child’s fingertips too lightly while cutting off the part of the nail that extends from the finger. You should cut parallel to the natural growth line.
With a special nail file for children, you can file the edges straight after cutting. It is better not to cut too close to the skin to avoid accidentally cutting your child’s finger.
2. Choose the right time
Waiting for the right moment is one of the most effective tricks when it comes to cutting your child’s fingernails. For example, the ideal time to cut children’s fingernails is when they are asleep, especially when they are deeply asleep. This way your child won’t move, which will make your work a lot easier.
You can also try cutting children’s fingernails if they are distracted and watching cartoons. If your child likes to eat, then you may want to try offering your child their favorite snack or find some other distraction. Songs and stories are good ideas too.
If your child is over 3 years old, we recommend that you cut your own nails in front of them. This shows your child that they don’t have to be afraid of the nail scissors and that they won’t cause any pain. That might be enough to convince your child to have their nails trimmed without protest.
You can also try waiting until after you bathe to cut your nails. You will find that your child’s fingernails are softer and easier to cut. Note, however, that wet nails are transparent, so you should be particularly careful not to injure your child’s fingers.
Above all, you should choose a time when you too are relaxed. This is the only way you can instill trust in your child. Children have a self-protective reflex. In other words, when they see scissors or nail clippers, they react and fear getting hurt.
3. Use age-appropriate nail scissors
During your baby’s first few months of life and until the age of 2, it is best to use nail scissors or baby fingernail clippers. It’s also a good idea to use an electric nail file or a special cardboard file designed for babies and toddlers.
This will help prevent injuries. After the age of three, you can use commercially available nail scissors.
4. Wash and file nails after cutting
After you’ve cut your child’s nails, file them down. That way, you can be sure that you’ve removed any rough or sharp edges that your child could scratch. It is best to file the nails with rounded edges.
Finally, when you are done cutting and filing, you should wash your child’s hands. This way, you can be sure that there is no dust or loose particles left that could get into your child’s eyes or mouth.
How do you cut your child’s toenails?
If your child’s toenails get long, they don’t pose a great risk of injury. However, it can be uncomfortable as they cause pressure when your child is wearing shoes.
To cut toenails, hold your child’s foot firmly and avoid sudden movements. Then you apply pressure with your finger below the toes so that the nail rises. This makes cutting a lot easier.
When cutting toenails, it is best not to round the edges but to cut them straight. Since toenails grow more slowly than fingernails, you only need to trim them every two weeks, or maybe only once a month.
Avoidable mistakes when cutting children’s fingernails
There are a few mistakes you can avoid when trimming your child’s fingernails. For one thing, you should avoid cutting the sides of your nails. This can cause the nails to grow in.
Also, you shouldn’t cut too close to the skin. This can also become very painful for your child.
If you follow today’s tips for cutting your children’s nails, you will be surprised how easy it can be. Put these tips into practice next time!
