How to cut nails of a newborn baby? When and how to properly cut the fingernails and toenails of a newborn baby? How often should a child under one year of age have their nails cut? Is it possible to cut nails of a sleeping child?

Baby's toenails and fingernails grow during prenatal development. It's not surprising that a baby can be born with a decent manicure, and it can also be very sharp. A baby's delicate skin can easily be injured if he scratches himself, so one of the very first questions when caring for a baby is how to cut a newborn's nails.

Trimming nails of a newborn

First procedure time

Cutting your baby's nails for the first time is always scary; it seems like an incredibly difficult task. A baby that has just been born has thin, small fingers and nails. The latter can break very quickly and are not easy to “pick up” with tweezers or scissors.

Note! Dr. Komarovsky, a Russian pediatrician, warns: even if a baby is swaddled “at the seams,” this does not mean that he cannot injure himself. When his hands are free (during bathing, during a massage, while changing clothes and during morning routines), he may scratch himself.

It is known from history that mothers resorted to an extraordinary method of shortening the nails of a baby who had just been born - they used their teeth. There is nothing surprising in this; it is completely natural in nature.

Usually, the nails are cut for the very first time when the baby is already a month old. Until this time, mothers purchase special mittens (“anti-scratch gloves”) and shirts with “closed handles” for their child.

When can you start cutting your newborn's nails for the first time?

One of the first questions that a young mother has when caring for her baby is how long after birth can she cut her newborn’s nails?

As soon as the baby is born, the edges of his nail plates do not separate from the skin, as they are quite soft. This is why you should not cut a newborn’s nails in the first two weeks - to avoid skin damage and, as a result, a possible inflammatory process. To prevent the child from scratching himself during this period, it is recommended to wear special mittens.

A month after birth, you can safely start cutting your baby’s nails.

What you will need

Cut your baby's hair for the first time - at what age?

A manicure set for adults is not suitable for the procedure with a newborn. These scissors have very sharp and thin ends. A baby who does not yet know how to coordinate his movements and constantly moves his arms can easily injure himself and his mother.

Important! A baby's immunity is very weak, and the world around is populated by a large number of bacteria; they are not harmless to the child's body. Wounds and cuts should be absent as much as possible during the manipulation.

Your little one should have her own accessories for cutting her nails safely and comfortably.

Tools:

Scissors with rounded or plastic-coated tips - they can protect the baby's skin from accidental impact if he breaks out and twitches.

Newborn scissors with rounded tips

Tweezers. They can be used with children who are six months old. They, as a rule, already react more calmly to the procedure. For newborns, forceps can accidentally “rip out” a piece of skin.
File. Eliminates sharp corners. It is worth buying a file with a soft coating and treating only dry nails. You cannot use it often, maximum once a month - delamination may occur.
You should definitely purchase alcohol solutions for disinfecting devices, antiseptics and sterile cotton pads for treating the skin if it is injured.

Important! The cutting surface of the scissors must be sharp enough, since blunt instruments can “tear off” the nail plate or lead to severe delamination. Trauma can contribute to the appearance of certain features of the plate, and it will remain that way for the rest of life.

How to cut nails of a newborn?

There are various devices for nail care: scissors, tweezers, file

It is important to understand that there are special scissors with rounded ends

, which prevent unexpected injuries to the child.

Tweezers

can be used from six months, when children become more understanding and do not jerk their hands during the procedure.

File

You can correct the pointed corners so that they do not injure your fingers, but it is worth noting that frequent filing can lead to delamination of the nail plate. The file should be soft with rounded edges.

When is it time to perform the procedure?

Is it possible for a newborn to sleep on his back - features and positions

Starting from one month of the baby, the procedure is carried out as needed. When a baby's nails grow 3 or more millimeters, you can resort to manipulation.

Baby's overgrown nails

There are important conditions for a successful procedure:

Don't run it.
The environment should be calm, objects and hands should be clean.
Mom should put supplies next to her in case of an “accident”: cotton swabs, bandage, furatsilin, hydrogen peroxide 3% or “Chlorophyllipt”.

Tips and tricks

At first glance, it seems that cutting your nails is difficult, but if you follow certain rules, the procedure will take place without incident. Nail trimming should only be done when the child is in a good mood. For example, after water procedures or feeding. Parents often trim their toddler's nails while he sleeps. This method is very effective, since the baby does not jerk his arms, and accordingly, the likelihood of causing injury to him is minimized.

The procedure can be carried out while the child is taking a bath. Hot water steams your nails and makes trimming them easier. You need to cut your nails with special scissors that have rounded ends and are designed for children's manicure. The scissors must be sharp to cut the nails well. If they are dull, the nail plate may begin to peel. Before the procedure, the instrument must be wiped with alcohol. Children should not cut their nails with pliers, as they damage the child’s delicate skin.

How to cut nails for a newborn

You need to be confident when cutting your nails. You should not worry while cutting, as trembling hands can cause the tips of the scissors to injure the baby’s delicate skin. You can’t cut your nail plates too short, otherwise your baby’s fingertips will hurt. The nails on your hands should be trimmed so that they protrude one millimeter above the skin and the corners are rounded. On the feet, the corners of the nail plates should not be rounded, since rounding the nails on the lower extremities often leads to inflammatory processes and the formation of hangnails.

In some cases, infants may experience ingrowth of the nail plate into the skin and an inflammatory process against this background. However, such a problem is rare, due to the fact that the nail plate of a baby is soft, but if parents do notice the first signs of ingrowth, they should immediately seek help from a pediatric surgeon. You cannot remove an ingrown toenail yourself, as this will lead to the development of serious complications.

A baby's nail plates should be trimmed as follows:

It is necessary to take the hand or foot of the newborn and firmly fix the finger.
Then, with one finger, move the baby’s fingertip and carefully but confidently cut off the protruding nail plate.

Some children's manicure sets contain a special file that can only be used on the nails of the upper extremities; you cannot file toenails. Using a file, you can round the corners of the nail plate, but filing can lead to delamination, for this reason you should use a file only when necessary.

If a child has hangnails on his arms or legs, they need to be cut off, as they cause severe discomfort in the baby. To remove them, you should take scissors, treat them with alcohol, cut off the hangnails and treat the cut areas with an antiseptic. If a wound appears during pruning, it must be treated with a sterile bandage and an antiseptic solution. Also, the site of skin damage can be treated with hydrogen peroxide.

How often to perform the procedure

Baby is 1 month old

Manipulation is carried out once every 10-14 days, as needed. It all depends on the individual characteristics of the baby: some nails grow quickly, others grow more slowly. Pediatricians recommend leaving this issue to the discretion of doctors.

Additional Information. In the Orthodox faith there is a rule - cutting nails on Epiphany is prohibited. Why is it so customary: this major church holiday must be approached with a pure body and thoughts, otherwise, according to the sign, the year will be difficult. It would be correct to carry out the procedure and trim the nails of an infant before the holiday.

How to prepare a place for cutting nails for a newborn

To make your child feel comfortable and not afraid of the procedure, prepare the place and everything necessary for cutting nails in advance.

It is important to have good lighting . So turn on extra lights or move to a window.
Place a sterile diaper on the changing table or bed.
Wash your child's hands with antibacterial soap.
Treat your hands with an antiseptic solution . This must be a solution that does not contain alcohol. Miramistin is excellent for these purposes.

Place all the equipment necessary for the procedure nearby so as not to be distracted while cutting your nails.

Execution algorithm

How to properly cut a newborn’s nails, mother’s algorithm:

It's good if there is an assistant nearby. He will always be able to hold the baby's hand or foot, and the mother will take care of the nail plate.
Take one finger of the baby in your hand and fix it. The best way is to hold it between your index finger and thumb.
The peel that is under the protrusion of the nail in front of the fingertip should be slightly pulled back - this way the baby will not get hurt.
The nail is trimmed with one or more movements of the scissors. You can’t trim your nails too much – it will cause pain.

Note! If there are hangnails, then you should not tear them off with tweezers or “lift” them up. If your nails grow ingrown, it is better to visit a surgeon. You cannot get rid of an ingrown toenail on your own.

When to carry out

It is important that the procedure takes place when the child is calm and relaxed. He should not cry and worry - this way you can create an association in the baby with a bad mood, and the baby will subsequently always have a negative reaction.

When is the best time to trim your nails:

After feeding. The child is full and therefore more pliable.
After bathing, when the nail plates are softer, more pliable and elastic.
Can be done while bathing if the baby is comfortable lying down. However, you need to remember that you can easily make a mistake with the length, and the manipulation itself will be delayed, and the baby will freeze.
When the baby is not in pain, does not suffer from colic, the diaper is clean.
When the baby is nursing or sleeping. Some mothers are unable to carry out the procedure, especially if the child is very active during waking hours.
When the child is awake, talk to him affectionately and hum a song.

Instrument disinfection

Before cutting your baby’s nails, you should disinfect the instruments in a special solution: alcohol, products purchased at the pharmacy. If there are no such preparations, then simply pour boiling water over the device. This manipulation will help disinfect objects and protect the baby from exposure to harmful germs and bacteria. After using scissors or tweezers, you should wash them with soap.

Preparations for sterilization of equipment

Komarovsky suggests that every mother should learn the following cheat sheet by heart:

Before and after the procedure, clean all instruments.
Store scissors, tongs and files in a dry and dust-free place.
One set of tools per child. For a particular child, only those tools that are intended for him are suitable. He cannot use them at the same time as another child or adult.

The importance of clean hands

To make the environment as safe as possible, the following rules must be followed before the procedure:

The diaper on which the baby will lie must be clean.
Wash the baby's hands with soap.
Mom should also take care of the cleanliness of her hands: wash them with antibacterial soap, you can also lubricate them with Miramistin non-alcohol antiseptic.

Trimming form

The shape of the nails on the arms of newborns, according to Komarovsky, should be oval; on the legs it is permissible to make them rectangular.

Rules for cutting nails

Important! You should make sure that there are no sharp edges left on the plate - this way the baby will not get hurt and will not injure himself later.

So that the baby is not afraid

How can you trim your baby’s nails so that he won’t be afraid of this procedure in the future:

Since the baby is just beginning to learn about the world around him, it is worthwhile to form a positive attitude when trimming his nails. There can be no coercion, shouting or sudden movements.
You can create a game environment, talk to the baby, encourage and have fun.
Mom should be calm and relaxed. Psychological mood is paramount. Even a small child “feels” his mother, her tension and excitement.

Note! If the mother is offended, upset, very tired, angry or worried, the procedure is postponed to a later date. Otherwise, the baby will scream a lot, worry and twitch his arms.

You can play with your baby while cutting your nails

Observe the child and analyze his characteristics. Some children are comfortable when the procedure takes place during bathing, while others behave calmly after feeding.

What not to do

In order not to cause inconvenience and pain to the baby, you should know the following rules:

Taking care of your nails is a must. If care is incorrect or completely absent, inflammation and suppuration may begin, which will cause pain and tears.
Don't cut it too short, leave a millimeter in length.
Be sure to treat instruments - bacteria and microbes accumulate on them.
The shape must be rounded, otherwise the nail may grow ingrown. It will be possible to solve such problems only with a surgeon, since the growth of the nail plate will have time to change. The issue can be resolved on its own only in the case of mild ingrown nails.

Options for children's scissors

Step-by-step instruction

The following practical tips will help you get a manicure and pedicure quickly:

Take your little son or daughter in your arms, walk around the room, saying gentle words, chanting a song. This way you will set your child in a positive mood.
Ask your dad or grandma to help you cope with a difficult task. They can distract the baby with a toy or hold his hand or leg.
Place the baby on a sofa or bed with a hard surface. Place the baby on his stomach so that he observes the actions of his parents and is calm.
One of the adults should fix the baby's hand or heel. Hold it gently but firmly.
Take your finger closer and pull the skin at the periungual fold slightly to the side so as not to cut the edges.
Cut the nail in one motion. The trim should not be longer than 1 millimeter.
Make a semicircular shape on the arms, and a straight line on the legs.
Trim the hangnails so that they do not interfere with the baby or scratch the skin of the face or body with the edges.
You need to process the cut edges with a file occasionally if they turn out uneven, with scraps, and hurt the baby’s skin on the face.
In case of a cut, treat your fingers with an antiseptic.

If you want to do a manicure in a quiet night, then let the baby fall asleep and carry out the same manipulations with the sleeping baby. But proceed with caution. Pain caused by scissors or fear provokes insomnia and hysteria.

Watch mom and dad cut their baby's nails together.

An unsuccessfully cut nail or an incorrectly shaped plate after a pedicure or manicure often lead to ingrown nails. To avoid such troubles, remember:

Do your nails on your hands semicircular.
On legs straight without cutting edges.
You can't cut it to the roots . Leave 0.5 millimeter of the grown platinum untouched.

It is important to maintain a straight line when treating infants' toes, since the semicircular shape leads to ingrowth. This will bring with it pain, the need for surgery, and discomfort.

What to do if a wound appears

Any mother knows what to do in case of cuts. In the case of newborns, the algorithm of actions is almost the same. The mandatory and most important advice would be: don’t panic. You should always have antiseptics, cotton pads and bandages on hand.

When blood appears, it is removed with sterile cotton wool, and the wound is treated with an antiseptic. There is usually no need to bandage your finger. If inflammation begins, then a cotton wool soaked in levomekol is applied to the wound. Usually the situation resolves within 3-5 days.

Useful tips

There are several recommendations that will help mom:

Place the baby on his tummy. This way he won’t constantly throw his arms up, and his legs will be in the same position.
Very often, babies have their nails cut when feeding. This is very convenient to do, since the baby is busy eating and relaxed. The only caveat is that you will need the help of another parent. When mom feeds, dad performs the trimming manipulation.
If the baby is very hostile to this procedure, then you cannot aggravate the situation, intimidate the child and try, at all costs, to carry out the manipulation at the present moment. Otherwise, the child, having matured, will constantly scream heart-rendingly before manipulation, run away and hide - this will create unfavorable associations and difficulties.
If possible, you should work in pairs - one parent can distract the baby with a toy, rattle or fairy tale.
A manicure called “counting table”. From the age of six months, children love to explore everything around them, so in the process of trimming their nails, you can give each finger a name, come up with a story or rhyme for it.
Show by example, then the child will then help the parents during the procedure.

Cutting your nails is an easy and comfortable procedure if you follow all the necessary rules. Soon the baby will be calmer, so the whole process will not be difficult.

Children's nail scissors - what should they be?

Let us immediately note that your nail scissors are sharp, but they are not at all suitable for cutting the nails of small children. Moreover, such scissors can be dangerous - any careless movement and the sharp end of the scissors can injure the baby.

There are special children's scissors with safe, rounded tips . But for some mothers it is not convenient to cut them - the scissors do not grip the nail, and it is not possible to trim the nails evenly. Therefore, you can try regular nail scissors with curved tips, which are used for cuticle care.

In addition, you can treat children's nails with
special tweezers . These tweezers quickly and easily “pinch off” nails in one movement. And when the baby grows up, it is with tweezers that he will be interested in cutting his mother’s nails, and then his own. We wish you good luck, your kids a good mood and let the procedure of trimming small nails always bring only joy!