Hey new mama

Congratulations

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You could try an emory board (nail file thing). I used that a few times in the beginning when I was afraid of nail clippers. Just be sure not to file on his skin

 

You know, I always used scissors. The small ones with rounded ends. I hold the finger real steady and cut quick. I've never used clippers, especially since my friend accidentally cut her son's skin and I'm not good with them anyway.

 

I used baby clippers on my DD's nail at that age. Just hold his little hand still with your other hand and do it when he's asleep.

 

I've had the hardest time with dd's fingernails and they grow so fast. I finally had luck with cuticle nippers (http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...=2&oq=cuticle+). They are like little scissors and you can really see what you are doing. The cutting edge is small unlike the clippers.
I got mine at the drug store.

 

Awwww new baby!

I second the emery board, I used one until my dd was probably 4-5 weeks old I was so afraid of the clippers

 

Congratulations!!!

I always have used a nail clipper since birth... I got one I really love that has "headlights" and is pretty foolproof. It'd be hard to cut him with it, I think.

Anyway, we always do it when DS is asleep. I hold him, and DH does the trimming.

It is very scary the first few times, I know. It gets easier, I promise.

ETA: I've never heard of the suggestion to bite the fingernails. With all due respect, this sounds a bit crazy.

Our teeth are bigger than baby nail clippers. Plus you couldn't really see what you are doing. It seem like biting them with your teeth would be more likely to cause damage than the clippers... especially if the nail was torn rather than being cut cleanly. JMHO.

 

I used the emory board for a while too, until DD's fingers were a little bigger and it was easier. Now I do it once a week and its pretty easy. I always try to do it when she's asleep so that she won't pull away or make any sudden movements. What I do is get the bottom part of the nail clipper under her nail and then press down to clip it off. She's 8 months and I've only cut her skin once - it was because she was awake and moved. She bled a little but didn't even notice that I cut her.

 

My Lo's are always born with very long and strong fingernails. I don't like to cut them because they are still very attached to the finger so I just put some gloves or socks on their hands for a few weeks and let the fingernails peel off and grow out until they aren't so attached and the risk of cutting the finger is much less.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILoveSweetpea ETA: I've never heard of the suggestion to bite the fingernails. With all due respect, this sounds a bit crazy. Our teeth are bigger than baby nail clippers. Plus you couldn't really see what you are doing. It seem like biting them with your teeth would be more likely to cause damage than the clippers... especially if the nail was torn rather than being cut cleanly. JMHO.

Lately, I've been biting my 11mo. nails. She likes to put her fingers in my mouth(and nose, eyes, etc.

) She won't hold still for clippers, so I figure why not? They're already in my mouth anyway.

Her nails are thin so I just bite right through. So far, we haven't had any problems.

 

I also use little nail scissors that someone gave me and just kind of slide them along the edge trimming off the nail. I usually do it when she's asleep and I'm holding her or when she's really calm. I've never gotten the hang of using clippers.

 

Congratulations!

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I used to cut my baby's nails with the baby clippers, but they cut too close and would hurt her. It sounds kind of crazy, but I switched to the giant ones - the ones you use on your toes - and they don't clip too close anymore. I think it's because the edge is thicker, so they cut baby nails well, but no more bleeding.

My goodness, I remember the first time I cut my baby's finger with the baby clippers. It's so scary when the bleeding won't stop. I totally get why you'd be scared to do it. I haven't had any more trouble with the big clippers, though.

 

I cut Dd1's finger tip with the baby clippers. It was awful. She has no memory of it or lasting long term effect from it, though I do. She now lets me cut her nails as neeeded, usually one hand a day.

With the baby, I either just rip them off (which sounds violent but isn't, they're very soft and pliable still) or use a nail buffer (the big, foam core style ones I get at CVS for a dollar).

If you're using clippers, try to hold the finger so the nail is facing you. That seems to be easiest for me.

 

eh, i used scissors though they weren't really sharp enough, his nails just bent and didnt come off. i usually either peeled or bit them off. now he's a little bigger i use clippers. alwways do it when hes asleep that's the easiest time when he's not fighting

 

DD is almost 3 months old and has had her nails clipped twice because I'm so afraid of doing it. Good thing she's not a face scratcher! I have heard to bite them before, and have tried but had no luck. I have done it with baby nail clippers while she's sleeping. Mine have a little magnifying glass on them, but I don't use it because it actually makes it harder for me to see what I'm doing.

 

Congrats on your new baby!!

We were nervous to clip DD's nails, and DH did snip her skin once causing her to bleed, scream and cry. So since then, we wait till she's asleep.

If you turn the baby's hand palm facing you, and cut the nail looking at the back you can do the clipping really fast with no possibility of clipping skin. Doing it this way ensures you only get nail in the clipper, no skin!

We haven't ever had an incident this way!

I've never had luck biting DD's nails b/c they are paper thin. I can't get a good bite on them.

 

Don't sweat it! I was terrified of trimming DD's nails, they were so tiny! I kept her hands in mittens or socks for a long time. When I noticed she was scratching her fingers up I knew I had to do it.

I used baby clippers while she was sleeping. I just got really close to her finger so I could see it really well, put the clipper underneath the nail and clipped. Easy peasy!

I never could finger out how to bite off her nails. And everyone was telling me to do it! I guess it's because I have never bitten my own nails.

 

I have yet to cut dd's finger nails and she'll be 2 in July.

Dh always bites them... thats how he puts her to sleep.. You can feel with your teeth much better than with clippers.

 

I just bite in one corner then tear them off. They come off super easy and always in the right place.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaigeC I've had the hardest time with dd's fingernails and they grow so fast. I finally had luck with cuticle nippers (http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...=2&oq=cuticle+). They are like little scissors and you can really see what you are doing. The cutting edge is small unlike the clippers. I got mine at the drug store.

I second this. You can get them at pretty much any CVS type pharmacy and at that age you can totally do it while he's sleeping on a full belly. He'll never even wake up. I cut DD with the little clippers when she was about 2 weeks old and have never touched them again.

 

I have always used crystal nail files. http://www.crystalfunfiles.com/index.htm They are so much nicer that emery boards and they last forever. I usually do her nails when she is asleep in the car and DH is driving

 

i finally discovered a glass nail file, which i think is better than an emery board b/c it doesn't leave little straggely edges which are scratchy and works super fast. you can get them at sephora, for example.

 

we have these baby clippers from Target that have a little fold away magnifying glass. THEY ARE WONDERFUL! DS gets his nails trimmed twice a week and we have never had a cut or slip up. The magnifier makes his little nails look mommy size and make it soooo easy to trim.