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Cutting your baby’s nails can be terrifying.
Clipping baby nails is for sure not something I worried about when I found out I was having twins.
I didn’t really think much of it at all.
I added the cutesy grooming packs to my Amazon Wishlist and that was that.
Then when it came time to actually cut their nails, I remember my husband I just staring at each other like;
“Wait, how the hell do we do this??”
I felt so dumb right in that moment.
I was tired of their little baby nails scratching me all over. But at the same time I didn’t want to hurt them!
We ended up just going for it and cutting a few of Kendall’s nails too short. She immediately starting screaming after the first one happened and I felt horrible!
Since then we have clipped a few of their nails too short and each time I am surprised how much blood comes out of their tiny fingers.
Since I have been cutting nails x2 for a while now, I have figured I would share with you guys just how I get the daunting task done!
Okay let me start this off with what clippers I LOVE and what clippers I HATE.
For our baby shower we received a few sets of grooming supplies that came with various clippers.
My favorite by far are ones like these;
I love that they add a little extra grip at the end, but you can still SEE what you’re doing.
On the other hand– I HATE these ones;
You just can’t see what you’re doing with them. Baby fingers are SUPER small and nipping their skin is way too easy. I much prefer to see what I am doing when cutting their nails.
Nail Clipper Alternatives:
Something that a lot of people don’t know, however, is that you don’t have to use nail clippers.
You can easily use a nail file instead and save yourself the worrisome cutting. You can also bite them off yourself.
The biting grosses some people out, but honestly I see it as a pretty safe option!
You can also use baby nail cutting scissors. But I do not recommend using them. Personally, they just scare me.
Nail Clipping Tips:
Okay now let’s dive into some useful tips.
- Cut nails while baby is occupied. It’ll be easier to grab hold of a hand or foot while baby is doing something else such as eating or playing.
- Cut nails while baby sleeps. This hasn’t ever worked for me- but a few of my friends swear by it! Sometimes what doesn’t work for one person works well for the next!
- Pull down skin behind nail. This helps cut just the nail and none of the skin around it. It also helps get a more precise cut!
- Cover newborns hands afterwards. Newborns tend to rub their faces a lot and their nails are pretty sharp right after you clip them. I always covered their hands with little mittens after we clipped their nails during the newborn stage.
- Keep a firm hold on their hands/feet. Babies are sure squirmy- especially when you’re trying to hold them in one place! But make sure you hold them tight so that you don’t accidentally nick their skin.
- Use your thumb to stop the blood. It is going to happen sooner or later. You’ll nick your baby’s skin and a shocking amount of blood will start pouring out! Stop the blood flow by pressing your thumb firmly on the cut and use an infant band-aid if necessary.
How do you get the job done?
Or do you just avoid it all together? I won’t lie, sometimes that’s what I do!
But we can do this! Order some clippers, give yourself two days to prepare while you wait on Amazon Prime and once the package shows up IT’S GO TIME!
I was also so scared to cut my girls nails when they were little. Thanks for the share!
I think most parents share the fear! You are welcome!
Literally just bit off my 15 month olds while he sleeps in my arms. I have literally never clipped his nails because I am terrified! My husband did it once and took a big chunk of skin and we have been biting them ever since 🤦♀️😫
I have tried biting too! I feel so gross when I do, though haha! Sometimes it is all you can do!
I used to bite my son’s when he was asleep or nursing!
That is a great time! When my twins were itty bitty I would wait until they were sleeping but now I would rather attempt while awake so I can get the dang break!
My son is 11 months old and I am still scared to cut his nails. I will try these tips.
I hope they work for you! You got this!