Clipping Finger Nails

One major hassle parents often have with their toddlers and young children is clipping their nails.  If nails are clipped from the time baby is first born, it can reduce the stress related to it as Toddlerhood sets in.  Using the baby clippers is the best way to get started.  We still use those.  Tommee Tippee, Dream Baby and Pigeon all have baby nail clippers available.  Some work well, others don't, but it doesn't seem to matter what brand you buy.

When a baby is first born, parents often find it easier to bite the sharp bits of nail off and reduce the self-scratching this way.  However, this can lead to infection if you use your teeth.  Using clippers from this early stage also ensures it won't come as a shock to them later on when you pull out something they've never seen before.  Some of us are lucky and never have problems but some of us have constant hassles with nail clipping.  I've been lucky.

Having a reward in place for a child who sits still while you are clipping their nails often works.  What I do is paint my little girl's nails as a reward.  I only buy the cheap Warehouse nail polish, and it washes off in the bath which is an added bonus.  This can be used on boys too if the boys are young enough to get away with it.  My little girl has a boyfriend who comes into their daycare every couple of weeks with painted nails.  They arrive and leave at roughly the same time, and we have commented to each other about how we can tell it was nail-clipping day that morning.

Other things to try is clipping nails while watching a movie or listening to music, or using other rewards such as a story or a sticker or stamp after it's finished.  Even thought it's only a 3 minute job, it's a job dreaded by many a mum!  I hope someone finds something helpful in this.  Take care.