When it comes to preventive measures for your baby’s health, the best precaution that a parent can take is cleanliness in their baby. By instilling good hygiene, you can get rid of germs that cause diseases and keep the baby healthy. One of the most overlooked parts of grooming a baby is the clipping and trimming of their finger and toenails. Dust, pollutants and bad bacteria collect under the nails and can be easily ingested into the body when they put their hands or feet in their mouth, or start the habit of thumb-sucking. Clipping your baby’s nails ensures that this can be avoided.
A baby’s fingernails are soft and supple, extremely flexible and fast growing. They cannot be clipped carelessly as you may cut off some skin in the process.
It is best to ensure you keep an eye out for scratch marks as the bad bacteria stuck in the nails can cause infections and illnesses.
Something to keep in mind when clipping and filing a baby’s nails is to understand how short to cut baby nails and what shape they should be. It is best if one cuts the nail along the contours of the finger. A baby’s fingernails grow very fast and may need to be cut every week. However, a newborn’s toenails usually take longer to grow and can be managed if you cut them once a month.
Before cutting your baby’s nails, it is crucial to understand how to do that without hurting the baby. This means understanding the tools you need and the proper technique to clip those nails.
Things to note while clipping your child’s nails:
If clipping the nails are challenging or if you decide to cut them in another manner, here are a few other alternatives:
Even the most careful parent can accidentally nip or cut the skin while clipping or cutting a newborn’s nails. If this happens do not panic.
Grooming your newborn begins with cutting their nails. Learning how to do that in a clean and safe manner is important. Remember to discuss any concerns you may have regarding this with your doctor. Try creating a grooming schedule to organize your baby’s grooming needs. It is recommended that initially, you take the assistance of another adult while clipping the newborn’s nails.