BTDT Mitten advice

Nukke

How long do they need mittens for? I worry my daughter isn't getting her motor skills because we have her in mittens or outfits with cuffs 100% if the time. I tried her yesterday without them just to see, and she woke herself up from scratching her face. She actually drew a bit of blood and I felt terrible.

RedHead0917

We have only used them a couple times. I trim her nails often and otherwise I guess she has just learned not to scratch herself. Maybe try them off for short periods during the day when you can watch her? Then gradually make it longer.

VitaLuna

My LO has never worn mittens and I only flip the cuffs at night for cold hands if the sleeper has them . She has only visibly scratched herself once (in 2mos). I'd keep her nails trimmed and leave her hands out when she's awake.

CDMay2006

We only sometimes do cuffs and he scratches the hell out of his face. (3 wks)

RoosterWrangler

I'm in the no mittens club too. I just keep DS's claws very short and he hasn't ever scratched himself. I've noticed the best time to trim is while he's on the boob and it gives me something to do.

michelle7482

I stopped using them at a week old

barnratash

RoosterWrangler said:

I'm in the no mittens club too. I just keep DS's claws very short and he hasn't ever scratched himself. I've noticed the best time to trim is while he's on the boob and it gives me something to do.

This. Doing it while they're eating makes it much easier because they've distracted. My LO makes fists otherwise and about impossible to get to the nail.

Nukke

Her nails are kept short, and yes, I also trim them when she's eating. I bite them or clip them. Maybe I should try a file? She also pulls her own hair and ears though. She screams like crazy when she does this, it gives me chills just thinking about it.

Now that I think about it, I think she only attacks her face when sleeping. I may try just using cuffs when she's sleeping, and see how that goes.

redfallon

VitaLuna said:

My LO has never worn mittens and I only flip the cuffs at night for cold hands if the sleeper has them . She has only visibly scratched herself once (in 2mos). I'd keep her nails trimmed and leave her hands out when she's awake.

This is the same for us. I've used socks at night if she's not swaddled or the outfit doesn't have cuffs.

lovemyboyyss

I still flip the cuffs, if there are any, when we go out and at night because its getting cold. For scratching purposes we stopped constantly wearing mittens or cuffs around 3 weeks.

aml8979

I noticed that my lo's hands were freezing so I put socks on them and he took a 4 hour nap!

Burrberrymum

I still use the mittens at close to 7 weeks but during bath time and dressing her I try to get her to grab things like the face cloth or a little toy when I change her. If I leave her without mittens she scratches her face and draws blood even though her nails aren't long, they're still sharp.. She will also grab her hair and pull it and start screaming bloody murder than she's super upset after. So I havnt gave up mittens yet!

staebells

I have to use them at night and while breast feeding. I'm afraid to trim them. I clipped his finger and now I'm afraid to try again. My LO is 4 weeks.

emorda

I was wondering the same thing! My lo is 4 weeks today and we keep them on her about 90% of the time. I worry about her motor skills too but she scratches her face the second we take them off, even when her nails are filed short. Not sure what to do myself. Will keep using the mittens for now.