Out of curiosity...

Homcrn · November 2013

I have been afraid to trim/file DS nails. I have been told by several mothers to "bite" them off. I do not and have never chewed my nails and it goes against everything I was taught as a nurse. That being said, fear of cutting him with trimmers or filing his skin took over and I bite them off after his bath today. It was easy and not as weird as I imagined it to be. Does anyone else do this, heard of this or is this a regional thing? Please tell me I am not the only one!

hartsl01 · November 2013

I've heard of tons of people that do this. I've been able to file ds's nails and haven't bitten them, but I've got lots of family and friends that do this with their kids.

Gatorsgirl731 · November 2013

I did it with DS till I could control crazy baby arms enough to clip them.

PixiesDust · November 2013

Ive been told to bite them too but I'm terrified to do anything with them whatsoever. DD isnt too bad about scratching herself but claws the crap out of me.

sleepy33 · November 2013

I have just used a big, soft pink file and it's fine, it doesn't get his skin at all and you only have to do a few swipes over each nail.

Homcrn · November 2013

I filed the nails for the first two weeks. Since that time, I trim his nails during breast feeding sessions. He is distracted enough that he does not even care. I am not a fan of the thought of biting nails off. It seems unsanitary.

I was worried about it being unsanitary as well, but when I took him to the doctors yesterday the NP pointed out that he does not really get his hands "dirty" and to just wash his hands before and after. She said that she tells moms to do this often until the newborns are a little bigger and do not have their hands in a fist so much. Could of knocked me over with a feather!

Homcrn · November 2013

sleepy33 said:

I have just used a big, soft pink file and it's fine, it doesn't get his skin at all and you only have to do a few swipes over each nail.

I did not think of the soft buffing files.. I will have to pick one up!

cvjoyner · November 2013

I heard that for the first time today about biting them off. I just find it odd and I'm not doing it. I'm afraid to use the clippers, but I am going to try and file them.

disneymomtotwo · November 2013

Sorry to hijack, but when did you all start trimming/biting/cutting your LO's nails??

Homcrn · November 2013

bequietgera said:

Sorry to hijack, but when did you all start trimming/biting/cutting your LO's nails??

My LO is three weeks..his nails were just about even with his finger tips. I generally put covers on his hands till this point, but they were long enough he scratched his face without the mittens.

pmarie33 · November 2013

His nails were long when he was born. We did mittens and socks for the first week before cutting. DH cuts the nails since he has better eye sight. I'm afraid if getting the skin. I may have to search for my soft nail file.

shelley1002 · November 2013

I didn't but my sister did with both her kids.

bnikiz · November 2013

We were told not too, it can cause infection

SnoopyLuv · November 2013

I trimmed in the hospital. I did cut her finger a bit and felt awful but it was better than being mauled . Biting was suggested to me by my aunt but I don't see how my teeth could get ahold of those paper thin nails. I've had to cut her nails two more times in the 17 days she's been alive its insane.

bkeane619 · November 2013

Ugh I hate this. I tried to file hers the other day and failed. I will buy little scissors. I tried biting but that was too weird.

jennlin · November 2013

My MIL bites my daughters nails.......I just clip them when she's asleep, but MIL likes her nails shorter, so whatever. I have not yet done this LOs nails, but h has clipped them and we also use mittens.

tashad18 · November 2013

My entire family does this with newborns/infants. They swear it is easier. I think I am the odd ball that just clips them when LO is asleep.

hlb622 · November 2013

Our LO was born with crazy- long nails, so we've been clipping them from Day 1 while he's milk drunk. Otherwise, he scratches the crap out of himself and me.

ETA: one-handed bumping while nursing makes spelling harrrrd.

kirbabe · November 2013

I just peel the nail off. It has to get an edge started peeling first, but then it comes right off. This is sometimes easier after a bath. I have gently clipped a few stubborn nails, just to get them started, then peeled off the rest of the way.

I find biting gross.

SweetCFly · November 2013

DS came out with some serious claws and loved having his hands all up in his face so was constantly scratching himself. We held out on trimming them until he was 1 week old. I will bite off a random hang nail if I see it (he gets those frequently) but if I'm trimming them all I use nail scissors and try to do it right after nursing him when he's in a milk coma.