Baby nails.

Burrberrymum · December 2013

I keep my baby's nails as short as I can by biting them off but she still manages to break them. It looks so painful because it looks like it's peeling into her skin, like when we break our nails and it breaks too close to the skin and you cant peel the rest off or you'll be ripping your bail bed? Does that make sense lol?

Anyways I don't know what to do when this happens, I don't want it to break deeper into her skin, but I can't cut anymore off or I'll get her skin! If it was myself I would put a bandaid over it until it grows out but I don't feel like that's an option with her so I just put coconut oil on it in hopes of it healing faster and growing out enough to fix it. It's happened twice so far on her thumb nails and they're so red they look sore.

Any sugestions?

eyris · December 2013

You bite them off? Like with your own teeth? I would stop that because you might be introducing bacteria and causing the redness that way.

My little guy had a slightly infected fingernail over a month ago and the dr had me put antibiotic ointment on it and then one of those cotton mittens so he couldn't eat it. Cleared up after a few days.

I use a crystal/glass nail file on his nails or the baby grooming kit tiny clippers if they get extra long.

Burrberrymum · December 2013

Her pediatrician told me to do that and not to use the clippers, I thought it was strange too but I guess a lot of people do that and find it much easier.

Hoping it doesn't get infected though cause she managed to break both thumb nails even though they're as short as they can be without being too close to the skin. Coconut oil is good for clearing up infections so I suppose I should just keep a mitten on and keep putting it on like you did with the ointment.

HisChamaoleGirl · December 2013

Burrberrymum said:

Her pediatrician told me to do that and not to use the clippers, I thought it was strange too but I guess a lot of people do that and find it much easier. Hoping it doesn't get infected though cause she managed to break both thumb nails even though they're as short as they can be without being too close to the skin. Coconut oil is good for clearing up infections so I suppose I should just keep a mitten on and keep putting it on like you did with the ointment.

The pediatrician said not to use the nail cutter, but did she suggest biting the nails with your teeth ?

renee6465 · December 2013

I use the little nail clippers and have never had a "broken nail" whatever that means. Just use the clippers and clip them. It takes two minutes and makes a million times more sense.

Burrberrymum · December 2013

Yes she suggested I bite them off. She said she tells all new moms to do that rather than use the clippers, I guess she sees a lot more babies coming in with a cut from the clippers that gets infected.

I don't bite my own nails and I've had this happen to myself even though I use clippers on myself, was just strange to see it happen to her and I can't use a band aid on her to keep it from getting worst if she scrapes them on her play mat.

HisChamaoleGirl · December 2013

I think that is horrible advice for a pediatrician to give. With nail cutters I can control how much nail I am cutting. If I were to put my teeth on my LO's nail I would not be able to know how much nail I am pulling off.

Burrberrymum · December 2013

I thought the same thing and since I've never bit my own nails it was strange to me but surprisingly it's a lot easier to bite them than to clip them. In my own experience that is.

Burrberrymum · December 2013

I can feel how much I'm biting off, and with the clippers I can't feel anything at all. I never would have even tried doing that though until she suggested I do that.. And trust me my family thinks it's weird too, but it works for me better this way.

sunshine2929 · December 2013

I've had a few people tell me to bite my LO's nails as well... said its easier. I have no problem cutting his nails with the clippers but I just wanted to let you know I have heard that biting them is easier.

Burrberrymum · December 2013

I just read the "I made my baby bleed" thread and many others mention they bite them off, now I don't feel so weird lol

michaelaelaine01 · December 2013

I use those little scissors that came in a baby toiletry kit. I do it while she's sleepy or sleeping (just not when she's flapping all over the place.) The scissors are so much easier than the clippers. I trim them short and file any sharp edges. Give it a shot!

chois · December 2013

It's not that weird. I've heard from lots of people that they bite their LOs nails off. I just can't bring myself to do it though, even if it is easier.

PumpkinMommaaa · December 2013

At first I couldn't bring myself to either but after clipping her on accident I tried it and it's much easier to control. I do it as I'm nursing. I can do one hand while she's on one side and the other when we switch

AppleMuffins · December 2013

I used to bite LO's nails when she was a newborn. Her nails have hardened up a bit and aren't as soft as when she was born so I have a hard time adequately biting them now. I've gone to clippers, but they always make me so nervous!

kgravil85 · December 2013

I've had so many people tell me to bite LO's nails, but I just can't bring myself to do it. I just stick to clipping them (I use clippers that have a light on the end) and filing them. It takes me F-O-R-E-V-E-R, but I'm much more comfortable with it.

2sweetlilgirls · December 2013

I don't bite them, I feel that bitting them is so unsanitary and weird. I cut them with the baby clippers and it sucks. I can't believe how fast they grow.

ZKLBM0618 · December 2013

Someone gave me advice on this topic not long ago and it makes a WORLD of difference to FILE a babies nails with a nail file while their sleeping... It works so great! Since the baby's nails are so thin and hard to see, filing makes it so much simpler!

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