To Cut Or Bite His Fingernails...That Is My Question - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

Karen62705 · 10-03-2005, 09:31 AM

Ok...So I know I have been asking alot of questions lately....but gee whiz it seems like as DS son get bigger more and more things are coming up.

The first few weeks DH cut Justin's nails, he was good at it, but it took him like 10min a nail....It was nice to have them cut, but timing wise it was not ideal. Then I learned my sister was a pro at it. I see her a few times a week, so it was never a problem for her to do it. But yesterday the thing we all fear most happened...Justin got startled and jumped mid-cut and she clipped his thumb. It bled for about an hour! But Justin is fine and doesn't even seem to notice it. It was more tramatic for my sister who no longer wants to cut them. (I can't blame her, i'd be the same way), Besides I can gurantee that if I had been cutting them from the start he'd probably be missing a whole finger...lol Just Kidding....Ok so anyways.....My mom said she used to bite mine, and never had a problem, I have heard a lot of moms do that.

I know about doing it while they are asleep....which is fine if I'm biting them, but I can't bring myself to use the clippers.....I'm actually terrified!!

So really I wanna know what you all do, Bite, Clip......And what seems to work best? Also...for the biters.....has anything bad happened as a result from biting them? Thanks all!!!

Laur77 · 10-03-2005, 09:47 AM

My hubby clips them while I am breast-feeding, so he is nice and calm. He's nicked his fingers on 2 occasions, but DS never even noticed. You're right, it was more traumatizing for me, than him!
I have bitten them too, when I notice a ragged one. That works fine as well. They are so fine, it is easy to do.

mnmama · 10-03-2005, 01:26 PM

I bit all my kids nails until about a year and a half(3 boys 1 girl). I would cut mine or one of the other kids nails and they would watch, they would then want me to do it to them. It seems wierd to bite them but I just never wanted to risk nicking them.

Dani Girl 78 · 10-03-2005, 03:54 PM

I just hold his little hand firmly and clip. To me it has never been that big of a deal. I have never cut either of my boys. The youngest is now almost 8mths and he just watches while I do it now. Every once in awhile he will squirm but I grip his hand tighter and talk to him and he is fine.

2fst · 10-03-2005, 06:24 PM

I have found that the baby nail clippers are duller then the regular adult nail cippers, which are quite sharp. I prefer to use the adult nail clippers on DS and only used baby ones for the first week. I do it while he is awake and just hold his hand tight and take my time. If he gets too fussy we stop and then try again later. I have never nicked him but I have taken off quite a bit of nail on occasion.