Cutting Fingernails and Toenails on an 18 Mos Old

My l22 month ittle girl is similarly resistant to the mani/pedi. I have not tried to distract with TV/DVD because my plan is to hold off on anything tv or tv-like until at least 2 (and I hope longer) so her little brain has the best chance to develop. She's a light sleeper so I could never do it in her sleep. She wouldn't even accept the file instead of clippers.

Well, in the last couple of months she suddenly WANTS to file her nails so we've been doing that. I haven't tried the clippers to see if she'll go for that as well, and the toes are still off limits but it's progress.

Good luck, just thought you'd like to know you are not alone.

The only way I could get my boys to let me cut their nails when they were little was to promise to paint their toe-nails afterwards! (At least the toes can be covered up from those who liked to tease them about it!) Whatever works, right?

this is what I do with my boys because they still are pains in the neck about it. After tub and while they are still wrapped up in a big towel I put on a DVD that I know will hold their attention and I have them snuggle with me and I cut their nails. They do move around a bit but I hate to use TV as the distraction it works. Since she is so little you should try a Baby Einstien DVD -- the music will hold her. And you can discuss what you are watching as you are trimming!

If you are not against TV watching, I totally recommend it. My DS hasn't really had issues with nail cutting, but if I sit down with him and turn on one of his favorite shows or DVDs he doesn't even pay attention to what I'm doing with his nails. Or I will also put on video clips from Sesame Street (on their website) to keep him occupied for just a few minutes at a time (it works great for haircuts, too!) Good luck!

Hi G.,
It can definately be a struggle. I usually explain to my son I am going to trim his nails today so he can expect it (I don't us the word cut, you never know, it could scare them thinking they will be cut, same thing with trimming his hair). I have had luck when he is in a quiet mode watching a television show. You could also trim your nails first and show them what you are doing. Maybe give a sticker after each finger nail is trimmed. If nothing works, try to use the baby file to get rid of the sharp edges. I found it was a phase, sometimes they freak out and other times they don't mind much. Good luck to you.

I resorted to bribing my daughter by painting her nails afterwards.

We have been cutting our 20 month old's nails while she is in the bath for the last few months. It works out great because she loves bathtime. She can either stand or sit, and I hold her hand down on the side of the tub. It gives me a good angle and she can't really squirm away. Feet are a little trickier but I can always manage to get a few of them done during the bath. I also always warn her it's coming so she's really starting to get used to it and doesn't mind like she used to. Good luck!!

Could you try when she is in the high chair and already sort of tied down?

I also use an emery board when I can't get him still enough to clip. He actually wanted to file his own nails after that (and then chew on the board--sigh)

Good Luck, Nat

Hi G.,
At that young age, I would say only to cut nails while your kiddo is sleeping. Once communication gets better you can explain what you're doing and have a "reward" for sitting good and still - and in another year it will probably be routine.

ANother tip is to use cuticle cutting scissors. THey are very precise, so not only will you be cutting less frequently, but you will get real quick at it since they are so easy to handle ;-)

good luck!

With my son we do two diffrent things... As for his toe nails.. he would NEVER let me cut them.. So i do it right after Tubby.. while is laying on the floor and put the tv on .. And with his Finger nails... we also just have him sit on our lap.. and turn on the tv.. We dont LOVE the tv for him.. but it catches his attention for about 5 mins.. and he sits still to get it done..

B.

Mommy to 16 month old Evan

yes, this is the never ending battle! I clip my son's nails while he is dead asleep. Sometimes he wakes up now when I do his toes. I let him try to clip mine so he sees it doesn't hurt. He is more tolerant of his finger nails. I tell him there is lots of dirt we need to get from under there. My son is 2.5, so he understands a little bit more.

G.,

Have you tried to cut when she is sleeping, a real deep sleep? Thats when I did it. Good luck!

I always just use a nail file and file down my kids nails until they are old enough to hold still.

My kids always let me do it if we took turns. I cut one of my nails, and then I cut one of theirs....

Let her sip weak chocolate milk from a straw (or her favorite juice). If this doesn't work, let her have a few licks of a forbidden treat like a pop while you're working. Be super fast, too, and make sure you have the right size clippers for little nails!

My DD is the same age and has to be bribed! LOL I give her everything she is not allowed! my cellphone, home phone anything she knows is off limits that will distract her! I also have her sitting in her high chair. She now takes her socks off when I say time to cut your nails!

I have 14 month old twins and my son will let me without a problem but my daughter screams and squirms. However, she loves to be upside down so I let her sit on my lap on her back with her head hanging between my knees and I do it that way and she doesn't mind at all. I bring her up and kiss and hug her between hands.

Good luck. I know it's awful when they squirm and scream because of something you need to do to them.

try sitting her on your lap facing away from you. turn on the tv and/or give her a snack to keep her occupied. this usually works long enough for me to cut the nails of ONE hand or foot! Sometimes I have my brother-in-law do it; for some reason my dd will sit perfectly still for him, it's the weirdest thing. Try giving her to a friend or relative and having them try. sometimes their behavior is different when in the care of others.

Hi there,
I keep a pair of clippers in my diaper bag and wait for my son to fall asleep in the car. Hope this helps!

This age they hate being held down like that. No control over themselves and can't be on the go they just hate it. So for safety have you thought about filing them down instead of trying to cut and cutting her? And when at all possible someone else to distract her is always helpful. Blowing bubbles really gets kids attention so if you can either have someone blowing bubbles or have an automatic bubble blower that might help. I don't think doing it when she's really tired is the best idea though because her meltdown is just going to be that much worse. Think about it, when you're tired and cranky would you want someone doing something to you that you really hate? Doing it right after the bath though is great because the nail is soft and easier to cut.

I have good luck in the car. I carry clippers in the glove box and will clip one or two nails before riding to Grandma's (or some other fun place). I tell him we need to clip before we can go for a ride and have fun. For some reason, it works in the car but in the house, he doesn't let me do it. I also give him the clippers to handle for about a minute after I'm done as a little reward (I stand right there to make sure he doesnt hurt himself).

Can you use a nail file on her?
Will she "clip" her own nails with a decoy, while letting you do them for real?
Is she motivated by stickers or some reward for sitting still?
Maybe if she "helped" clip yours, filed, scrubbed, modified manicure, and you took turns working on each other?

Clip her nails when she is sleeping in the car... just make sure you carry the clippers in your purse so they are handy.. I've always done fingers and toes like this... even if she isnt sleeping in the car.. at least she will sit more still without squirming while strapped in the car seat.

Hi G.,

Although my kid is a wiggle monster, she'll let me cut her nails while watching Curious George (she doesn't even notice I'm doing it). I don't let her watch much TV, but this is totally worth it.

Hi G. - I also have a very squirmy 18 month old. I cut his nails when he's in the high chair and I have cartoons on the tv. This has worked for us. Good Luck!

T. Y
SAHM of almost 4... 9yrs, 7 yrs, 18 month and 20 weeks pregnant with #4

nap time the right time to cut the squirmy one's nails

We had the same problem with our daughter. I finally took her to her Dr. where it took three of us to hold her down and cut her toe nails! But she out grew this phase really quickly. I asked her father to try it alone and he was able to do it by cutting his nails first in front of her and then cutting hers. Now it's no problem and it's one less job for me! It's something that only she and Daddy do! Good luck.

I took this tip from my girlfriend, who did this with her dogs! Cut only two at a time. Swoop in and cut a few, then let her go and get a few more later. She will not have to sit still quite as long. A movie or TV show may distract her for a few minutes. Oh and make sure that in your attempt to hold her still, your grip is not hurting her. My kids are always saying I'm pinching them when I try to keep their toes still!

we have a large (20") pink piggy bank - my daughter used to "ride" the piggy... so then we started giving her money to "feed" the piggy. so out of our change jar we used to give her some coins to feed the piggy - to understand the "game"... then to cut her nails for each nail we cut she got another coin to feed the piggy with.

we always did nails and toes on different nights - too much to do all in one night. we also used to sing song.

is there a show or something that she likes. my daughter used to be comatose to elmo's world.... she'd let me do anything to her - cut her nails, feed her veggies...

I have the same type of kid and I do a few things to keep it interesting so she doesn't catch on what I am doing. We doa counting game on her hands and toes and while I am touching to count I sneak in wiht the clippers. We also distract her with books, a snack, or a toy and then I can do her toes while her hnads and mind are on something else. Another dristration we use is another set of clippers (closed of coarse) and she pretends to do it herself. And we do the TV thing as well. We have tried to do it while she was sleeping, but it does make her up. SHe is a light sleeper. You can also try to file them instead of clipping. We have also noticed is that if we clip our nails in front of her, she is more open to "try it"

Good luck

Maybe if you have someone else try it? I had a hard time cutting my daughter's nails too. Then she came home from daycare with them cut and I was like how did you do that? She had no problem.