My son frequently scratches himself on his back, belly, or his neck. It seems to be a nervous habit and I can tell he doesn't really think about it when he's doing it, but his skin gets really red and irritated from it. (I already clipped all the tags out of his clothing so I'm sure it's not because of itchiness).
Because of this, we try and keep his fingernails really short. Recently he has been having an absolute hysterical fit every time we try and clip them. We've tried distraction, holding him down, reading books, watching TV, singing, talking to him, and my husband has even tried clipping them while he's nursing. Nothing helps. The annoying thing is that this whole job would only take about 1 minute if he would just let us do it.
I've seen some people suggest that you clip them while your kid's asleep, but I dont really see how we can do that since he sleeps in his crib, which is hard to reach, and it's dark so we can't see anyway.
Does anyone have suggestions? Is this just a phase, and if so, how long will it last? Thanks!
I agree with Kimberely. I bite my older daughter's nails all the time. She sees it as a game. I pretend to bite her fingers, and while she is distracted by that, I get a bit of her fingernails. It also lets me know that I am not cutting too short because I can feel her skin in my mouth. My younger daughter would rather me cut her nails, so I am able to use the clippers for her, but my older one is afraid of the clippers.
K..... I cut my daughters' finger the first time I tried to cut her nails. She was only about a month old and she screamed for about 10 minutes. I haven't tried to cut her nails since :). I use a nail file and file them down short. The are smoother that way, there is no chance at cutting a little finger and it doesn't take as long as you might think. Another option is to try a nail buffer. They are large and made out a a softer material which may be easier to use. Good luck!
K.
My son did the same thing for a really long time. He's 5 now and still gets nervous about those clippers although knows it must be done and so he lets me without a fight. When he was smaller though I gave up the clippers and used my teeth. I would just very easily put his hand in my nouth and pretent I was a nail monster and bite them off playfully. It turned into a game. He would laugh and sqirm. But it got done! As he got older he caught on so then the clippers came back out and then I would make a big deal if the nail flew off or bounced away and laugh and say WOW you have super hero nails that can fly!! and just silly stuff like that. Like I said hes 5 now and MUCH better. Its no longer a fight but a game we play. Hope that helps you.
Hi K.,
We cut our daughters nails while she's in the bathtub. If she's trying to pull away I'll clip one or two nails, let her play, maybe wash her hair and then clip another couple nails and by the time bath time is over her nails are clipped and they're a little easier to clip because their soft! Good luck.
My boys, now 18 months and just turned 3, also really don't like their nails clipped. The 18 month old just hates to hold his hand still and have it confined by me holding it steady. The 3 year old has always just been nervous about it and didn't like holding still for it. I bribe them with a snack distraction every time. Yesterday I clipped their nails while they ate yogurt covered raisins. My 3 year old actually held still and watched me holding his raisins the whole time, saving them for after I was done....so he is getting MUCH better. (I call the yogurt covered raisins candy, so he was excited about his little bowl of candy.) The 18 month old is still trying to pull away. He'll hold still for a second after I put a raisin in his mouth to distract him, will hold still enough to do about 2 nails and then pull away and yell. Then we do it again. I know it's a pain. I could never do it with my kids sleeping either. They are not the deepest sleepers...especially my younger one! But at least my 3 year old is getting a lot better now.
how about when he naps during the day? Or giving him a special food that he likes - like a cookie or something and if he starts to fuss then take it away and give it back when he stops. I think that if you can find some way to get him to let you cut his nails, it will be easier on you in the long run. Good Luck!
When my son was younger the only way we could keep him distracted enough for him to let us clip his nails was to use a pinwheel. My husband would continually blow on it and I would cut his nails. It was like it put him in a hypnotic state.
K.,
I had to smile when I read your request. I had no choice but to trim my older son's nails when he was sleeping soundly in our bed during the day. If you wait until your son is in a deep sleep, you should be able to trim his nails without awakening him.
Amy
Hi K. - we had the same issue with my first son who's now 8... we had to do it at night. We waited until he fell asleep and my husband and I tag teamed it or I went it alone. To ensure I didn't clip his skin, my husband would hold a flashlight or bring light while I went to work.. it definitly wasn't easy, but it did work.. we put the crib railing down, moved him as close and in the best position as possible. Also, you may want to try filing his nails while they're still short - he might even enjoy trying it himself as it could be fun, it puts him in more control and it's safe. Good luck!
Maybe wait until he's asleep, pick him up from his crib and hold him while your husband clips his nails -- would the closet light be enough light to do it? You can put his hand in the light while his head is on your shoulder out of the light and he hopefully stays asleep.
