Trimming Fingernails

G.: I have twin babies who are not 2 years old (they are only 9 mos) but the only time I can cut their nails is when they are asleep. They squirm also if I try to do it when awake and I worry about snipping their fingertips.
Good Luck.

Hi G. my son hated getting his nails clipped (I think I got too close once) so I started using a nail file. It worked great now he is 4 and 1/2 and the clippers don't really bother him. Sometimes if I clipped I would do it when he was fast asleep. good luck

I have 2 tricks. First, if you dont object to a little bribing, a lollipop seems to keep my son still long enough to trim his fingernails. Tell him if he gets up, he loses the candy. Next, if you would rather not use candy, I have also done it while he was asleep. Depending upon how sound of a sleeper he is, that may or may not work for you.

What I do is sit with my son on my lap and hold his hands, play with his fingers and hold one at a time, while we watch a kids video. I do this for a few nights/days in a row and then he does not seem to notice much when I slip the nail trimming into the equation because he is used to motions.
Good Luck.
R.

Do it when hes asleep. :o) I do it to my son hes 2 too and he freaks out when I go to clip his nails when he is awake. So wait till he is VERY VERY asleep and to it. It works perfect for me....he might pull away a little in his sleep but just stop till he falls sleep again. It should work for ya. :o)

My 18 month old doesn't like getting her fingernails cut either. I found distraction works with her though. I'll either have my husband dance around the room and sing songs, or I'll pop in a Baby Einstein video. If those don't work, I'll say "only 3 more nails to go" and she seems to understand that if she sits still, it will be over soon. I don't know how long that will last, but for now, it works!

Good luck.

G. -

Well I don't have the secret, but I have a squirmy 2 year old, too. I have always cut his nails at night when we're rocking to sleep or something. But now that we're TWO, not so easy. I started being silly about it - I say SNIP SNIP! very loud and funny while waving the clippers about - I pretend to cut his toenails, which he thinks is hilarious, and after every 2 or so toes, I grab a hand and say snip snip! and get a nail or two until he pulls away again - then I go back to the toes and continue the same game. For really squirmy times, I snip snip my husband's nails, which is the funniest thing ever, apparently. I can usually get one hand done this way, and the next night I do the other. Not sure why this is so difficult - my entire motherhood is felled by this nail cutting business, ya know?

But the funny humor seems to work for us - you might try something like that. Good luck!!

S.

I sing "Where is Thumbkin?" as I do each nail....my 13 month old does not like her nails clipped either, but the song seems to distract her and she is learning the finger names---well---the ones in the song anyway. I usually do this after a snack while she is in her chair still....I also do her toes at the same time, but not with the song.

Good luck,
K.

Hi, there! I put on a show for my son to watch while I trim his nails. Like, Dora or Diego or something that will grab his attention. I also love those baby nail clippers with the large white handle. Then you just have to hold his hand/foot real tight! Good luck!

For my one-year old, I can trim his nails by either going outside and sitting with him on my lap (he gets distracted by cars driving by,etc) OR I pop in a video, which keeps him still! If a video is a treat in your household, you can try to cut them while he sits still and watches the video OR reason with him and promise him a chance to watch the video if he sits still while you trim his nails. Not sure 2 year olds are to be reasoned with though! My baby is just 1 year - so I'm not there yet!

Clip them while he is deeply asleep :)

Good luck!
B. in Plano
mama of 2 (6 and 5)

Instead of trimming them use one of the softer....shaping emery boards that manicurists use (you know, the double sided gray ones). File the nails to the right length. He may still squirm and fight, but it's not as dangerous as using clippers or scissors. I do this with my daycare kids from newborn to age 5. Try it, it works! http://www.MissBrenda.com

I either do it when my 2 year old son is fast asleep after a very busy day of playing...in other words nothing will wake him up OR I let him pretend to cut mine and then he is excited about me cutting his. I make a big game out of it.

My son is 15 months. But, to trim his i sit him on my lap and watch a TV program which keeps him interested for a while -- and hopefully make it through all 10 fingers -- sometimes this is a doing it more than once process.

Now of course we will see if that works when he is 2?

C.

My now 3 year old daughter squirmed while trimming nails, too, when she was 1 and 2 years old. So, I would cut them while she was sleeping.

Good Luck!

Hi,
Try trimming them while he is sleeping.
Lonie

I have a soonto be 2 yr little girl. I understand that stage. I cut her nails every week cause they grow so fast. I think what has helped is to find a time when he first wakes up so he's not tired, make it something fun. And do it often enough that it becomes a routine. I have to give my daughter a toy or a nail file to hold. Let him pretend to cut your nails and file them. He will soon realize that it is ok and won't hurt him.
Good luck
M.

sahm with 22mo girl
in-home day care provider

HI G.,
My oldest son is 2 1/2. Most of the time I have to wait till he is asleep to cut his fingernails and toes nails. The few times I've done while is awake is right after bath time when he is still wrapped up in his towel and sitting in my lap.

I also use kid size clippers which is the perfect size for his finger, so one 'clip' usually does it.

Good luck! ps. I have two boys too...
Myles is 2 1/2 and Rome is almost 15 months. Sounds like your house is like mine...

D.

Hi G. - I bribe my 2 year old with something like M&M's so I can give her one after each finger. Also, I have never used clippers for fear of cutting her. I have always used a glass nail file that I found at Sephora. It works quickly on their soft little nails and is much better than any others that I have tried. I use it on my 8 month old as well. They still squirm but I just go as fast as I can! Good luck!

Maybe you could trim while he watches a video?

The best way to trim them is when he is asleep.

if possible, do it when he is asleep...

My daughter, too would not let me trim her nails. Just recently she is able to hold still and let me trim them but before I used to trim them when she was asleep. Her fingers and toes were more relaxed and I was able to cut them to the length without clipping off a finger. ;)

Hope this helps.
S.

You might try waiting until he's asleep. That might work better for you.

I let my 18 month old play with the fingernail clippers (they are the baby/infant kind) before I start clipping them. It's usually a 2 step process because he gets bored after about 5 nails! It's one of those pick your battle things at our house. Sometimes I notice one or two that need clipping and clip just those - clip as they grow kind of thing.

Does he have a favorite TV/movie program? I always bribe my son (2 1/2 yrs old) with a Thomas the Train episode that I have saved to Tivo so I can cue it up, play it while he sits in my lap and I trim his nails. If he sqirms during the program, I pause the show and tell him that if he doesn't sit still and let Momma trim his nails than Thomas will go "bye-bye" - "no more thomas." etc. etc. And that usually works.

If all else fails, it wouldn't hurt to bribe him with candy while you do one hand at a time, right? Maybe something that isn't messy, like those Smarties.

The only advice I can give you (I'm the mom of 3 boys, btw) is to distract him and make it a game, of sorts. Tell him a little story about the monkeys who all had to get their nails cut...etc, etc). That always worked for me.

When my daughter started to object, I talked about which nail was longest and little piggies etc. Then I just cut the one nail. After a week or so I worked up to a couple more. Even now, she starts squirming after a few, but it's not really necessary to cut all 10 at once. I also do it while she's in the bath and playing with bath toys.

I know some people do it while their children are asleep. It depends on if you think this will wake them up...

I always cut my sons nails while he is in a deep sleep. That is the only way I can do it...