Until about 2mos ago, my 3yo son has been great about clipping his fingernails and toenails. Then it became an ordeal, and we had to start introducing tiny treats to get his fingernails done, while clipping his toenails as he slept (the treats didn't work for some reason for the toenails). The last 3wks have been impossible to clip his toenails - we wait until he's dead asleep, and as soon as we gently touch his foot or toe, he wakes up screaming to "please leave me alone, it hurts!". I've checked for injuries, ingrown nails, any kind of indication that there is pain in his toes, but find nothing. We had our monthly ice cream treat the other night, and I tried to use that as an opportunity to put on his favorite show and clip the toenails, but he kept pulling away, begging me to stop (so I did, because it would have been dangerous to try). Has anyone come across this and found a solution? Thanks in advance!
Thanks for all of the responses!! We'd always done his nails after bath, and he's been helping with the process (of both his and my husband's) for months. We've tried filing before and that seemed to take so long, but we'll try again. I never even thought of the nail scissors and will give them a shot as well. If all else fails, then I'll take him to the peed for some stern backup :). Thanks again.
Maybe try letting him play in a nice warm bath for a while and then try to clip them. The bath will soften up the nails and make them easier to clip. That's the only way my son will let me cut his nails. Good Luck!
I took my son to the podiatrist with me and told him that if he did not allow me to clip his nails, the doctor would be happy to do it, but he would use a LONG SHARP KNIFE.
Mean AND desperate, I know, but it would take BOTH of us to hold him down and he would SCREAM at the top of his lungs and I'm surprised a neighbor didn't call CPS!
wow, my advice is what you are already doing. Would an emery board hurt less?? Is he independent, maybe if he had control and clipped them himself it would work. Last resort take him to his pediatrician or dr and have them do it.
My son does not like getting his toenails cut either. He used to scream and carry on and say it hurts. We always do it after the bath. This year he is 7 and he suddenly is much much better about it. Hoorah! Finally. We found last year that if we let him play a video game or watch a movie then he paid less attention to us cutting his toenails and was much better about it.
We do after bath and use nail scissors instead of clippers. We watch TV while we do it and I told my daughter point blank (She is 3 as well) that if I don't cut them, they will grow into her foot and we will have to go to the doctor and have them CUT OUT and he won't be as gentle as me....scared her into sitting still....most of the time :) I don't mince words and I told the truth. Good luck!
Try giving him more control. Acknowledge that he thinks the clippers hurt him (and they may have caught a little flesh, at some point 2 mos ago).
Give him a clipper and show him how to use it, on a sheet of paper, on plastic from a deli tub, on his hair or yours, on his own nails or on yours. You may need to help him squeeze hard enough to actually clip, but if you start on inanimate materials, he'll probably let you help. Let him practice for awhile until he becomes more comfortable being near clippers.
Then ask him if you can help him position the clippers over one of his nails. Then ask him if you can help him squeeze. He may just let you do it.
If he's still afraid of the clippers, you might try getting a pair of tiny, sharp nail scissors, or using an emery board to file the nails shorter and smooth. Another alternative would be to let his nails grow a bit longer, and don't clip off too much so you won't get close to the skin.
My husband does it while my 4 yr old is asleep. She acts like a crazy lady if you even act like ur gonna clip them!
mine will let me if he is asleep if he is waking up that easy saying it hurts there may be something to it. its usually the noise scares them something is not right here
They're softer after the bath, or you could just file them down. Takes longer but there's no "cutting".
My son who is almost four does not like his nails clipped either. I make sure to use a small nail clipper or nail scissors. If you do it one time and cut it too short,they will remember. I asked him once why he did not like it and he said because you hurt me with the clipper. he freaks out when he sees the big ones. Also make sure to cut them after he gets out the tub so the nails are not as hard and it makes it easier to cut.
Mine doesn't like his toenails clipped either. I think it is mostly because he feels ticklish/uncomfortable, so I try to touch his feet/toes minimum possible. Sometimes I just clip the end of the nail and lift/peel off the rest. I also bought two nail files -one for him one for me- to file his big toenail. His pediatrician said it is much better to prevent breakages of the nail (which happens sometimes for his big toenails).
I also try to do it when he is in a good mood and watching cartoons or reading a favorite book :-) I keep reminding him that it will be over soon, there are only 4-3-2 etc. left.
Wait until he goes to sleep then clip his toe nails.
