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Caring for your baby’s nails is an important part of being a parent. While adults have the awareness necessary to understand that long fingernails can lead to scratches, most babies won’t understand this concept, and that’s why it’s important that you keep your baby’s nails trimmed and in good condition. Because baby’s lack the muscle control that we have as adults, they’re likely to scratch themselves while waving or playing. Not only can this cause pain, but it can also lead to one fussy baby. Fortunately, you can protect your little one by creating a good nail care kit that includes essentials, such as baby clippers and creamy baby oil, and using it on a regular basis.
Creating Your Baby Nail Kit
To successfully trim your baby’s nails, you’ll need to create a good nail care kit. It’s actually a good idea for you to create two of these, so that you can take one with you in your diaper bag when you’re out of the house. Your baby nail kit should include:
- Baby nail clippers
- Creamy baby oil
- Baby nail file (emery board)
- Gauze
While you might think that there’s real need to purchase a special set of clippers, you’ll need to keep in mind that baby’s fingers and nails are much tinier than your own, and that your best chance of protecting your baby while cutting his or her nails is to use a smaller set of clippers designed specifically for those teeny tiny hands. With the small clippers, you’ll actually be better able to cut along the shape of the nail and prevent any ouchies from happening. You’ll also want to have oil in your kit to ensure that your baby’s cuticles and nail are soft and shiny once you’re gone, and gauze will help if you accidentally nip your wriggling baby during the process of trimming his or her nails.
Tips for Dealing with a Grumpy Baby
While there are some babies out there who don’t mind having their nails trimmed, others despise it and will start crying or even screaming when you bring the nail clippers out. This might make you nervous about cutting your baby’s nails, but you have to find a way around it to make sure that your baby’s skin is safe and in good health. What often works best for parents is to hold off on doing this task until baby is in a good mood. Try the nail trimming process when your baby is watching a video or has just been playing with a new toy. The better the mood your baby is in, the greater chance you’ll have of success. You might also try to trim your baby’s nails when he or she is napping. You have to be pretty sneaky to do this, but it works for a lot of parents and it could do so for you.
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