What is the best way to cut baby nails? I cut my LO's (16 weeks) with a clipper but the other day I accidentally got a little skin and hurt her little fingers 
she paws at her eyes when tired and I'm afraid she will scratch herself. What works for you?
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Ugh I've cut LO twice
I find if she sits on my lap and faces away from me it's easier to control her and the angle is good.
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I had the most success after nursing when my son was asleep. Either that or after a car ride he fell asleep during and I would quietly get in the back and clip his nails.
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I use baby clippers from the Red Cross. I do sometimes get his skin, but it doesn't seem to bother him too much and I figure it's better than him gouging his eyes out. I also bite them off sometimes, but have an easier time with the clippers.
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I bit his nails while nursing (it was easiest for me). Now he doesn't let that happen and hubby clips the nails.
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Ugh, I was at zero incidents with two dogs and one baby until I cut LMW's nails a few weeks ago. Two of them wouldn't stop bleeding until I applied pressure for 10 minutes. Do you know what it's like to apply pressure to the tips of a 5 month old's fingers for 10 minutes? It was torture... for both me and her. I put neosporin all over and covered her hand with a sock for a day and it was as good as new. But I still felt so horrible.
I recommend clipping with a nail clipper VERY carefully (while they're eating is best) and then filing them down with a very fine nail file. My baby grooming kit came with a pack of tiny little files.
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I either bite his nails or file them with an adult nail file (baby nail files are worthless IMO).
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I use baby nail clippers and only do it when DS is asleep. Good light is key for me!
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Baby nail scissors while LO is asleep.
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I file them while he's sleeping, I'm too scared to use the file.
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I file them with an adult nail file. He used to fight it, but he likes to lay down on his changing pad and smile at me or play, so I take advantage of that time. I have to do it fairly often, but it's bonding time so I don't mind. Occasionally I'll file them while he's sleeping in his car seat.
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Two-person job. We use baby nail scissors--DH holds LO's arm and hand while I snip.
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When he was really little, I would wait until he was asleep after nursing. Now that he's six months, he's actually used to me doing them and will sit still for a few if I'm fast. I give him a teether toy to play with in one hand while I clip the other nails. I also tried to file once in a while, but I found that took longer.
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It takes a while to really get the hang of it. In the very beginning I also clipped her skin. The doctor told me to use a fileinstead but that didnt work for me. Iwould always wait till she was asleep.
Now I have to sing and making strange sounds to distract her while I do it.
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@littlek: I have those scissors too!
I like nail scissors. I think it's easier to get a closer cut without risking cutting the skin.
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Pull the skin back slightly and then clip. I find its best to do it while they sleep.
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I clip after she knocks out after nursing, but I just clip the corners off. then I file them down flatter later with a baby nail file! I'm terrified of cutting her.
my biggest thing is doing it near good lighting, and I kind of pull the pad of her finger down to expose more nail - so I can be double sure I don't accidentally clip her skin!
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i read somewhere that the best way to do it is to line up the bottom of the clipper with the underside of the nail and then press the top down, so you can be more certain that you won't clip the skin. a lot of people line up the top of the clipper with the top of the nail and press down, so that is when the skin gets easily clipped!
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@pelikila: sneaky mama! I'm going to have to try going to the backseat & catching him while he's sleeping in the carseat.
@autumn865: if you're that scared: try mits for now. If my lo's nails are too long and DH isn't home to help me hold him down, then I throw on his mits and just let him sleep until we can sit down & get his nails clipped.
Basically I nurse while DH cuts...then we file. -
@JessLC: this is what I do! I think I saw it on Geek in Heels' blog.
I use Safety 1st baby clippers. When he was younger I would just bite them but now it's easier to clip them. He gets pretty squirmy though so I usually cut one hand, wait 10-15 minutes, then cut the other hand.
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@Sammyfab: yes!! i thought it was ingenious! i read it while i was pregnant and remembered the technique...i haven't cut LO's skin yet, but i've only cut her nails three times!
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@Sammyfab: @JessLC: This is also what I have discovered as the best way!
Also, zoli makes an automatic buffer. My friend swears by it even for her pre-schooler since she's super scared to clip nails.
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