Clipping a toddler's nails

Jenna - posted on 12/21/2010

I can only cut my baby's nails when she is asleep as I once caught her finger because she was wriggling so much...I am too scared to try again when she is awake!

Anna - posted on 12/21/2010

Two paper nail files. One for mum, one for daughter!

Renae - posted on 12/16/2010

I use small scissors as I find them easier to control than clippers. My 21 month old fights and screams and I am at the point of needing my husband to help hold him still so that I dont hurt him. They will grow out of it when they understand what we are doing (and can bribe them to stay still!).

Kristy - posted on 12/13/2010

I clip my 16 month olds nails after bath time when she is drinking her sippy cup right before bed.

Roisin - posted on 12/13/2010

we wear always told to bit the nail much safer!!

Sara - posted on 12/12/2010

I agree with the suggestion to pay attention to their mood... sleepy or distracted by a short movie is good. I also LOVE the Safety First brand "Sleepy Baby" nail clippers. They have a little light on them, so it's easier too see where you're clipping. I can't find them online to give you a link, but I buy them at Babies R Us. I've been using these for about 2 years with my toddler, and she liked to look at the light when she was a baby, and now she likes to press the button to turn off and on the light. So we make it a game now that she's 2 1/2.

Amber - posted on 12/12/2010

@Becky....We have to do the same exact thing with our son. Its a total battle to do it while hes awake. Its crazy how strong and will powered he is when it comes to clipping the nails. Good Luck i hope our son will get out of this one day.

Lydia - posted on 12/11/2010

the other day i did my daughters nails in the car... she is always so busy but in the car seat she needs to sit still... my husband was driving and i sat next to her clipping her nails ;-)

Becky - posted on 12/10/2010

we have to clip my son's finger and toe nails when he's asleep. the few times i tried to do it while he squirmed and fought i ended up cutting him to the quick on a few nails. we also had to cut his hair while he slept for awhile. now we have to have 2 people hold him down while the 3rd cuts his hair.

Sarah - posted on 12/10/2010

Snack in one hand while I clip the other nails and he watches a favorite show. He just turned two and it's not even a struggle anymore.

Mabyn - posted on 12/09/2010

My daughter would never sit still for me to clip her nails either and I would only get one at a time done and to get them all done would take like a week. By the time I got them all done it was time to start with the first one all over again! I found this video on you tube though ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2QYkLwEQ...) and although it's short and sometimes we have to watch it a second time, she sits still for the whole thing and doesn't even notice I'm cutting her nails. I think she liked it because of the babies. I hope this helps!

Jessica - posted on 12/09/2010

Clip her while she take a nap. that what i do with my 2 yr old

Zahra - posted on 12/08/2010

I have the same problem. I bite my sons finger nails and he looks at me like it hurts

Laura - posted on 12/08/2010

I sing when doing them, and if I can only get one finger at a time, that's okay, eventually, I'll get them all. if he sees me do my toes, he wants his done, but fingers are a bit trickier.

Dana - posted on 12/08/2010

Since she was an infant and even today at 18mths. I clip my daughters nails and toenails when she is nursing, switch sides and clip the other side. Works everytime.

Yesmine - posted on 12/08/2010

First let her see u do ur nails.. I do this with my son. She might start to like the idea of getting them clipped. I usually clip my sons when he's sleep or in the tub. When in the tub his nails are soft and it's kinda easier. Don't bite them bc she's might get the idea that biting them is ok

Lynne - posted on 12/08/2010

Do it when she is sleeping, or bite them off.

Brandy - posted on 12/08/2010

I show my 18month old daughter how I clip my finger nails and sometimes paint them. Then she wants me to make hers like mommys. That doesn't always work, only when her mood is right but you could give that a try. Like everyone else says, when they are sleeping is always easiest.

Lisa - posted on 12/08/2010

I play a counting game with my daughter (now 14 months), do the first one, say "one done, 9 to go" and make faces at the same time, carry on counting up and down as you do each nail. My daughter thinks it's hilarious, and it's teaching her numbers t the same time. She does get a bit fidgetty sometimes, but i just wait for her to settle down and carry on. I do it while she's sitting on the potty or her little chair so she can see what i'm doing too

Danielle - posted on 12/06/2010

My toddler loves getting his nails clipped he thinks the clipping sound is priceless. But my 3 month old on the other hand won't sit still. I have to do it while she sleeps otherwise she'd probably be missing a fingertip or two!

Gemma - posted on 12/05/2010

When she was tiny I just used my teeth. When she got bigger she watched while I did mine and daddy did his. We let her pretend to do ours for us (with the clipper closed) too. She's great about having hers done, she sits and holds her hands or feet out. She actually wants them cut all the time, lol.

Sabrina - posted on 12/04/2010

my son hated it untill he seen me do mines and his fathers then he wanted his done! monkey see monkey do it works with lots of things!

Rebekah - posted on 12/04/2010

My daughter, 18 months old, is awesome!! Yesterday she literally fell asleep while I was trimming her nails. The key for her is to trim them in her rocking chair right before a nap.

Hayley - posted on 12/04/2010

I used to use my teeth. Found it much easier and there was no risk of clipping fingers.

Melanie - posted on 12/01/2010

Thank you everyone, I will definitely try some of this out :)

Brittany - posted on 11/29/2010

My son is 15 months and he's usually pretty good about it but when he gets in those moods and won't let me clip them I just wait until he falls asleep.

Kat - posted on 11/28/2010

my son'll be 18 months in 2 weeks, and the only thing that works for him is to give something to distract him and work on his free hand. i tried in his sleep and almost cut his finger off. so i dont think it works for all kids. for his toes, i do it while he's eating in his highchair. he thinks its funny when i sit on the floor and clip his toes....he's weird.

Vicki - posted on 11/27/2010

I just do it when he is asleep. Usually I pick a day when we are driving home at nap time then clip his nails while he is still in the car seat. I attempted it once when he was awake and it wasn't going to happen!

Medic - posted on 11/27/2010

I just sit on my four year old and hold him with my legs. He has pretty much learned it is alot easier for him to just give me his hand and let me clip his nails.

Ashley - posted on 11/27/2010

my 3 yr old actually screams and cries in fear she is soo scared of anyone cutting their nails not just hers ... I have no clue how to help you sorry

Gina - posted on 11/27/2010

hi i have a 11 month old boy he used to squirm and wriggle all the time until i had enough so now i do it wen he is asleep much easier give it a try x

Megan - posted on 11/26/2010

I've always have done my kids nails when they were sleeping. I would carry a clipper in my bag so if they fell asleep in the car I could clip when we got to where we were going. Good Luck!

Tabby - posted on 11/26/2010

I have a 10 month old and she hates it... she wiggles all over the place and tries to take the clippers. I learned that it works best when she's either asleep (like a dead sleep) or when she's super tired but not cranky. I put on a movie she likes and she'll just slump against me in my lap and I hold her hand like nothing is going on and clip them slowly and quietly. If she happens to notice what I'm doing I'll stop and just hold her hand and when she turns back to the movie I continue... Good Luck!