Any creative ideas on how to trim fingernails/toenails on a 13-month old? Used to never be a problem, but now he doesn't want you near his hands/feet when he knows what you are about to do.....it takes both my husband and I to do this, and it's still not easy!!! :-)

Melissa - posted on 01/19/2009

The best time to do it is when your baby is asleep, it always worked for my two boys.

Elizabeth - posted on 01/19/2009

I found it easier to do their nails when they were asleep, and they are less likely to pull away from you

Claire - posted on 01/18/2009

Hi i do find doing this task while they are sleeping is the best way but i have found that most childrn just do not like the clippers as it worries them so what has bin agod send for me is a nail file even when my 4 mounth is awake he will let me do it if i use a nail file but if i try with clippers hw will not. this has help many other mum and dads so i hope it helps you love claire x

Mae - posted on 11/30/2008

We went through that too, it's sooo not fun. We found that putting her in her car seat and buckling her in (usually right before we go somewhere) we'll strap her in and it's a lot quicker to trim up her nails cause she can't wiggle away.

Jess - posted on 11/29/2008

I try to get my daughter's nails when she is taking a nap. I can usually get 90% of them done and then it just takes a second when she is sitting in my lap to do the last one. Also, if she is awake, I have her sit in her little chair and we count the number of clips it takes to do each nail. Good way to teach her numbers!

Natalie - posted on 11/28/2008

I file my daughter's nails (been to scared to actually clip them). Now that she's 14 months it has been harder. What I've found is that while she's watching her fave show (4 Square or Thomas The Tank) it's so much easier because she's too into the show to even care. It takes me 10 mins to do her fingers AND toes.

Kate - posted on 11/17/2008

I just wait till my son is asleep and then there is no problem.

Francesca - posted on 11/14/2008

My Son Harley Was Born In 26th September 2007,Time Does Fly. Its Always been hard to do his nails,so i leave it to my partner to do it now lol harley gets very stroppy when we try & Do it x

Laura - posted on 11/13/2008

I agree with all the ones talking about using praise or making it fun somehow (funny sounds, etc) so that they start to associate it with something pleasant and less resistant. Also, I have demonstrated by clipping my own nails and let her play w/ the clippers a bit (she likes to do anything mommy does). Then she was actually interested in me cutting hers.

Lisa - posted on 11/13/2008

i tend to do my daughters nails when she is either asleep or just woken up it take two of us one to sit with her and the other to cut doesn't bother her she just watches what im doing good luck chic x

Elizabeth - posted on 11/13/2008

when he is a sleep or playing in the bath

Amy - posted on 11/12/2008

I trimmed my first daughter's nails when she was asleep. She wasn't afraid, just so curious. . .she'd want to hold the clippers.

Donna - posted on 11/12/2008

I bite my daughter's finger nails. I know it sounds strange, but that's why my mom did for all 3 of us kids.

Jana - posted on 11/12/2008

That was what happened to me lately to my 13 month old daghter. now the only possible way to cut her nails is when she is asleep.

Raquel - posted on 11/07/2008

You're more than welcome Susan, glad I could help!

Carli - posted on 11/07/2008

I can only trim my daughter's nails when she's in a deep sleep because she will NOT hold still for me any other time! She's about 14 months

Susan - posted on 11/07/2008

I tried Raquel's advice and it worked! Thanks!

Diane - posted on 11/07/2008

Do them when he falls asleep!!

Stacey - posted on 11/07/2008

my daughter loves to play with a spoon and a bowl. So to clip her nails, I usually let her stand on a kitchen chair and play with a spoon and bowl with one hand, and clip the nails on the other... then rotate. She's so distracted by the spoon and bowl that it (usually) works!

Elaine - posted on 11/07/2008

I trim my daughters while she is asleep. Guess this would depend on if your little one is a light sleeper or not. Good luck!

Jen - posted on 11/07/2008

I put my son in his highchair and turn on his favorite show!

Kelly - posted on 11/05/2008

i find its beat to do it when he is sleeping. his one now so he is his own person and is building his own boundries. for the first year of a childs life they believe they are a part of there mum. then they turn one and watch out ha ha

Meaghan - posted on 11/05/2008

I put my son in his high chair with a snack and turn on his favorite show(helps if you have dvr). I cut one hand while he snacks with the other and then I swithch. His toes are no problem because he can't even see them and is distracted with his snack and show!

Candice - posted on 11/05/2008

i know what you can do! my son is also 13 months. i Rock him to sleep with a bottle or with a blanket anything that he loves then i clip his finger nails and toe nails he never never knows. i hope this really helps let me know!

Raquel - posted on 11/05/2008

I make funny sounds while I'm doing it. As I am grabing the finger and lining up the nail I'm going "sss ssss ssss ssnnnnnn" and as the nail comes off I say "sssnnnip!!!!" and then do a bounce on my knee (I have them sitting on my knee facing away from me) they both think its pretty funny and I usually get all nails clipped doing this. :)

Susan - posted on 11/05/2008

I have the same problem. Thanks for asking the question. Now, I can read the advice everyone else gave. Good luck!

Cathrine - posted on 11/05/2008

To clip Thad's fingers and toes I have my husband hold him while I do the clipping. He doesn't fuss and just watches. It also helps you can make it seem like they are doing something huge by sitting still for you... "Yay! You're getting your nails clipped!!"... "Wow, you are such a big help sitting so still while mama clips your nails."..."You are being such a big boy..." etc... Also, before we sit down to clip, I let him check out the nail clippers. Might also help if he can watch you or your husband trim your own nails a few times.

Kristen - posted on 11/05/2008

hah! i usually give addison the phone or remote control to distract her while i do that. good luck, i know its not fun.

Monica - posted on 11/05/2008

This might sound really bad, but TV! My son used to let me cut his fingernails, but all of a sudden started fighting it, I had on Sesame street one morning and Elmo came on the screen, and that was it! He was so still and mesmerized I got to cut both his fingernails and toenails at once. So now I time his nail trimming sessions during Elmo's world. My two year old loves sesame street so we have it on a couple of times a week.

Megan - posted on 11/04/2008

One a day, if you have too. My baby loves a sucker I can do almost anything if I give her a dum-dum.

Tara - posted on 11/03/2008

my middle child was like that (still is sometimes) i would do them aft they fell asleep or give them a treat or fav toy while i did the toes. Distracting them was a hit or mis tech but if he has a fav movie or video to play that might distract him long enuf to do his nails that might work. good luck