cutting nails

[lorryw]

Does anyone have any ideas as to how I can cut my sons nails as short as possible without causing him too much distress. Are nail clippers better than scissors?

many thanks

Loraine

[Mumble]

I don't know about your son, but I HATE nail clippers because of the noise and vibrartion they make when they clip. So I use scissors, but, despite knowing that there's no nerves in nails it still hurts - same as having a hair cut. I think distraction and bribary may have to be an option - fav. DVD and fav. food.

[bid]

Would an emery board be any better?

 

Bid

[brooke]

my HV said to cut them when they are asleep- would that be poss?

[Flora]

I wait until they've had a bath or a shower, when the nails are softened by the water. They are much easier to cut when they are water softened which gives you a bit more control.

 

I detest nail clippers too... the noise and the fear of snipping into a bit of skin...at least with scissors you can stop straight away, but with clippers... well once you've clipped there's no going back!

 

Flora

[lorryw]

Thanks for the replies.

I wont even attempt using clippers, I hadnt thought of the noise and vibration, thanks Mumble.

I will have a little go with an emery board Bid. He has suddenly started digging in his nails on the staff at his day care centre and they have asked for them to be cut as short as possible. He doesnt do it at home.

thanks guys

Lorainexx

[lynne]

I wait for my son to be asleep and than I just put a little clip with scissors or clippers on the edge of each nail. Than when I am able I pull each nail off where it has been clipped. (If that makes sense).

[oxgirl]

My lad is a nightmare with toenail clipping! We don't need to bother about his finger nails, 'cos he bites them right back, but when I clip his toenails he screams the place down, cries and whimpers like anything! Like Mumble has said, he says it hurts him. I don't think it's the clippers that hurt, it's me holding his toes that he hates, but I have to hold them steady when I'm doing it! It takes every ounce of his willpower not to run screaming from the room, but he still squirms mightily. He's not as bad as he used to be, thank goodness, or I'd never be able to hold him. Now, it's just a matter of me getting on with it and him having to put up with it for a few mins. I tell him the stiller he stays the quicker I can be. He refuses to try doing it himself, which would be the answer really.

 

~ Mel ~

[Mumble]

I forgot to say, I think it is worth pursuing to get them cut. I had terrible trouble with my toe nails probably till I was in early secondary and cause I wouldn't cut them/have them cut (though I did peel them off sometimes ) I ended up with really bad ingrowing infected toes and had to go to hospital several times to have them 'drained' :sick:

 

I don't suppose there is such a thing as a specialist children's chiropodist, is there? I was just wondering, because I know they have them for various people, for instance people with diabetes.

 

The only problem I have with nails now it that I hate having nails so I tend to cut them too short, beyond the whites and then they hurt.

[ScienceGeek]

I hate nail clippers. The nail clippers hurt, I tend to bite back my finger nails. I regularly forget to do my toe nails though and normally use scissors after a bath but still wince and squirm when doing them.

[Lynden]

Will they do it at school? Our school nurse will do things like nails as its often easier there as some kids might not play up as much.

 

Logan is still little enough that I just sit on him (well not actually sit on him, but ykwim!) to do it but he HATES it.

 

Lynne x

[krystaltps]

This is a huge issue with C as well. We tried doing it when he was asleep, but he woke up and totally freaked out, resulting in a massive meltdown.

With him, the pain comes from the little bit of skin that the nail used to cover - any form of contact for a few hours after cutting seems to be particularly painful. So we resort to plasters to protect this.

We do it before a bath or shower, so that we can soak the plasters off afterwards. We aim for one nail a week to lessen the trauma... but it doesn't always work this way.

Bribery for the haircut - one haircut = a trip to the swimming pool.

He actually prefers the nail clippers as they're smaller and seem less dangerous to him - he won't even let the hairdresser use scissors and his hair has to be cut using the clippers alone.

Edited February 9, 2008 by krystaltps

[dooday24]

reece has a real issue with having his finger nails and toenails bein cut tried nail clippers but ended up cutting him

also has fungal infections in his toe nails as will not bath and ends up wearing same socks for days

docs arnt too worried about it have given me creams and sprays but wont let me anywhere near them!!!

so have been told just to keep an eye on them!!

also need to keep his nails short as gets dirt under them and he scratches peaple and the scratches end up infected

so end up just pinning him down to cut them as nothing else works with him tried bribery!!

love donnaxxx

sorry not very helpfulxx

[lorryw]

Thanks for all the replies.

My lad is 22 and for all those stuggling with little ones who hate having there nails cut, does get better!

He will let me cut his nails but its just difficult to get them to a "safe" level to prevent him digging them into people at daycare. He doesnt do it at home and I am quite disappointed that he has started doing this after only a few weeks there. I really thought they would have all the answers but you live and learn its never that easy.