The time of breastfeeding or the baby’s deep sleep will be your best friends at that time.

The arrival of a baby brings mixed feelings for the parents. Along with the happiness of having him in your arms after months of waiting, there are also insecurities.

And for first-time parents, the situation is even more delicate, as it is the first time in many situations, such as having to cut the baby’s nail.

1. There is no right time

Do you know the motto that “each case is different”? It fits perfectly when it comes to trimming a baby’s nail. That’s because there is no exact time for parents to start trimming it. It is necessary to be aware of the demands of each child.

Some babies can even be born with a longer nail and end up scratching themselves in the maternity ward. This causes the first cut to be made right there. As for other babies, the moment may take a little longer to arrive.

Therefore, the main rule among experts is: nails should be cut as soon as they start to scratch.

2. He needs to be calm

To ease the moment that can bring a lot of tension to parents for fear of hurting their children, pediatricians advise to cut babies’ nails when they are calm, without making sudden movements.

The best moments end up being when the little one is asleep, already in the deep sleep stage, or when he is being breastfed – either at the mother’s breast or in the bottle.

3. Which utensil to use?

For thinner nails, where parents only need to trim chips that have come loose on their own, doctors recommend the use of files. However, it is important that they are specific for babies and be sterilized with alcohol 70.

As for nail cutting itself, parents can choose between specific children’s clippers or baby scissors, which have a rounded tip. Both must be sanitized before use.

4. The cut

For parents who are afraid of hurting their baby right now, be aware that there are some tips that can help them.

To make it easier to understand where the nail should be cut from, the doctor explains that parents should gently press the baby’s nail root. This will make the white part, which will be removed, look sharper in contrast to the reddish tinge that appears all over the nail when squeezing it.

5. Fingernails are different from toenails

As for the feet, experts explain that parents should make the cut of the nails straight, and not as close as the hands.

 This means that it is also not recommended to keep bulging the sides with sandpaper after cutting the nail straight. It’s worth taking some leftovers out of the front if the cut has been crooked, but as much as possible avoid moving the corners.

6. Get hurt, no despair

Even with all the care, small accidents can happen at this point – like the scissors slipping out of the parents’ hand, or finding that you are cutting in one place and going a little further.

If that happens, know that it’s okay to be nervous. But it is necessary to take a deep breath and regain calm, as the situation is more common than you think.

With calmer spirits, focus on washing the baby’s wound with soap and water. If it still bleeds after that, experts suggest pressing the cut with a cotton or a baby’s own diaper.

If you liked the tips, leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you!