Your Ultimate Newborn Nail Care Guide

While a baby’s nails are soft and flexible, they can be ragged and incredibly sharp if left untrimmed for too long. Since newborn babies can’t control their movements yet, they are likely to scratch their delicate faces. 

Here are some care tips for newborn nails to help you keep your newborn baby’s nails healthy. 

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Newborn Nails Care Tips 

• Clean the baby’s feet, hands and nails using a mild body wash during regular bathing.
• Use a nail file to safely shorten and smooth the nails. 
• You can also trim nails carefully with baby nail scissors that have blunt rounded tips. You can also use baby nail clippers.
• Avoid using adult-sized nail clippers as you may accidentally clip the tip of the baby’s finger or the toe instead of the nail.
• A newborn’s nails grow quickly, so you may need to cut the fingernails once a week.  While their toenails need to be cut only a couple of times per month.
• The best time to trim your baby’s nails is after a bath. This is because the nails are soft immediately after a bath. You can also trim your baby’s nails while he/she is asleep. Have someone hold your baby if you trim the nails while he/she is awake.
• Ensure you have adequate light to avoid any accidents.
• Press the finger pad away from the baby’s nail so that you avoid getting the clipper or scissors around the sides of the nail and don’t end up nicking the skin. Hold your baby’s hand firmly as you clip. 
• If you do nick your baby, avoid putting a bandage on it as it can come off and your baby can end up choking on it. What you can do is rinse the cut under cool water and immediately wrap a tissue around the finger or toe while holding it with a little pressure until the bleeding stops. The bleeding usually stops within a few minutes.
• Use a nail filer to round the fingernails at the corners and prevent sharp edges. As for the toenails, cut them straight across.
• Avoid biting off your baby’s nails as this might introduce germs into any small cut either on your baby’s toe or finger.

As a new parent,  you will soon learn how to keep up with the job of newborn nail care. Remember that a newborn’s fingernails grow rapidly and you will likely need to trim them at least once a week.

Cover image credit- Scary Mommy