Ask the Village: How to Cut Baby’s Nails

Welcome to Ask the Village where all of us moms come together to share our best tips, tricks, advice, and support to one another so we can all be each other’s village!

I recently asked on Instagram how in the world do you cut your baby’s nails when it seems like nothing is working?! And I got TONS of great ideas, plus tons of messages asking me to share because you were in a similar boat. Sharing all the knowledge below!

Most common tip: electric nail filer – doesn’t hurt baby so no worry if they move or squirm, and they often are interested in it so you can get them to sit long enough to file their nails. For us personally, we LOVED the electric nail filer when he was younger, but he no longer will sit for me to do it. However, I do recommend it. It was wonderful!! Here is a link for the one we have that we love (I actually got a second for myself I loved it so much lol)

To be honest, so many mom’s recommended it I may try again. Perhaps he’ll be more interested in it now and it will work again!

We switched to a nail clipper since they’re quicker – this one is AMAZING. Will never use another. We previously used a different baby one and I cut him badly a few times. Like so bad. This one has a little window so you can see where you’re cutting and is shaped in a way so you can’t cut baby. I never have cut him even a little and have used it tons!!! It’s the best.

Other’s suggested nail cutting scissors for more precision.

Distract/Keep Attention Elsewhere! This was another piece of advice (usually with them in your lap). Lots of ideas on what works for other babies:

• Counting to 10 – with every number count the nail
• Sit outside
• Singing a favorite song, or making up a silly song for it
• Make it a game – bounce them after each nail
• While having a bottle, or right after a bottle so they’re milk-happy
• Do it while reading a book (or while someone else is reading a book)
• Give them a toy to hold with the other hand
• Just have someone else apart of the routine distracting in whatever way they can
• Give them something to hold in the other hand they don’t normally get
• Make funny noises with each clip

Put them in a bouncer with a show, in front of a window, or with music

Show them what you’re doing and explain the process and/or cut your own nails and make a big deal of it so they want to be apart of it too

Let them “help” clip yours or their own

Do it in the bath or right after the bath when they’re in a towel (nails are softer/baby is calmer)

Do it in their car seat (while asleep if they take car naps)

Baby wear having them facing outwards and do it then (outside or with some distraction)

Screen time (what we used to do but Ms Rachel stopped working for us 😂 )

• Ms Rachel
• Hey Bear
• Blippi

Sneak a nail or two when you can and just get it done throughout the week

A lot of moms suggested biting them off 😂

Do it every day (even if for pretend) so then it becomes apart of their regular routine and they get more used to it

While sleeping (I’ll be honest I don’t understand the logistics of this one but some moms swear by it!)

Use a nail file – this thumb one was a common recommendation

Sit behind them and hug them and wear a long sweatshirt to hide the clippers in the sleeve when not in use

I hope this gives you some new ideas to try. Comment below if you have any others!