Cutting your child’s nails doesn’t have to be a fight. Try these tips to cut the stress out of cutting your child’s nails.
- Buy a good pair of clippers/scissors so that you can get the job done faster and easier. Dull tools will only make your job harder. See suggested products below.
- If your child is a heavy sleeper, try cutting nails while your child is asleep.
- Cut nails after they have been softened in the bath, and the nails will be far easier to work with.
- Be careful not to cut nails too short. Your child will remember it hurting and will be less likely to cooperate the next time.
- Try cutting a single nail per day so that your child knows it will be over fast and will be more willing to cooperate.
- Try filing nails instead of cutting. Or use scissors instead of clippers, or vice versa.
- Use distraction to your advantage and cut nails while your child is glued to their favorite part of their favorite movie.
- Double team the nail cutting job. One person can hold or distract the child while the other person does the cutting.
- Let your child watch you cut your own nails whenever you do, to normalize the process and lessen any fears.
- If the child is old enough, let them try cutting or filing their own nails, so they have more control and less anxiety. Be happy even if the job isn’t perfect.
- When all else fails, offer a reward for holding still or helping to get the job done. An M&M as each nail is completed, or a Dollar Store prize at the end, can make all the difference. ©
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