Cleanliness is very essential for the wellbeing of your toddler. You must take every care of every aspect related to your toddler if you want her/him to grow up well. A lot of children have a habit of putting everything in their mouth. Thumps and fingers are one of them. Nails are known to contain a lot of germs. Therefore, sucking nails can result into the child falling ill.
Trimming nails is one of the ways you can take care of your child. Regular trim eliminates the possibility of your child falling ill because of germs. Trimming your toddler’s nails isn’t a simple task. In fact, some parents are afraid of doing it. It’s true you should be careful. However, this should be done because it is one of the numerous ways of taking care of your child. Let us start off by looking at tips on how to safely take care of your toddler’s nails:
Consider Filing Your Toddler’s Nails
Filing your toddler’s nail is the simplest ways of taking care of your toddler’s nails. The use of a file is recommended for parents who are afraid of trimming their child’s nails. There are different types of boards you can use when filing you toddler’s nails. However, focus your attention on an emery board. This board is recommended for toddlers because its texture makes it safe for little ones. Metal files can cause serious injuries on your loved one if not properly used.
Emery board takes time when compared to other filing boards. Therefore, you should be patient when using it on your young one’s nails. Be careful not to file your child’s tender skin beneath the nail.
The Use of Baby’s Nail Clippers
Your toddler’s body is very sensitive. This is the reason you should consider baby’s nail clippers. These clippers have been specially customized for young ones. Its design reduces the possibility of accidents occurring while you are trimming your little one’s nails. All clippers are operated the same. Place the clipper above the white line on your nails. This should be your guiding point to avoid clipping your loved one’s nails or finger. Hold your child’s hand as you clip her nails. Finally, you can use an emery board to smoothen your nail’s edges to avoid any form of injury.
Clip Your Child’s Nails When He/She Is Asleep
Some toddlers feel uncomfortable when their nails are being trimmed. Such young ones might cry out throughout the trimming process. Consider clipping your baby’s nails when he/she is asleep. You will have an easy time clipping your toddler’s nails when he/she is asleep. Clip the nails under adequate light to minimize the possibility of accidents occurring. Don’t forget to trim nail only above the white line.
Try and distract your little one if you must clip her nails when he/she is awake. Distraction prevents newborns from tightening the gap between their nail and fingertip. It also prevents them from clenching their fists. Alternatively, you can make your little one as comfortable as possible. A birth will get your child comfortable. It will also soften his/her nails.
Don’t Use Scissors
Some parents have a habit of using scissors for trimming nails. Well; this is risky especially for toddlers. The sharp points can hurt your little one if you are not careful. Consider round edged scissors if you must use them. Round edged scissors are recommended for toddlers. They can trim their nails with minimal risks.
Soften Your Child’s Nails
Water softens up nails within a short period. This procedure makes it easy to trim your toddler’s nails. Softening your child’s nails is recommended for new parents who have never trimmed their toddler’s nails before.
How to Properly Trim and Care Your Child’s Nails
Trimming your toddler’s nails isn’t simple as it sounds. It can be frustrating for new parents. Here are some times you can adopt with an aim of taking care of your child:
Consider Trimming Nails At Least Once a Week
Toddler’s nails grow fast, when compared to those of adults. Toddlers with long nail can scratch themselves or those near them. This might result into small cuts. There are instances where some toddler’s nails should be trimmed at twice a week. Fingernails grow faster than toenails. Toenails should be clipped at least once or twice a month.
Regularly Check under Your Child’s Nails
Nails are perfect breading grounds for germs. Short nails also accumulate dirt and germs. Regularly wash your child’s hands with some warm water. You can also use a wooden toothpick.
Your Toddler’s Nails Should Be Cut Straight Across
Clippers and round edged scissors can help you attain almost straight nail edges. Both toenails and fingernails should attain a straight cut. This reduces the possibility of your loved one developing hangnail, which is linked to infections. Focus only on toddler’s clippers for cutting your baby’s nails. Adult’s clippers increase the possibility of accidents occurring. Lastly, avoid biting your child’s nails. This statement applies to both toe and finger nails. Biting nails can transmit herpetic whitlow, mostly caused by herpes virus.
Smoothen Any Rough Edge with a File
There are instances, where some parts of your toddlers nail becomes rough. You should use an emery board to file these rough edges. Rough edges increase the risks of the baby hurting himself and those around him. Emery board is recommended for children because it is gently. It reduces the possibility of accidents occurring when filing your toddler’s nails. Emery board is effective and gets the work done. Direct the emery board towards one direction. Going back and forth can damage your toddler’s weak nails. Lastly, don’t file your toddler’s cuticles. They protect the nail root.
Regular Check of Your Child’s Nails
Checking your child’s nail helps you identify if they are growing healthy or if there is a problem. Visit a dermatologist if you notice brittle or dark streaks on your toddler’s nails. Regularly checking your child’s nails helps identify various infections at their early stages.
Drying and Moisturizing Your Child’s Nails
Nail care doesn’t end with trying. Well; there is more to this. Ensure your toddler’s feet and nails are completely dry. This reduces the possibility infection. You should also keep your child’s cuticles and nails moisturized. Simply apply some lotion on your child’s nails to moisturize them in places with dry air. Moisture protects the child’s nail from cracking.
Remove Any Hangnails
Hangnails are common among both adults and toddlers. This is mostly the torn skin located on the edge of a nail. Hangnails can hurt in toddlers. This is the reason they should be properly remove them. Hangnails are also linked to infection. Wash your child’s hand with soap and warm water before removing hangnails. This reduces the possibility of infections. Use either a clean clipper or scissor to cut off the hangnails on your child’s nails.
Dealing with Toddler’s Infected Nails
There are instances where toddler’s nails get infected. You should consult a doctor immediately you notice change on your child’s nails. Early detection and treatment can help contain the nail infection before it gets serious. Here are a couple of tips on how to deal with toddler’s infected nails once you notice any:
Place Your Nails inside Some Warm Salty Water
Be keen on the general outlook of your child’s nails. A drastic change in the color might indicate an infection. Be on the lookout for swelling around your child’s nail, redness or abscess around her nails. These are signs of bacterial infection. Bacterial infection can be treated with some warm salty water if detected early. Some bacterial infections heal on their own. The use of warm salty water hastens the healing process. Don’t use hot water. Warm water is recommended for toddlers because it doesn’t burn.
Consult a Dermatologist
Consult a dermatologist if there is no change on your child’s infected nails or the infection is spreading. You should consult your doctor before the situation gets out of hand and spreads. Doctors also have an easy time treating toddler’s nails infections.
Following Doctor’s Advice
Some doctors recommend antibiotics, whereas others issue different treatment options. Follow each procedure as highlighted by the doctor. This is the simplest and easiest way of dealing with toddler’s nail infections. Ignoring doctor’s instructions might slow down the healing process.
Trimming your toddler’s nails and keeping them neat is one of the numerous ways of taking care of your young one. There are specific things you should avoid while raising your child. First, avoid sharing your toddler’s nails clippers with other people. This increases the possibility of your child’s nails developing infections. Secondly, try and keep the surrounding environment as clean as possible. This minimizes the possibility of your child’s nails getting dirty. Use the above tips and efficiently take care of your toddler in terms of nails care and maintenance. Go through the tips before selecting any particular one for your baby.