Not a few young mothers are afraid to cut their baby's nails, especially newborns. However, if the baby's nails are left too long, this can cause the baby's skin to hurt from scratching. To prevent this, you can start learning how to cut your newborn's nails the right way.
Newborn nails tend to grow quickly, although they still look soft and supple. Therefore, many parents are hesitant or do not dare to cut their newborn's nails.
Not only because the nails are small and soft, cutting baby's nails can also be a cause for concern because babies can suddenly move when their nails are cut, so that they are accidentally injured.
How to Cut Newborn Baby's Nails
Mothers need to know the importance of keeping baby's nails clean and short. Baby's fingernails grow quickly, so you are advised to trim them at least once a week. Meanwhile, for slower-growing toenails, you can trim your nails every 2 weeks.
So that your newborn's nails can be cut properly and correctly, you can follow these tips and how to cut baby's nails as follows:
1. Use baby nail clippers
Because his fingers are still tiny, the size of a newborn's fingernails is also small. Therefore, mothers are advised to cut their little ones' nails with special baby nail clippers. Don't use adult nail clippers because they won't fit baby's fingernails.
2. Clip the nails when the baby is asleep
The best time to trim your newborn's nails is while he's sleeping so he doesn't move around much. Another good time to trim baby's nails is after a bath, because at that time baby's nails are softer and easier to trim.
If you want to cut your little one's nails when he's not sleeping, ask someone else to hold him and hold him so he doesn't move around a lot.
3. Find a comfortable position and place to cut baby's nails
When trimming a newborn's nails, find a position that is safe and comfortable to do so. The position that can be said to be ideal is a position that makes it easier for the mother to reach the little one's hand.
One of the positions that can be chosen is to clip the baby's nails while placing it on the lap. In addition, make sure you also cut your little one's nails with sufficient lighting. This is to prevent your little one's fingers from being injured due to being accidentally cut or stabbed.
4. Avoid cutting baby's nails too deep
When clipping baby's nails, press the tip of his finger downwards so he doesn't hit the nail clipper. Next, hold the baby's fingernails tightly and clip them thinly only at the top of the nail.
Do not cut your little one's nails too deep because it can injure his fingers. After that, file the edges of the nails so they are not sharp.
How to Take Care of Newborn Baby's Nails if Accidentally Injured
If you accidentally hurt your little one's finger while cutting his nails, try to stay calm and don't panic. There are several things you can do to treat injured baby nails, namely:
Clean the baby's injured finger
The first step you can do is to clean the wound on your little one's finger by rinsing it under clean running water. After that, gently apply pressure to the injured finger using a clean tissue or gauze, to stop the bleeding.
Avoid closing the wound on the baby's finger
When your child's finger is injured due to cutting his fingernail too deep, it is not recommended for you to use a bandage or wound plaster, except on doctor's advice.
This is because the tape comes off easily when wet and babies often put their fingers in their mouths, so it is feared that they might choke. Usually, the bleeding will stop within a few minutes after the wound is cleaned and pressed.
However, if the injured finger continues to bleed after the wound is cleaned, you should immediately take your child to the pediatrician.
Smooth and trim baby's fingernails
Also, don't panic if the edges of your newborn's nails fall off or break. This could be due to the soft texture of the baby's nails. If your little one's nails are broken, you can help gently remove the tips of the nails using your fingers, and of course after you wash your hands.
To be on the safe side, you can also use a nail file to smooth out uneven nail edges and keep baby's nails from getting too long.
Don't bite baby's fingernails
Don't bite your baby's nails to keep them short. This can lead to the entry of germs from the mouth, especially if it causes sores on the little fingers.
Mothers can put baby gloves on to prevent them from scratching their face or neck until they get hurt. In addition, the use of baby gloves can also prevent the little one from biting the tips of his nails, so that the bacteria attached to the nails do not enter the baby's mouth and cause infection.
If this is your first experience cutting your newborn's nails, there's no need to be nervous. Just do it slowly and carefully. As time goes by, Mother will get used to it and it will be easier for her to cut her little one's nails. how come, especially after he was 1 month old and his nails had started to harden.
