Hi Moms,
I need some tricks! My daughter has never liked getting her finger/toenails cut. We'd never cut her or had anything that I would call a painful experience, but she freaks out and says it hurts. For a while we have been cutting them when she sleeps, but she's waking up now and it's a disaster. We've resorted to having to pin her down to do it. By the the time we finish we are all crying-it's awful. Please-any ideas? We've tried showing her on us, having her watch a movie, rewarding her after we (kicking and screaming) finally do get one cut with candy, and eventually yelling at her--nothing works and every time her nails get long i am sick my stonach that we have to go through this all. HELP!
Have you ever let her try doing it herself?
My son was the same way and what worked for us was I told him he had two choices:
1. Let us do it.
2. The doctor will do it with a knife with a loooooooong blade.
He let us do it. Mean? Yes. Did it work? First time!
My son started cutting his when he was about 3, so maybe she'd be happier to cut her own???
Also, if you use a soft nail file, you can file a nail until it is short enough. Maybe even give her one of her own--the colorful ones with designs on them.
Is this the only area she is strong willed in? If so, she may just have some kind of phobia, and hopefully she'll outgrow it. I guess I wouldn't worry too much if her nails are not hindering her or scratching anyone. If everyone ends up in tears, it seems like it may be a situation to address when she's a little older, again, if no one is getting hurt by them (and if the other suggestions don't work).
Would you consider promising her some (super light pink) nail polish if she cooperates? Or some of those tiny nail stickers with clear polish over them?
Hi A.,
My (similar-aged) daughter also hates having her nails cut, but it sounds like you have it a lot worse than we do.
Lately, we have been painting her nails as a reward for cutting them (which she really likes, and is usually more compliant).
I don't know whether that would work for your daughter, but it's worth a shot.
Best,
R.
When I take out the clippers and start on my own nails my kids come running because they want thiers doen too. I hand them the baby clippers and let them give it a try. After a while, they hand them back to me for me to finish.
You're lucky. SInce yours is a girl, you can just make it part of a maincure. Play beauty shop with her. Soak her hands in warm water, drag out all the nail polish and nail files and make clipping part of the beauty treatment. Finish with lotiont just like the real thing and next time she will beg you to clip her nails!
Dear A.: It may go against everything you're comfortable with, but give her the nail clippers. Let her hold them and play with them, let her "trim" the nails on her dolls or stuffed animals, and even (gulp!) let her "trim" your nails and her own nails. Letting my own son learn about clippers via his own experience made him much more cooperative about me trimming his nails. Honestly, it's hard right now for him to actually make the clippers work properly -- he's never actually cut my nails or his own -- but he thinks he's doing it. BTW, I make sure to trim my son's nails w/o my husband in the room b/c, bless his heart, my tactic would completely freak him out! PS: As a credit to my husband's caution, do absolutely make sure your daughter is sitting up when you give her the clippers. Once, when my son was about 1.5 yo, I stupidly let him hold the clippers while he was prone...OMG he put them in his mouth...you never saw a mom flip over a toddler as fast as I did! And no harm done.
Have you tried doing it after or during a bath while they are wet?
I've always had to force mine when they went through that stage. I do it quickly and matter-of-factly. After awhile they just accepted it.
My 11 year still hates it and she has brutal hang nails that also need attention. So, like a coward, I do it while she is sleeping
