Advice on Clipping Active 14-Month-old's Nails

Hi,
I always found it easier to cut my sons nails when he's sleeping. I wait 15 minutes til he's in a deep sleep and then cut them. This way I don't have to worry about him moving. Hope this helps!

Try cutting his nails when he's sleeping or straped in his car seat - both have worked for me. Good luck.

I always switch the TV on...Oliver doesn't really see it that often, but for cutting nails always, it takes me than about 30 seconds!!! good luck
L. Olivers mom 13.5 month

Your best bet is to clip and file your son's nails while he's asleep. That was the only way I could manage my very active daughter's nails until she was old enough to understand the concept of keeping still for me to trim them...and even then it was a challenge because she was so impatient!

I did my sons nails when he was sleeping. They didn't know what was going on. Just make sure you have able light in the room. I clipped a little too short once when there wasn't enough light from the nightlight.

Have you tried doing it while he is sleeping?

When my kids would still fall asleep on my shoulder I cut nails while they were sleeping. Now I let them see me cut my nails, and the older kids nails. Then when it's my 23 month olds turn it's a breeze. I sit him in my lap and tell him it's time to cut his nails. He loves to have it done. I tell him everything I'm doing. If he is ready to stop after 3 or 4 nails then I let him go, and we finish later. He's always happy to come back and sit with me to cut more nails. Just try not to pick a time when he would prefer playing. I still cut my 12 month olds nails while he is sleeping on my shoulder. Nap time is the only time he falls asleep in my arms.

The best advice I got on this subject has worked well for me.

I wait until he is asleep in the crib and then i do it while he is sleeping. Have not had a problem with it since.

Hi K.,

I have two active kids and had a hard time with nails for both. I picked a consistent time of day to cut their nails. I chose the morning while they were watching TV. There was no breakfast until nails were cut. We also chose a day of the week (you may need more than one) and it was Mondays. They eventually learned the routine and were no longer so active or against it and now are peaceful and easy as we clip.

Good luck

Hi! Try clipping his nails while he's asleep. This may work better. Or, if you can make a game out of it by singing and acting silly while you clip them. Good luck!

I used to clip my daughters nails when she was sleeping... she was a very sound sleeper!

the best time to clip- i have found- is when they are engulfed in a tv show while strapped into a high chair.
they don't really pay too much attention to you and you know they're not going to run off. hope this helps. also, you may want to try singing a song, like the ABC's, if your child gets antsy.

Wait until he goes to sleep or give him an ipod or cd walkman to listen to while clipping. Let him know that he only gets it when his nails are being clipped.

Hi K.,

With me first son, I cut them while he slept. My second son is not a sound sleeper and doing it while he's asleep is not an option. I've been struggling with this for awhile (even with my husband holding him down doesn't work)but the other day while at the bus stop, my next door neighbor was waiting with her grandchildren. She noticed his nails and the scratch on his nose (a bit embarrassing) and she told me to do it while he was sleeping. I explained to her that it doesn't work and she told me to bring his clippers the next day and she would do it. So, I did and sure enough he sat there without moving a muscle while she clipped his nails! He was mesmerized by her- maybe because he didn't know her well? She did it so well that they didn't need to be cut for a week.

Maybe a friend or relative (or a stranger, lol) can help out if you don't mind someone else doing it. Or putting him in a stroller for a walk and maybe the traffic or trees will distract him enough to get some good clips in.

Good luck.

I know how you feel. After cutting my baby's skin, I pointed it out to my doctor. She suggested cutting them the "natural" way and biting them off. It sounded a little gross at first, but it is fast and painless and you can wash his hands after. She also said to remember each time they need a trim to remember how fast your little one is growing up and cherish him.

I had two little active boys and I also had the same problem still do at times. I cut my sons nails when they are sleeping. Maybe at nap time or in the evening when he is out for the night. I hope this helps good luck:)

Have you tried to do his nails while he is sleeping? That was the only was I could do it when my daughter was little!

Have you tried to do it while he sleeps?

i had the same trouble with my son. so hat i would do is wait till he was asleep go in with a small flashlight that i could hold between my teeth and file or cut his nails. worked evry time. now that he is 5 i dont have to do that anymore.

I find it helps to hold my daughter's wrist with a washcloth at the end of her bath -- her nails are soft and easier to clip, but her wet wrist can't slip out of my hand.

For toes -- I have read that doing it while they're in the highchair makes it easier.

My son is 2 now and I used to clip them while he slept until maybe 7 or 8 mos that stopped working because he'd wake up. I started putting him in his bouncy seat and put a musical toy on the side I wasn't cutting to distract him. Then I'd clip as quickly as I could. When he got a little older (maybe 14 mos on or so), I'd sit him in his Elmo chair in front of the tv with one of his favorite videos to distract him. If he'd fuss, I'd tell him I'd turn it off until he let me cut his nails and I was finished. Knock on wood, this has been working well and he's used to the routine. Other times I've had him strapped in his high chair with a portable dvd player or the tv to distract him while I cut his nails. Hope this helps and best of luck!

up until recently it was a battle pretty much everytime... and now about every 3rd time it's still a battle. my dd is 25 months old. our strategy had been that my dh holds her in his lap and reads to her while i clip her nails.

good luck!

I agree with the other moms that say to wait until he's sleeping. I had to do that with my son. Just make sure that he's in a deep sleep before attempting it.

The best time I have found to cut my daughters nails are when she is napping in the car.

I think that's a common struggle. I stopped trying to distract my 22 month old son, and just restrain him pretty much:) I sit him between my legs and hold him tight and clip. He tries to get away, and I tell him no, and keep explaining the process. He seems to understand and goes with it after a bit of struggle.

Have you tried cutting/filing his nails while he's napping/sleeping??

Have you ever tried cutting them when he's asleep? That's what we used to do. good luck!

hi K., i used to wait till my daughter was asleep before i clipped her nails. its worth a try.

Our son would not let us cut his nails until he was about three. We waited until our son was asleep, then we cut his nails.

Hi i'm S., insted of clipping my childrens nails I would nibble them. It sounds gross but it works, you can't get to low to there skin and cut them and they'll want to watch what your doing.If all else fails wate untill there asleep.(:

Try doing it when he is sleeping or bite them after a bath i know it sounds a little nasty but i could never see well enough to do them with clippers without cutting my kids...hope this helps...P.

i always did (and still sometimes do) it while my little guy is napping. there's a good long stretch when nothing will rouse him so i take advantage of that.

another thought... nowadays he likes to "cut" his nails too when we're doing it so we give him another pair of clippers that he plays with while we do the real thing. still, this can be a 2 person job if he's not in the mood.

hi, all i can say is do it when he's sleeping. my daughter is 19 months and just started letting me clip hers, if i clip mine 1st to show her..and tell her how pretty when i do hers, all ooo's and aaaa's. but i'm not sure how to get a boy to enjoy it...so i'd say just do it when he's sleeping like i had to when she would fight like i was tryin to cut of fingers lol. just make sure he's completely out, and there will be NO problems! gl.

Hi K.,

I have had the same problem when my daughter was little. I resorted to trimming her little nails while she slept at night. I would creep into her room a few hours after she fell asleep and trim them. She never woke up and I got her nails trimmed. :)

Best regards,
Cathy

When my children were toddlers, I always clipped their nails when they were sleeping- for just the fact that they were so active. If he takes a bath just before bedtime, his nails will be softer, and easier to clip without waking him. Good luck, hope that helps.

My son is just as active and his nails grow at an alarmingly rate. Wish mine did the same. My advice is after you bathe him they'll be soft for a while and once he falls asleep its alot easier to cut them and clean when needed. Works for me hope it works for you.

My son is 13 mos old and I clip his nails when he is sleeping.
It's the only way to ensure he won't pull away and cause an injury.

Don't clip,,,,, file! Do a little at a time.. No chance of cutting fingers or leaving jagged edges. They make filing pads for just this purpose...

Try clipping them when he's asleep.

Hi K.,

I aim for 1 nail a day... sigh. I know it is hard. My son is 16 months. If I can get one nail or even two, I'm good... and then next day the same. Sometimes, and this might seem gross, when my son is sleeping or nursing I grab a finger and nibble the sharp end off myself. the toes I can't get cut at all... On a lucky day I'll get one hand done while I keep jumping up and playing peek aboo from the floor while he is on the changing table. Good luck!!!

H.

the only way i can do my sons nails is when he falls asleep in the car....then i get out and do it...otherwise its impossible for me...good luck

Clip your sons nails when he is sleeping

Hi K.,
I had the same problem with my girls for the longest time..
To distract them, I now give them a favorite toy or something like the phone or t.v. remote control to hold with the other hand and I learned to cut the nails rather quickly!
Good luck!

Hi K.,

have u tried doing it while he's asleep? My 18 mo. old won't let me cut his nails so, I wait untill he's deeply asleep and that works just fine for us. Good luck!

I tried everything to keep him occupied, but for the last 3 months, I sit my 20 month old on his dresser so he thinks it is something different. I let him play w/ the CD cases, radio and sound spa. I get to do his toe nails and fingers and he's still busy when I'm finished. It works like a charm for me, and like I said, I tried a ton of different things. Give it a shot.

My 16 month old isn't too fussy when I cut his nails so I don't really need to calm him. I do however try to make it fun for him. I make a different noise for each nail. For example, when I cut the thumb nail I make a squeak and when I cut the forefinger I make a "boing" noise or whatever and so on. It makes him laugh!
J.

Hi K., I admit this is a problem. My daughter is 20- months old and quite strong so clipping nails is a chore. We have found that getting her just after she wakes from a nap and is still a bit groggy and then I put on her favorite video. This generaly works long enough to get through both hands and sometimes feet. Good luck what works with one kid does not always work with others, so be creative. We have also clipped while she is sleeping.
S.

I am a mother of 3 now, with the youngest 5 years of age. What always worked with my kids was their favorite video with a lolipop. Two great distractions. Good luck and blessings!

I use to have the same problem with my daughter.

I did hers when she watched her favorite video/show (Teletubbies) or when she was in a deep sleep.

Otherwise, I couldn't do it.