So, I clean my son's hands about daily. But somehow his nails are getting downright filthy. We're talking an 11-week-old, how does he even get dirty nails? Anyway I tried cleaning them with a nail brush, but that didn't manage to get under the nails. Of course any time I go near his hands he makes a tight fist so it's nearly impossible to get in there without feeling like I'm hurting him. Best thing I've found to do is to pick at them with my own nails while he's eating, and therefore more likely to ignore what I'm doing. Anyone have a better suggestion?
The highlighting hook is a fantastic idea. I may have to go buy a highlighting kit just for that! I should mention that this baby doesn't touch the floor, his toys are all cleaned before he uses them, etc. - so he's not touching anything dirty. It probably is stuff like lint from his blankets or our clothes.
I had the same problem. I was so glad to discover that after soaking in a bath, his nails kind of cleaned themselves. Around that age, I started to bathe with my baby - but this also works if you fill up a sink to around their middle. I could never understand where all the dirt came from either - I thought perhaps from scratching people's skin, but really I had no idea.
Make sure his nails are trimmed short. Wash your hands frequently and his as well. Alot of times babies tighten their hands and they get all kinds of stuff in their hands-lint etc. from their blankets or bedding etc. So check in the folds and creases of his hands too.
M
You should wash them more. If you only wash once a day at most, he is getting all kinds of germs in his mouth. Babies put their hands in their mouth which gets them wet and able to pick up more dirt and germs from the floor, the air, and anything else he may come into contact with. When I took my son to daycare at two months they started washing his hands after every diaper change, just like we do when we 'go potty.' Teach them young and they will carry the lessons throughout their lives. Also if you wash them more often, it is less likely there will be dirt under there. In the meantime, cut the nails short.
I never really had this problem with my children when they were babies. I would bathe them daily and just let them play in the bath tub a little longer than usual so their nails could soak in a tub. I hate trimming a babys fingernails because they are so small/thin. What I used to do was soak them in water or after a bath they are most soft, then use a nail file to file them down. try getting one of those "fun spout" covers that go on sink faucets and something fun in a soap dispenser, make it FUN for him to wash his hands alot. Then, maybe HE will come to you asking to wash them more often :) Though, washing too much can dry the skin out so make sure what you get has some kind of moisturizer in it maybe?
The little "crochet" hook that is used in home highlighting kits may do the trick for you. That is what I used on my baby. It is rounded enough to keep from poking, but tiny enough to get under their little nails. Also...cut them REALLY short.
Cut them very short while he's sleeping. Same goes for toenails too.
I just clip them short (gets rid of the dirty part of the nail) about once a week.
at that age, I use to take care of his nails when he was sleeping, or laying quietly on my lap. This way less chance of pulling away, etc. He is 11 months old now and so used to me doing his nails that he will sit and let me and watch. Anyway, if you keep them short, less stuff can get under them. I only noticed them looking slightly dirty under there when he would scracth himself. Does your baby scratch? I use my own nail.
Wait until he's sleeping and cut his nails then, I've always done it that way because I'm terrified my son will jerk his hand and I'll cut him if he's awake. When he's sound asleep I can do it faster, and he doesn't know the difference. If the nails are even a little bit grown out they will get dirty from lint, saliva, skin cells, and dust. Just keeping them trimmed will help a lot. They grow fast though! I swear, it seems like I trim my son's nails every other day sometimes! Don't worry so much about "washing" your baby's hands. What you are doing is enough, especially at only 11 weeks. We are too germaphobic as a society, and babies need to be exposed to a little dirt every now and again, and unless it's something disgusting like poop, his regular bathing schedule should be adequate.
I used to cut my son nails when he fell asleep in the car seat. I still do this and he's 3 now.
