New Born Finger Nails

You really do need to get rid of the socks/mittens and find a way to shorten his nails. I never used those mittens with my 2 kids. I always clipped their nails, either right after a bath, or while they were sleeping. To this day, I clip my 2 yr old's nails right after a bath, while she is sitting in my lap and brushing her teeth (and otherwise occupied!). It is not the easiest task, but you have to get it done - as some mentioned they need to explore with their fingers and hands to begin to learn about their world, and also, you don't want bacteria/germs gathering under their nails, especially since they love to put their hands in their mouths!

Oh I'll probably get flamed for this but...

use a regular nail clipper. The baby nail clippers are too weak and are a pain in the butt because you have to push them 50 million times to actually clip through the nail. A regular clipper will clip the nails super fast. I have used this method since my first child was one month old and I've never cut too close to the skin or had an accident.

I used to buy the sleepers with no legs and they had mittens attached to the sleeper. It's more like the sleeve folds over to get a mitten type sleeve. Carter's carried them.

Just wanted to say that it is not recommended to have little babies wear mittens as they need to explore (with) their hands. That may be why you are having a hard time finding them in stores.
I bought a nail clipper for babies, I think it is American Red Cross brand. It is smaller than regular clippers and comes with an attached magnifier glass so you can see the little nails easier. It is a good idea to cut the nails while the baby is sleeping. Sit in a comfortable position, take a deep breath and relax :-) Gently pull back the flesh on the finger tips so the nail separates slightly from the flesh. This helps a lot. Below I am copying a link where they have more information. Good luck!

http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-to-trim-your-babys-nails_...

It just takes some practice on your part to clip them...you could also bite the nails then file them. I use the Safety First baby clippers and they are great (still use them on my 3 year-old and got another pair for our new baby). The same brand also carries tiny baby nail files that are great, you just have to sand, then feel the nail to be sure there aren't any sharp points - if there are, sand again. And sometimes clipping after a bath can help b/c nails are really soft then.

Otherwise, you might just let him explore and learn on his own. He may scratch his face a few times, but then he will likely stop doing it (except for the occasional one here or there, that's normal). If you are nursing, you can put breast milk on the scratch and it should heal super quickly. :)

We clipped both finger and toenails while kiddo was sleeping.

Even so, cut short as can be, he'd still occasionally scratch himself. Which is just part of life. Like biting your tongue. Eventually your body avoids doing it.

Cut them while he's asleep. I still do this with my 10 month old. Have a set of clippers handy and after he falls asleep (I do this with my boy in my lap) clip away. Good luck!

The mittens they make are too short and my little ones always were able to take them off. Keep up with cute socks on his hand and they don't look goofy. Right now I duct tape my two year olds diaper on because he can take it off. So what if he looks goofy- at least I don't have poop in his bed anymore. Also there are baby nail files. When he falls asleep see if you can file them. Hope this helps.

Not sure if you already got this response - I would wait until my son was asleep to cut his nails. Worked every time. Also - I use socks instead of mittens - they stay on better!

I always use nail scissors to cut the nails because when one of my girls was 2 months, I clipped the tip of her finger with clippers. And she wasn't moving too much. I felt awful, and it seemed like it just did not want to stop bleeding. The mittens fall off really easily so it might be better to sue socks. When my youngest was just a few months old, I would put the mittens, the clothes with the folder over sleeves or socks until she was about 2 1/2 or 3 months. The nails usually ripped themselves. Also, I agree that cutting when they are sleeping is the easiest. Sometimes it takes a while but it gets it done.

Hi dear;
I have a 10 year old and a 9 month old.... if their nails are long...just cut them with a nail clipper, is easyer than using a filer...if you dont want to do it...ask some one experienced, but at 7 weeks they dont move to much...so you can hold his hand. ALSO !!1 there are some suits for babys with long sleves, that have like a poket at the ende of the sleve...when you unfold them, they cover their hands....and they dont come out cause is part of the outfit - GO TO: http://www.babyearth.com/under-the-nile-organics-long-sle... - TO SEE PICTURES, HOWEVER THEY SELL EVERYWHERE

Try clipping them when he's asleep. That's what I always did.

Look for clothes with mitten option. They are half sewn onto the end of the arms. Then you have the option of wearing them or not and they match and you don't have to worry about the baby pulling them off or it falling off. Otherwise, you can always file them down when he sleeps or use baby nail scissors. It'll be easier to cut when he gets older.

I would use the baby clippers (much smaller than regular nail clippers) and I did it while my kids were eating or sleeping.

I didn't have time to look through all of your answers so sorry if I repeat! Try the baby nail scissors. They are awesome! I still use them for my 4 year old. Smooth nails and quick and you can't accidently cut them. They were a lifesaver for me when a family friend suggested it when I was chicken to cut my babies nails! When you start out, clip them when baby is sleeping! It gets easier each time :)

File them down with nail file until you feel comfortable cutting them

Don't use the finger nail clippers as they cut too jaggedly (is that even a word). Invest in one of those little manicure scissors or baby scissors. Use that to gently cut in a rounded manner and you'll have no more issues! Enjoy those baby-soft hands!

I agree - use regular nail clippers, they are much easier cutting those paper thin nails! If you're still real nervous, you can always file them down as well.

Uncover his hands and let him explore. If he does scratch his face it won't be the end of the world. He needs to have access to his hands to learn about his world.

I have three girls; I have managed nails by cutting with nail scissors while they slept. I hate to admit it, but I've also bitten their nails, but I felt most comfortable doing this, because I was always scared I'd clip their skin.

Do it when he's asleep. When my daughter was older she would always grab at the nail clippers so when she was napping I would sneak in her room with a book light and clip away.

The nail scissors are easier I think, that way you aren't worried about catching skin. I find the clippers, even with the safety guard on, to be rather cumbersome in trying to both see and clip safely. You can find the little scissors, usually with a blue handle, in Target, etc baby section.

Clipping or trimming while sleeping as someone suggested, or while he is drowsy and nursing. Clipping after a bath always made me MORE worried that I would catch soft skin and since the nails get transparent it was harder to tell what was what, but that is a personal opinion/preference.

Even if you clip a little skin (which I have done a time or two), babies heal really quickly. One thing you may want to remember is to sterilize your clippers/scissors each time if you are worried about breaking the skin, that way you know you didn't introduce any bacteria into the accidentally clipped delicate skin.

If you DO break skin, the best thing to heal is to squirt a little breastmilk on it. Breastmilk heals everything really quickly and it is antibacterial, so it's just amazing stuff full of vitamins and nutrients. I've used it on my babies' navels to help heal them, on diaper rash, on my toddler's pinkeye, boo-boos, etc etc. Just throwing that in there since it isn't too common knowledge anymore.

Congrats on your new little bundle! :)

My little man is just about 9 months now and I used to trim them while he was asleep on someone. makes it so much easier for both of you ! good luck

I'm with Ina G -- bite them for now, and use good curved nail scissors later. Trying to cut them with any implement when they are very small is asking for trouble. The breastmilk suggestion, by the way, is excellent, and applies to pretty much any cut, and also pinkeye. On the recommendation of NICU nurses, I might add.

When my daughter was this little I bit them off, as recommended by my midwife. I know it sounds gross, but I did not mind (I used to be a nailbiter myself) and I was majorly scared of the clippers.

When she got older I got a good pair of nail scissors and like using thise a lot better than the clippers.

Even if you get them short and somewhat smooth, they might still scratch themselves...their nails are just to thin, that makes them sharp. I also had my daughter wear outfits a size to big, so the sleeves would cover her hands. It still let her use her hands (unlike mittens) but she was less likely to accidentally scratch herself.

I did them when my daughter was sleeping. :)

try clipping and filing whem the baby is sleeping. i always filed my sons, very easy and it was afraid i might cut him when he was so young.
now that they baby is almost 2 months its good to let him hands be free so he can start grapping and playing with objects, your fingers, etc.

This sounds gross, but is an experienced mom trick. Just bite them off. Newborn nails are so soft, sometimes you can even just peel them off with your fingers. Later on, nail scissors are easier than the clippers.

Use a very good quality, very fine nail file. It must be very fine and sharp (expensive quality) not the ones that come in baby kits!

I just saw a whole section of mittens yesterday at the BabiesRUs in Algonquin. Also I just bite them gently off when the kids are that little- I'm always afraid the clippers will get their skin too!

I would clip my daughters nails when she was nursing. As she has gotten older, I did it when others were holding her or when she was alseep (usually nap time since it was lighter out and easier to see the tiny nails).

She is 21 mo now and I just say "time to clip your nails!".

I buy my sons gloves at the Carter's store, not sure if there is one where you live. They are a little pricey ($10 for 3 pairs), but he is 5 months now, and I have been using a little baby nail clipper. It's to do when they're asleep. I'm scared every time I do it, but I'm just really careful.

i had the same problem when i uct my babys nails i made her bleed so bad i refuse to use clippers. a friend recommended just bitting off her finger nails after her bath when they are more brittle. it works great and she doesnt get bloody hands and mommy isnt in tears feeling like a bad mom.

I always cut my daughters finger nails and toe nails when she was asleep up until the age of 2. It worked like a charm!

Wait till he is sleeping and then clip them. This way he will hold still for you. Also, newborn nails are soft enough that you can rip them easily and they don't rip so far down that they go into the skin like adult nails if you tear them. I struggled with this also for quite awhile. My sister helped me when she was visiting. She actually clipped my daughter's while I was nursing her. She held still for that. Good luck.

clip his nails while he is sleeping or in the bathtub...works the best!!

When my son was little bitty I was so nervous about clipping his nails! I used to do it while he was sleeping. Once I though he was sleeping soundly I'd pick up his arm and drop it. If he just let it fall he was asleep enough to clip his nails if he held his arm up a little I'd wait.

i use socks too because the mittens are too tight but anyway the nail file i use is by files forever ###-###-#### works wonders

At that age I would let him fall asleep nursing on the boppy pillow, and clip his nails when he was lights out :).