Do Babies really need Nail Care in their Early Days? Babies and Toddlers often bite his fingernails and the skins around them, which cause discomfort to them. The nail-biting and finger sucking habit can be a reason behind bleeding from the top/corner of nails and his nails will start to get deformed.
Generally, parents give lots of emphasis on good habits like bathing, washing hands before eating the food and brushing twice a day, etc. But, your child needs to follow a healthy nail care habit (fingernail and toenails) for a good lifestyle. It has been observed that kids who follow a good nail care routine are less likely to develop a nail-biting habit later.
Many mothers complained about their child nail-biting habit and how it is becoming a big problem for them to stop their child from nail-biting. Below are some reasons which trigger their children for Nail-Biting
Reasons for Nail-Biting in Toddlers
- Anxiety, Nervousness & Stress
- Babies suck their thumb as it feels comforting and relaxing to them, due to which later their nail-biting habit developed.
- Getting Bored or doing something monotonous, which kids generally don’t like it.
- Some Toddlers developed it as a habitual habit.
- Big Children’s who bit their nails, can be due to some problem they are facing in school or with their friends.
5 Best Ways of Nail Care for Babies and Toddlers
1 # Keep the Nails Trimmed and Clean
Parents should make a schedule of Trimming their babies and toddlers nails once in a week to prevent ingrown nails. Babies have a habit of scratching their face, neck, and hands more often by their nails, therefore trimming their nails on a regular basis is very important.
You must have noticed red scratch below your child’s eyes and near the nose and this is a sign that your baby needs are getting bigger and they required trimming. It is also very important for your parents to clean their child fingernails, especially, as babies and toddlers both have a habit of putting everything in their mouths, which can cause stomach infection.
2 # Use the Soft Nail Clipper or Scissors
You should always choose or buy an appropriate size nail clipper or scissor for your child. Their fingernails and toenails are extremely soft and you cannot use any adult scissors, as they are very sharp and hard. There are lots of brands available in the market that can confuse you. Just read the specification very carefully and check the age group, reviews, and softness level before considering any brands.
3 # Prevent your Child’s Ingrown Fingernails and Toenails
Ingrown Fingernails are less common in babies and toddlers, as they do not squeeze their fingers inside the shoes. ingrown fingernails can cause skin breakdown and can allow bacteria to enter. That’s, you should keep checking your child fingernails too for ingrown.
Ingrown Toenails means when a nail cuts into one or both sides of the nail bed and grows into the soft flesh. The symptoms are redness, swelling, and infection of the tissue around your toenail.
In case, your child develops the ingrown toenails then follow the below steps:-
- soak your baby’s foot in warm water for 10 minutes at least 2 to 3 times a day. Use your baby’s daily cleansing soap for the water.
- don’t get worried just clean the infected area gently and lift the nail.
- Apply the antibiotic cream on the infected area for 4 to 5 times.
4 # Gently pull your Baby’s Finger Pad Away
Whenever you are going to trim your child’s nails, always remember to soften any sharp edges on the baby’s nails with an emery board. Gently pull your baby’s finger and trim and clean it immediately at that point. Babies and Toddlers don’t have patience at all, maybe you can do this job when they are sleeping.
5 # Make it a Regular Habit
Pickup a particular day in the week and fixed it for your child nail care. All Parents must follow all the important steps while taking Nail Care of their Child.
