Taking care of infants in general, is a lot of work and requires a lot of patience. Of other things, nail care is very important, as long nails can attract a lot of dirt to accumulate under them. Infants always have a habit of sucking on their thumb and putting their hand in their mouth and this can result in the germs being transferred into the mouth if the nails are not kept clean and looked after. Also, there is a risk of them scratching themselves, as their nails are very sharp.

Clipping those tiny little nails can be quite a nerve wrecking task. Babies are always so fidgety and you are always scared that a little movement can result in cutting the tender skin surrounding the nails. Try clipping the nails after a bath, their nails soften up and are easier to clip. Get another adult to hold the baby still when you are clipping the nails, or get the baby to stare at something that grabs her attention and possibly makes her stay still.

To make things easier, always try clipping the nails when the baby is asleep.

Use blunt scissors or special nail cutters that are made especially to be used for baby nails. If the thought of using scissors or a nail cutter is a bit scary for you, try nibbling the nails off. Their nails grow very quickly and you might need to clip them every week. One thing to bear in mind is to always keep their nails clean. When giving them bath, use a very soft bristle to lightly clean under the nails. Make sure you use slow gentle movement when doing so.

When playing in a crib, there are chances of an infant banging his/her hand or leg on the edge, this might result the nail to tear or break, make sure to trim the nail immediately. You can also try using an emery board to file the nail gently.

Keep checking the toe nails as well, these can be unknowingly ignored as the feet tend to be covered with socks most of the time. Check for any in-growth or to see if the nail doesn’t look normal, and consult your pediatrician.