Real Parents and Experts on How to Cut Baby’s Nails Without the Stress

Cutting those itty-bitty baby can be a terrifying proposition for a new parent. Is it safe? How do you actually go about it? What if you accidentally cut baby’s finger? Do you actually need to do it?

“I made a deal with my husband,” recalls Lauren Barth, associate content director at The Bump and mom of three. “I said, ‘I’ll take all the diaper blow-outs and spit-up duty, if you can handle trimming baby’s claws.’ I’ll admit, I also made Grandma do it a few times!”

Yes, clipping newborn fingernails is one of those things you really don’t want to do as a caregiver but have to anyway. “Cutting baby’s nails is important to keep the nails clean and to help baby avoid unwanted and unintentional scratches,” explains Dane Snyder, MD, a pediatrician in Columbus, Ohio. Since you can’t pay your pediatrician to trim those baby nails for you (we’ve tried), here’s what to know and what to keep in mind.

Key Takeaways

• You can start cutting newborn nails right after birth—and may need to do it sooner rather than later as some babies are born with long and sharp fingernails.
• Baby’s toenails will grow much slower during the newborn period. These only need to be trimmed once every two to three weeks, while fingernails will likely need to be trimmed weekly.
• You can use baby-safe clippers or a file to trim baby’s nails, but avoid biting them down. It’s easiest to do this when baby is asleep or has just had a bath. You want to cut baby’s toenails straight across to avoid a newborn ingrown nail.
• If you do cut baby’s skin, apply pressure to get the bleeding to stop, clean the wound and care for it with baby-safe first-aid ointment. Avoid bandaids as they can present a choking hazard for babies.

When Can You Cut a Newborn’s Nails?

Some babies are born with long fingernails, in which case, you should start filing or cutting newborn nails right away. “They can get long and quite sharp if left unattended,” says Karen Klawitter, MD, a pediatrician with JustAnswer based in Illinois and Florida. “You can cut and/or file baby’s finger and toe nails as early as one week of age, but some will wait until they’re closer to 3 to 4 weeks of age when the nails are starting to get harder.”

Keep in mind that baby nails grow faster than adults’, so they’ll typically require trimming about once a week, adds Kristen Slack, MD, a pediatrician in pediatrician in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

As for baby’s toenails, you’ll need to trim those less frequently—usually only every couple of weeks. “Often, toenails don’t grow as quickly in the newborn period,” Snyder says.

How to Trim Baby Nails and Toenails

Once you’ve resigned yourself to the reality that baby nails need a regular trim, there are a couple ways to approach the task: You can use a baby nail file to sand the nails down or baby nail clippers to cut them. In some cases, you may even need to do both. Regardless of the technique you choose, Klawitter and Slack say it’s best to care for baby’s nails when your little one is drowsy or asleep because they’ll be more still, or after a bath since their nails will be softer.

How to file baby’s finger nails

To file baby’s nails, first get your hands on a baby nail file (they tend to be smaller than adult versions), explains Gina Posner, MD, a pediatrician at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. Then file baby’s nails to shorten them, rounding the edges so the corners aren’t sharp.

How to trim newborn nails

Filing lowers the odds of accidentally cutting baby’s finger, but “sometimes baby nails are bendable, so it’s hard to file them,” Posner says. To cut baby’s nails, get a baby nail clipper (many have safety guards to lower the risk of cutting baby). You probably won’t be able to get a rounded nail corner with clippers, so it’s often helpful to file down sharp corners afterward if you can, Slack says. We’re not going to lie: That first baby mani-pedi can bring on heart palpitations, but you’ll get the hang of it pretty quickly.

It can be tempting to skip cutting those newborn nails altogether and bite them down instead—but resist the urge. “Parents shouldn’t use their teeth to avoid risk of infection and create a more controlled trimming process,” Snyder says. You’ll also want to take a pass on tearing off the nails. “Definitely don’t tear—you can tear too low and injure your child,” Posner says.

How to cut and file baby’s toenails

Baby’s toenails will grow slower and need to be trimmed less often. However, when clipping baby’s toe nails, you want to ensure you’re cutting straight across and “gently pulling the skin away from the toenail,” Klawitter says. This is the best way to prevent ingrown baby nails. “Cutting the nail in a curved fashion will increase the risk,” she explains.

What to Do If You Cut Baby’s Finger

No matter how careful you are, pinching baby’s skin is a distinct possibility. If you do happen to cut baby’s finger, while you’ll probably feel terrible, know you definitely wouldn’t be the first parent to do it. First things first: Try not to freak out and instead assess the wound. “If you cut a lot, go to the ER,” Posner says. If it doesn’t look severe, Slack recommends applying pressure with a clean towel until the bleeding stops, then gently clean the area with soap and water. “If the cut continues to bleed after a few minutes, call your pediatrician for advice,” she adds. You should also call your pediatrician if you see any redness, swelling or pus-like discharge from the injury or nailbed.

To help the wound heal, apply a baby-safe ointment (like Aquaphor) to the cut a few times a day until a scab forms—but skip the Band-Aid, since it can be a choking hazard. “If a bandage is necessary, you’ll need to tape or securely cover the area to prevent any pieces from coming loose,” Slack says. Also, don’t suck on the wound with your mouth, since you don’t want to introduce any bacteria.

If you cut baby’s finger, rest assured it’s likely no big deal. “Most people just cut a tiny bit of skin, which is terrifying, but the reality is it’s going to heal just fine,” Posner says. As The Bump community member MamaMyers22 shares, her husband accidentally cut their newborn’s finger on their first day home from the hospital. While it can be upsetting, it happens and doesn’t make you a bad parent.

Real Parent Tips for Cutting Baby’s Nails

To help make this stressful process a little easier, real parents and experts offer their tips for cutting baby’s nails below:

• Wait until baby’s asleep: “I only [cut his nails] when he’s sleeping because otherwise he’s thrashing about and clenching his fists, and I’m too afraid I’m going to cut his skin,” shares McAllie5, a community member on The Bump. As Klawitter notes, this is actually the easiest time to cut baby’s nails because they move around much less.
• Use distractions to your advantage: If baby is awake while you’re cutting their baby nails, then use toys and singing to distract them, Klawitter notes. “With older infants and children, making it like a game” can help, she adds. Distraction proved key for oliversmommy32912, a community member on The Bump, when cutting baby nails: “People might judge me for this but whatever…. This is the only time of the week where I let him watch TV. The TV mesmerizes him and it’s about the only time he’s still enough for me to cut them. It takes me three minutes tops, the TV goes off and we have nice, trimmed nails.”
• Use tools you feel confident in: “I have found baby scissors to be the easiest way to cut her nails,” shares atkinson4545, a community member on The Bump. “I tried to cut my finger with the scissors and couldn’t, so I was way less nervous than using the clippers.” Of course, some parents may just want to use a baby nail file because they’re afraid of cutting baby’s skin, Klawitter says, and that’s fine too. Use the tools you feel most comfortable and confident with.
• Be patient and remain calm: As hard as it may be, cut yourself some slack. This is your first time cutting baby nails, so it’ll take a while to get the hang of it. “My best advice is to be calm and patient. This is often new for parents and with time and practice, it’ll get easier (at least in the newborn period),” Klawitter says, adding, “With older infants and children…speaking calmly will [also] help make the process go easier.”
• Accept that cuts might happen: It can be scary and downright awful to accidentally clip baby’s skin while cutting their nails, but it doesn’t make you a bad parent. It may be hard to hear, but these cuts are the first of many baby will get throughout their life—and odds are you’ll be more upset about it than baby. “All went well until the final thumb, and I caught some skin. I’ve never felt worse,” shares The Bump community member eyenigh. “It bled like crazy, [and] he was more upset by us having to hold pressure on it for so long than the cut itself… I still feel terrible, and it’s [now] completely healed.”

Cutting those tiny baby nails is just one of the many new things you’ll learn to do in parenthood. While it may be scary at first, remember you’ve done bigger, scarier things before! Give yourself grace, be patient with the process and know it’ll get easier with time.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.