Advice for Toddler Nail Cutting and Sunblock

I don't have any advice for the sunblock, but do for the nails. I put my little wiggle worm in her high chair and strap her in. She doesn't love it, but at least she is confined. Good luck.

Hi L.,
My 21 month old girl doesn't like to get her nails cut either. I usually put her on my lap and get her interested in a TV show and do it then. She still fusses a little but the TV distracts her.
As far as the sun block I use Ocean Potion. It smells I think kind of like oranges. I too hate the sun block smell and this one isn't bad. I usually get it at Food Lion (i'm not sure if you ahev one of those up here :))

When my son was little, I cut his nails while sleeping. He does not like having them cut now, and for a while I literally would have my husband hold him down (or I would) while I cut them and he threw a fit. The most recent thing I have found is going to sound crazy but I have done it a couple of times now (including last night)..... My son has always since birth had to have a hold of my neck - it is like his security blanket. I started telling him he could not touch my neck until he let me cut his nails since they were scratching me, and he sits there quietly! Also, they are softer after a bath so I try to do it then.

I've got nothing on the sun block as we use Banana Boat, but the nail clipping, I sit my son on my lap and sing to him while clipping them. And when he starts to wine, I make a game out of it either kissing his fingers in between or having him clap. He usually does really well as long as he is not tired (that's another thing, do it earlier in the day when not tired).

try avon sss sun screen and bug guard they have unscented and also comes in spray and lotion.

Neutrogena makes one called cooling mist or something like that and it only has a slight sunblock smell. It has lavender or something in it that makes it smell better. I use the target brand of the same thing, I got it for $5 and it works well. I've used it on myself and my 19 month old neice. My eight year old son uses the target brand kids or sport sunblock because he sweats like it's his job, but it smells like sunblock. I wont put less than SPF 45 on myself, my son, or my neice. My son and I have very fair skin and the sunblock we're using is keeping us both protected (and pasty white). The target brand is called Up & Up if you're interested and it's a misting spray. A lot of brand name companies manufacture "store brands" so you're often paying more just for the brand name label on a product.

Hi L.,

For children, expecially babies, I really think organic, all natural sunscreens are the best way to go. I'm not one of those people who does organic everything, but with all the chemicals in most sunscreens, this is one of the things I'm particular about. Of course, natural sunscreens are just a little more costly, but worth it if you as me! They will also smell much better or have no smell at all because there are no chemicals.

Here are my suggestions:
http://www.californiababy.com/spf-suncare.html
http://www.jason-natural.com/products/earths_best.php
http://www.arbonne.com/products/baby/sunscreen.asp

Or here is a list of the most safe brands:
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/sunscreens2008/i...

Try trimming her nails when she's sleeping in the middle of the night.

We use a wal-mart generic spf 45. Its in a white and blue bottle. It is not scented and doesn't even smell like lotion. It also appears to not stain my son's trunks.

When my son was that age, my husband would cut his nails while he was nursing. He was more interested in nursing so it didn't bother him. As he got older, I would pop in a Baby Sign dvd or PBS kids. It was such a new thing that he didn't notice me. Now he actually enjoys having his nails cut (he's 2) and will let me know if he has a sharp or broken nail.

My 14-month old is the same way with her nails - even if I physically restrain her body, she still pulls her hand away! A couple of things that have (intermittently) worked for us: I used to cut her nails while she was lying down on the changing table because it was the best angle for me, but I think it freaked her out that she couldn't see what I was doing to her hands. So now I let her sit up, and I make sure she is able to see what I'm doing when I cut them (and I talk or sing about what I'm doing and why it's important to cut her nails). Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. I've also found that it works well to cut them first thing in the morning, while she's eating breakfast - usually she's so hungry that she's distracted by trying to get food in her mouth as quickly as possible! Or, you might try keeping a fun toy in reserve and pulling that out at nail-clipping time (will only work if it's a toy that can easily be held in one hand and not both though!) Having dad distract her while mom cuts works sometimes... and if nothing else, there's always the option of bodily holding her down! Good luck!

I used to use the baby SPF 35 until I found SPF 50
I honestly don't think 15 is enough but it also depends on where you live but the higher the number the more protection you have and less chance of getting sunburn and possible skin cancer.

As always do what is best for YOU and YOUR family.

Hi L.! Have you tried filing her nails? I have always found it to be easier than cutting (no blood!) and my daughter, who is now just over 2, has been letting me do it since she was tiny. It did take a while to get her used to it, and it takes a bit longer but not too much. She still once in a while fusses but usually is pretty good about it. I'm having the same problem you are with her toes, because she HATES for me to touch her toenails, but I have found that if I just keep going she stops fighting it after a few minutes.

I have found that the Aveeno baby sunscreen works the best on my daughter and doesn't have the typical sunscreen smell at all. She was allergic to every other type of sunscreen last year, and any other type has always made her skin irritated and this one doesn't. It comes in SPF 55, which is high, but I think 15 is probably too low if she gets a lot of sun exposure. I find it at Target or the drugstore and it's not terribly expensive.

My 10 year old still hates having his nails clipped! He still falls asleep in the car so, I keep a clipper in the car with me or sometimes clip them at night while he's asleep.

You need an SPF 30 sunscreen. I've used Mary Kay brand sunscreen, as it barely smells. I ran out one day and bought Coppertone and it reeks! www.marykay.com/K..gorski

I highly recommend Burt's Bees baby sunblock SPF 30. It does not have the same harsh chemicals that other baby Sunblocks like Aveeno has. It is specially made to be pure and gentle on baby. It only contains titanium dioxide. I would look at the labels of what you are putting on your baby and weed out those with lots of chemicals. You child may have a reaction in the future to sunscrren if you use those with harsh chemicals. I have friends with 3 and 4 year olds that are now allergic to the pink Coppertone waterbabies kind. Good luck! Good for you for trying to protect your baby. I know we all need vitamin D, but you also have to protect their sensitive skin!

unfortunately the nail issue is a faze and will pass. As far as sunblock, Blue Lizard is the best - it is a physical blocker, so it works immediately - no need to apply 30 minutes before going out. It was developed in Australia, where skin cancer is epidemic, so it is super great at protecting the skin - has both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide in it. Anthelios is the absolute best sunblock available today. Google it so that you can read up on why. It is pretty expensive, but very worth it.
good luck!

Try Lubriderm's Daily Lotion with 15 SPF. My kids and I resisted putting sunscreen on everyday (like I know we should)because we all disliked smelling as if we were going to the beach or the pool. This stuff is great, works well and absorbs easily so I am very pleased.

Remember we still need Vitamin D, so a little exposure is needed. Vit D deficiency is on the rise. I think 15 would be fine for daily use.

For nails I use the baby nail scissors, not the clippers. I find I can work those faster & more confidently. Try clipping after she goes to bed. I sit them in my lap facing a fav cartoon.

P : )

Nail cutting - I put my 2 year old in his booster seat with some cheerios or other small snack and let him watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse while I trim them. I've tried lots of different ways and that seems to work best for us.

Sunscreen - I would recommend either Melaleuca or California Baby.

Nail cutting is tough. I've tried having her watch a cartoon and that sometimes works. I've tried talking her into it and that also sometimes works. I've also tried holding her down and that usually doesn't work well at all. Sometimes I can whisper into her ear and that puts her into a little trance and that is usually worth a few nails.

About the sunscreen smell, your husband needs to get over it. Why should you do all the work to find a suitable sunscreen when he's the one with the problem? My husband sometimes pulls that nonsense on me and I don't put up with it anymore.

We don't use sunscreen much. Soaking up some sunshine is very good for kids. Most kids have Vitamin D shortages that increase illnesses and risks for cancer. In fact, the most dangerous skin cancer, melanoma, is caused by lack of sun exposure. My kids are 2 and 3 years old and have never had a sun burn but are a little tan.

We do use sunscreen if we're outside for longer than a few hours in swim suits on a sunny day. I use a baby Bannana boat that is tear free and water proof. It's an aerosol which is all that seems to be available lately. It has a nice coconut smell so your husband would hate it.

I went through the nail thing with BOTH my girls. I'm sorry to say I don't have any good advice. I found it was a phase and it lasted about 6 months. We had the kicking, screaming, etc. It was really horrible and we tried EVERYTHING. This too shall pass.

The sunscreen. Try Blue Lizzard. It is very expensive (even by sunscreen standards), but it works very well and doesn't have much of a smell. It is really great for little kids skin also. It is a physical blocker, not a chemical blocker and it doesn't irritate the skin.

HI L.
When I cut my son's nails (he's 2), I sing a little tune while I cut the nails to help distract him. I'll say something like "1,2,3, snip" or something else catch. He's into counting so he likes that. It doesn't work everytime though. As far as sunscreen, I think you need a higher SPF, like anything between like 30-50. I like the Aveeno brand. It goes on very smooth and it doesn't feel lotiony. I think they make a 50 or 55 spf. Does your daycare apply the lotion? Our daycare will apply in the afternoon, so my son has a bottle that is kept in his cubby. I put the lotion on in the morning before he goes. Hope this helps.

Best,
PJ

You could try cutting them in the high chair while she is distracted with something else like a toy (or a cookie or cheerios if you don't mind her eating while you do it.) Or you could try on the changing table if she is distracted with a toy and will hold still there...distraction is the key, and not having to hold her body down so you have both hands, but it is never easy at the squirmy age. My daughter, 20 mos, will now let me do it after I do mine, make it fun, but she still pulls away.

For sunscreen, we use Baby Lizard. It is SPF 30+ and is chemical free and smells good. You have to reapply after going in water though. The only thing is you might go through a lot of it by the time you use it everyday. The tubes aren't that big but it rubs in better than others like California Baby sunscreen for the body. I do like California Baby sunblock stick for the face. I do like it for sensitive baby skin and like less chemicals for babies.