Cutting Toddler Toe Nails. . . Sigh.

Updated on October 18, 2011
M.P. asks from Orem, UT
16 answers

My son is fine with his finger nails being cut, but when it comes to the toe nail. . . . . . it's hell. I have to pin him down and pray that he doesn't start kicking all over again while I get the chance to cut them. He bucks like a bronco, kicks, screams, the whole shabang. What do you do to cut the toe nails?? I usually only need to do it once a month, but oh that once a month is not fun. I need to tomorrow. . . they are getting bad.

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So What Happened?

I've tried it when he's asleep. He is so protective of his feet that he wakes up, and that is me waiting till he was out.
I've already tried all of those. When I had the high chair he would realize that I was touching his feet right away.
I think the reason why he is so sensitive because we have had to go to the dr a lot and they only way they could get the blood oxygen level was with clamping the monitor on his feet. I'll try the movie thing again. He just got Cars for his birthday so he might just be focused on that enough. Oh and he's 2.

I need a new nail file. . . for me and him lol!

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J.P.

answers from Chicago on

We strap him in his highchair and that way he sort of doesnt see it coming (because Im literally under the tray), then we put a show on that he likes, and then I have to hold his foot a while so he gets used to it and then...I can usually get two or three toenails cut! lol. Then we start the trickery all over again! He hates it too! I hope he out grows it soon because he's about to outgrow the highchair! :)

3 moms found this helpful

R.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

On a couple of occasions I needed someone to hold him when I did it, he's outgrown that, yay! Now I do my little guy's (2.5) after a bath, for some reason I think he thinks it's part of the routine of having a bath, even though it's not every time, and they're softer and easier to clip. Then we "rub the tootsies with some lotion" and he loves it ; )

2 moms found this helpful

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R..

answers from Chattanooga on

My DD is a massive squirmer, and she doesn't much like her feet getting messed with. What I have found works best for me, is to give her a pair of clippers to hold while I'm cutting her nails. I sit her on my lap, and cut one of my own toenails. Then I cut one or two of hers (talking to her the entire time about how fun it is...lol) Then I let her 'clip' one or two of MY nails with her clippers. (she just touches the clippers to my toe, and I say 'CLICK!!! Toenail is aaaaallllll gone!' She loves it.) Then I clip a couple more of her nails, and repeat the process. It has turned into a game for her... plus, she sees that it doesn't hurt me to cut mine so she's not as freaked out... PLUS the little breaks keep her from getting too worked up about it.

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S.H.

answers from St. Louis on

don't cut them, use an emory board & let him do it. :)

What happens is that this method is not invasive, he can't hurt himself, & most kids love using the emory board. Get one of those large colorful ones & let him go to town. After a little while, he'll get tired & let you finish.

The finished job will not be perfect, but all the pointy edges will be gone. After he's desensitized, then you'll be able to go back to using the clippers!

3 moms found this helpful

C.T.

answers from Santa Fe on

My son was the same way - but with his fingernails too. He is 7 now and just this year he can tolerate it. Barely. I have to distract him by having him watch a movie or play a video game. He still can hardly stand it. When he was a toddler we had to hold him down kicking and screaming. We tried everything we could to soothe him or make him feel better but nothing worked. We asked him what would help. When he was 3 or 4 he liked to hide under his security blanket, but he'd still end up freaking out. I ask him now why was it so bad? He says that he could feel it too much - that it hurt. I asked, but how? We did not clip your skin...and he said he could still feel it and that he also was always terrified we were going to mess up and hurt him. He was really irrational about it. I could not do it at night either. I think his feet are super sensitive. Maybe I should have been trying to desensitize his feet by rubbing them at other times. You could try that. My friend will cut one toe nail a day on her son. It is just one so he will let her do it.

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M.S.

answers from Washington DC on

Do it when he is asleep.

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ღ..

answers from Detroit on

How old is he? Could you put the clippers in his hand and guide him to do it? Is he just too ticklish to let you do it? Maybe if he can help it wouldnt be so bad for him?

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J.B.

answers from Atlanta on

GEt someone to help you hold him down! My three year old is the same way. One of us has to hold him while the other gets the toenails!

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S.R.

answers from El Paso on

I put on a movie or cartoon that my daughter requests. It keeps her distracted/occupied. If she starts paying attention to me and fussing I get all excited and point out what's going on on the tv. "Look! Dora and Boots need your help!" It works for us (most of the time). Hope it can work for you!

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C.C.

answers from San Francisco on

I make my husband do it. Something about Daddy makes little ones sit up and pay attention. He takes them outside so they have stuff to look at, and also so they don't get toenail clippings all over the floor inside.

Now that my daughters are older and more civilized, I bring them with me to the nail salon. For the bargain price of $5, those nice ladies clip the kids' fingernails and toenails, and put nail polish on. Best deal ever! ;)

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M.L.

answers from Houston on

Give him a sucker and turn on a movie. When that fails, lay on top of him... My 5 yr old was a horror, now he's fine, so it will likely pass.

1 mom found this helpful
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P.G.

answers from Dallas on

Maybe the nail file thing, and have him do it, or pick the nail file, or something? He may be ticklish or it's just uncomfortable. My guy's toenails never need to be cut - not sure why...

1 mom found this helpful
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J.T.

answers from Chicago on

Maybe you could try letting him help. My son always throws a fit about nail trimming, but after a reminder that he gets to help, we usually get it done. I position the clippers under the nail where it should be cut and allow my son to squeeze the clippers. He likes to hear the "click" and look for the nail after it flies off.

I also told him awhile back that if his toenails didn't get cut, the nails would grow back into his toes and hurt really bad. Shame on me!

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R.B.

answers from Pocatello on

I always had success cutting my kids toenails while I let them get mesmerized in their favorite movie/show and then they hardly fight me at all hope this helps you it did me. :)

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C.M.

answers from Rockford on

We had the same problem. We solved it by sitting him in front of the TV or asking him questions to keep his mind off it. The more they concentrate on what's going on, the worse they get. Just have your husband or someone else keep him occupied by asking him questions or turning on the TV and asking him what he wants to watch, etc. Eventually, my son was able to handle it with less distraction.

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M.H.

answers from Denver on

My son was like this & finally I figured out it was because he is so ticklish! So now I hurry, we laugh in between, and have a good time with it!

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