Your baby may cry from the pain, but babies’ skin heals quickly, so the cut could be better by the next morning. Adding Vaseline to the sore point can also help it heal rapidly.
If there’s clear, serious trauma, go to an emergency room or to urgent care. A call to your pediatrician is worth it as well. While you wait, use a damp towel to apply a bit of pressure to the area until the bleeding stops.
Once your child is entering the infant stage or starting to show early signs of teething, there could be more room for infection.
“By the time babies are 2 or 3 months, they’re putting their fingers in their mouth. And that opening is exposed to all of the bacteria in your mouth, and then they can get a skin infection,” Rivera said. That means you need to be extra-careful during clipping, and inspect their fingers afterward for any fresh cuts.
Performing the job that no one wants to do is already frightening. So do yourself a favor and get a tool that makes the process as easy as ABC. Keep trying until you find your groove.
Whatever you do, just please don’t bite your child’s nails.
This article was edited by Hannah Rimm, Catherine Kast, and Maxine Builder.
