Ten tiny fingers-How to trim your baby's nails.

Trimming your newborns nails can be a daunting task.
Often, newborns have pretty long, sharp nails that will scratch their pretty little cherub cheeks if they aren't trimmed in some way. As a first time parent many years ago, I remember holding my precious babe while in the hospital and attempting to trim her nails, I got to the second tiny finger and clipped her. She was bleeding and I felt like the worse mother on the PLANET! After shedding some tears of my own I continued on and it happened again. I cried some more and gave up. I put some pretty little mittens on her and called it a day.

What I didn't know is that baby's nails are fused to their skin on their fingers and toes. What does that mean? With kids and adults you can cut below the fingertips, with newborns you can not go below their fingertips or it will bleed.

The easiest way to trim a baby's nails is to use a baby emery board (aka baby nail file.)
Make sure baby is in a deep sleep.
Press the baby's finger pad away from their nail and file gently.
Make sure there are no jagged edges and try to keep the nails rounded.
Voila! Your baby's manicure is complete.

If you do choose to trim with nail clippers I recommend the baby safety clippers with the magnifying glass at the end. ;)

If you do end up nicking baby with the clippers, don't worry, they will be alright! It's part of learning the art of trimming your baby's nails. Wash baby's finger in cool water, grab some gauze and apply pressure to the finger.

Good luck on your newborn nail trimming adventure!