Cutting nails (toddler)?

Question

Does anyone have any advice about how i can cut my daughters (21 months) finger and toe nails. She used to let me do her finger nails but toes have always been a struggle. Now as soon as I reach for the clippers she goes mental! She even cries if she sees us doing our own!
I've tried plying her with sweets, fave cartoon etc. Now I have to restrain her and she hates it as much as I do.

Answer 1

My mum always bit our nails when we were small and I did the same with my children, its less likely that you will cut too low that way.
You could try it whilst she is sleeping, but make sure she is properly asleep, the last thing you want is for her to wake up and find you leering over her with the dreaded clippers in your hand. That would be the stuff of nightmares for her.

Answer 2

We have the hardest time cutting our 14 month old's too... I've always been determined to do them often though so he didn't scratch himself. At the beginning I probably did it every 6 days, and now that it's such a hassle I let it go 1 1/2 weeks sometimes. Lately I've had more luck by turning on a movie, sitting him in my lap, and letting him play with my cell phone. For his toes... I do it while he's in his high chair which keeps his hands out of the way. When he tries to kick me away, I just hold on tighter :-) I know it's not good to bribe them with things all the time... but you may have better luck if he knows he gets something special afterwards. Good luck!

Answer 3

Forget the restraints you need to keep the experience positive. Like all kids this age she is testing the water to see what she can get away with.

Have loads of patience and cut them at night when she is asleep. Or do one nail at a time over the week. There is no law to say that they all have to be trimmed on the same day at the same time. I know from experience as my son is the same.

Answer 4

Try doing it after she's had a warm bath and falls asleep. The warm bath water will soften her nails enough to make it easier to cut and when she's asleep, it won't be such a struggle. It worked with my 2 year old . Hope this helps.

Answer 5

I am the second oldest of nine children and my mother always clipped the babies nails when they where sleeping she still does it to my 16 month old brother! This way you can get the job done without disturbing them. Good luck!

Answer 6

I have two sets of clippers and I let my 2 year old daughter pretend she is clipping her baby doll's nails. She is at the age where she likes to help and she has fun pretending.

Answer 7

i only cut nails during nap time
or right b4 bed
best of luck
its always better when the child that young is asleep cuz then they dont move and get hurt

Answer 8

I cut my 17 month old daughters nails when she is sleeping , been doing it since she was born....

Answer 9

In our house, we play "beauty parlor" to get the girls' nails done. We set up nail polish, the emery boards, clippers, lipgloss and eye shadow as if we are going to the parlor to get beautiful. First, they have to have their nails clipped before we put on any of the pretties. Usually there is minimal complaining, since they want their nails polished so badly. Then, once their nails are clipped, they get to choose whatever color polish (or two, three colors) they want, and they get to put on some eyeshadow and lipgloss (with mommy's help). When they are done, they usually get into their dress up clothes and pretend high heel shoes. Hey, it gets my goal accomplished, and I don't have to fight with them! Sometimes, you have to be inventive and sneaky. : )

Answer 10

try when she is a sleep thats what i used to do or in desperation i used to bite off there finger nail