Disclaimer [ENGLISH]
Disclaimer: This material is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it. It is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, nor does it replace the advice or counsel of a doctor or health care professional. Reference to a specific commercial product or service does not imply endorsement or recommendation of that product or service by CPCMG.
- All newborns will need to have their nails trimmed.
- Even at birth, a newborn’s nails are long enough to scratch their face during a reflexive movement.
- Fingernails probably need to be trimmed or smoothed once a week. Since toenails grow much more slowly, they need trimming only once or twice a month.
- Take special care when trimming the nails since the division between nail and finger tissue is relatively indistinct in infants. It is very easy to cut the finger instead of the nail.
- You may use special infant nail scissors, but never use regular nail clippers. Some parents elect to use a fine emery board to smooth the nail edges.
- Because the nails are so soft, they sometimes look ingrown. There is no cause for any concern unless the tissue becomes swollen and reddened.