Cutting toddler's nails

DD is 2 and a half years old and has always hated getting her nails cut. She gets totally hysterical almost to the point of throwing up. It's very distressing.

However, her toe nails are quite long and last night she woke up screaming a few times and it wasn't until about 2:30am that I finally got any sense out of her and she said her nails hurt.

We explain to her that we need to cut the nails to make them all better. I've even tried to bribe her by painting her toe nails...this only makes it worse and she refuses to walk if her nails are painted.

I don't know if it might be because when she was only a few weeks old I accidentally nicked her toe when I was cutting her nails.

It's really gone beyond a joke. We've tried every thing, from her watching us cut our nails - when we've done this, she's asked us to cut hers but then when we try to she gets hysterical. We've tried doing it after a bath when the nails are softer; as I mentioned, I've tried bribing with nail polish and other treats.

I really need help.

sounds bad! susie hates having her toe nails done too (18 months) cause she has super ticklish feet. have you tried putting her to sleep with bare feet and then cutting them in her sleep? thats what the nurse suggested to me

I was going to suggest cutting when she's asleep too.

:hug:

I would do it asleep,thats how i do DD's

Something really interesting on tv, and cut while she watches? That's sucked mine in before, I told them what I was doing but drew their focus back to the tv.

Thank you all for your suggestions. They are great suggestions but unfortunately I have tried them all with no success. :wall:

Will just have to keep doing what we do which feels very cruel - one of us pinning her down while the other cuts and then lots and lots of cuddles afterwards.

I make funny noises while cutting ds's nails like 'chop chop' and animal noises. Piggy noises mainly when doing the toes and we say that each little piggy needs a haircut. Afterwards i let him hold the clippers and we pretend to cut his baby doll's nails or he does my nails (not actually cut them ofcourse). I usually ask him first if i can do a 'chop chop' and i find i get the best response first thing in the morning when he is not grumpy or tired. They were really long this week actually and he has said no the last time i asked but i really wanted them cut before this baby arrives so i bribed him with lollies. Not my first suggestion to do but in my unperfect world lollies can get anything done. I gave him one before we started each hand and 2 afterwards ;)

Have you tried filing them instead? Not sure if it would get the same reaction from, but I've always found it a lot easier with my DS. You're not worried about accidently cutting them which I think automatically reduces the stress of the situation (for both of you) and it's easier to start and stop, so it's not quite as much of a battle iykiwm? I usually sit DS on my knee and turn the TV on, then I'll try and get a run at a couple and then give him a break for a minute before I try again. Most of the time it takes a couple of sittings to get through them all, but neither of us end up getting too upset and the job gets done (eventually)... HTH

Show her someone else having theirs done first, lots of praise & reassurance at the same time. I do the "this little piggy goes to market" complete with funny voices etc, seems to keep her amused a bit better.

I know the kind of hysterical you're talking about. I get it with DS and hair cuts! He is good with his nails though, on the proviso that I only cut half way and he can pull off the rest! Strange huh! Maybe you can start using the clippers on other things....like cut some dry spaghetti and let her have a go! I guess it would kind of make the same noise! Good luck x

I do where is thumbkin for my DD. That or DH holds her, I cut one of his then one of hers. Pretend cut for DH!

Will she cut them herself? DS has been cutting his own toenails since about that age, he just sits quietly on the couch and clips away. He doesn't do a perfect job but they are short and there is no blood so I call it a success.