Trimming of Neonatal Fingernails

[ldh, BSN, RN]

I have a strange question - I recently overheard a parent ask one of the nurses if he could trim his baby's fingernails. She responded that we don't trim them, but the parent could chew them off.....? Does this sound right? Has anyone heard of this method of trimming nails? Thanks! :-)

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

I've seen parents do it - just today, in fact. But we never, ever let them use scissors or clippers. We had an admit from WBN once who had the tip of his finger lopped off when mom slipped trimming his nails.

[ldh, BSN, RN]

Thanks for the response - it just seemed weird to visualize a parent chomping on a fingernail - but better than running the risk of lopping off a finger. :-)

[Sweeper933]

We tell the parents to bring in a nail file to trim their baby's nails. I wish the nurses could just do it (especially on some of those chronics!), but it's considered a "medical procedure" if we do it. On some of the chronics who don't have family visiting all that much - one of their primaries will usually just do it. Some of those fingernails can become hazardous!

[prmenrs, RN]

I've done it lots. If the parent is asking about them, I offer my "tutorial" on baby fingernail clipping, and they watch me reallll close!

I also keep a stash of baby socks and hand mitts in the back room, along w/special baby feeding gizmos and other stuff like that. The mitts are critical for older kids who like to pull their feeding tubes out!

[MandaAnda]

We're not allowed to trim them, although the parents can if they want to (preferably when the baby is asleep). I agree with advising parents to nibble them off if they want - strange but seems safer!

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

Most baby fingernails can just be "peeled" down during a bath. For the harder nails on older babies, parents usually bring in clippers...

[UTVOL3]

When I had my 2nd child I found some emery boards that are perfect for baby fingernails. That is always my suggestion to parents when they ask.

[danissa, LPN, LVN]

I bring up the subject of nail clipping with the parents when its needed, get them to bring in baby nail clippers and show them how to do it if they are nervous. I'm in agreement with prmenrs, I've also done it loads. Nothing worse than a special care wee one with BIG scratches on their wee face!

I'd be more nervous of peeling the nails off though, this can go right into the Quick of the finger, ouch!

[IttyBittyBabyRN]

I think I would vomit if I heard someone tell a parent that or saw them actually do it!!!! I view that as being very unsanitary for the parent and especially the baby. We always ask parents to use hand sanitizer if they touch their face,nose,mouth, etc. before touching the babies, so I can't see how I would tell a parent to stick the baby's hand IN their mouth????? I don't know if our unit even has a policy about clipping nails, but I have used the very pointy scissors and done well. I would have no problem teaching a parent to use small clippers.

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

We aren't allowed to clip nails or even file them, the parents have to do it. But ewww, I'd never tell a parent to chew them off...the human mouth is one of the nastiest things on earth when it comes to germs!