Could it actually hurt my son (2.5) to cut his toenails... or is he just pulling my leg?

Question

My son is excellent with fingernail clipping. He sits patiently and lets me do it in no time...
However, his toenail cutting requires my husband to man handle him while I do an upside down cartwheel trying to catch his quickly moving toes. I've never cut him so I'm not sure why it "bothers" him so much. They get so long that they start to curl over his little toes... they are pretty soft so they're not poking him or anything.

He cries and cries and yells. He says it hurts him... but I can't see how that is possible... We've tried everything from extreme bribing to forceful man handling like I said above. We've tried distracting him and everything in between.

Any ideas?

Answer 1

Yes it can! Either by cutting to close or squeezing his foot to hard to keep a hold.





FIRST off, CALL it TRIMMING not "cutting"



My son had sensory issues...sensitive to touch and sound..

What I use to do was to ask my son is :







Which TWO toe nails do YOU want us to cut today?





LET HIM choose which two.



In a couple of days tells him he can chooses which THREE to trim today



What THIS does is give HIM power IN the situation. Giving him choice makes him feel like HE is important in this situation AND a helper~



(c:

Answer 2

nails have dead cells. so as long as u dun cut too deep in, it should be just fine. he's prob more afraid of u cutting his toe nails cause it feels more ticklish. i dun suggest doing it while he's asleep cause he may just flip over and u might hurt him. how abt giving him rewards when he lets u cut a nail? haha. it might just work. rewards are always appealing to kids.=)

Answer 3

I don't think it hurts him, especially if you are just trimming the nails. Try doing it when he's asleep, although this is probably when you are breathing a sigh of relief - ready for some rest :/

Answer 4

If he is crying then i do not think he is pulling your leg. The rough handling has traumatized him and he is now asociating the toe clipping with an unpleasent experience. Th only way now is to wait until he is fast asleep.

Answer 5

As long as you are not cutting them so short that you get the skin, then he is fine. My guess is he is just pulling your leg. Just be sure that you aren't getting the skin at all with them being so soft, and also be sure you are using toenail clippers for them as toenailsc tend to be harder than fingernails.



And thanks for the laugh... I was LOL'ing picturing you doing cartwheels to cut your son's toenails.

Answer 6

Do it right after a shower or bath when the nails are softer. Or try it when he is asleep.

Answer 7

do it when hes asleep

i have a girl so when i want to cut her nails i put red nail polish after so when im doing her toes shes too busy looking at her fingers