Can you cut the nails of a newborn baby?

Everything about a newborn baby is new and fragile, so special attention must be paid to all matters concerning the baby. The nails of a newborn baby cannot be cut because nail clippers are too sharp and may accidentally scratch the baby's skin. Therefore, it is not recommended to cut the nails of a newborn baby. However, after a full month, as the baby grows, you can cut the nails, but be extra careful.

When it comes to whether it is possible to cut the nails of newborn babies, most elderly people are strongly opposed to it. According to the custom handed down from the folks, nails cannot be trimmed before the baby is one month old, otherwise it will be harmful to the baby's health. Moreover, the baby is so delicate, how can you use scissors on him? What if he bleeds? The mother's attitude towards this issue may be hesitant. The doctor's advice to mothers is that it is necessary to cut the nails of newborn babies.

1. The nails of newborns are not fully formed yet, and they are very soft and will not hurt the baby. Therefore, it is not recommended to cut the nails of babies under 1 month old. You only need to trim your baby's nails when they are older and start scratching everywhere or when their nails grow too long and tear.

2. After one month, the baby's nails are fully formed. At this time, the baby is in a period of rapid development, and his hands are very active. He often scratches his face unconsciously with his nails, leaving small scars all over. Some babies like to suck their fingers. Long nails will harbor dirt and grime, and sucking their fingers will bring bacteria into the body. The baby's toenails are too long and often rub against pants and socks, which can easily cause splitting. Therefore, the fingernails and toenails of one-month-old babies should be cut regularly.

3. For full-term babies, their nails are longer than the fingertips at birth and grow rapidly. For post-term babies, their nails are 2-3 mm longer than the fingertips. Of course, for premature babies, especially those with a birth weight below 2500 grams, their nails do not reach the edge of the fingertips at birth, and will not reach this level until they are one month old.

4. In winter, when bathing your baby, you can often find scratches and bleeding on his palms. This is because the newborn baby's hands are in a clenched fist shape, and the nails that are longer than the fingertips scratch the skin. In summer, babies' little hands are "liberated" and they wave them around everywhere, often hurting themselves accidentally.

5. In addition, if the baby's nails are too long, they are prone to breakage. The uneven cross-section is a sharper "weapon" and can hurt the baby if not careful.

6. Babies have weak resistance, and these scratches and breaks provide opportunities for bacteria to take advantage, easily leading to wound infection and even sepsis. Therefore, if a newborn baby's nails are longer than the fingertips, it is necessary to cut them instead of waiting until the baby is one month old. Of course, you have to be careful when cutting. You should use small nail clippers and cut along the curvature of the nail. Generally speaking, it is sufficient to trim the tree once every 10 days or so.