Any Advice on Getting My 2 Year Old to Let Me Clip Her Nails?

I've dreaded this motherly duty for a since my son was born. I would put it off as long as possible because he fussed sooo much when I tried to use clippers... until recently. I was sitting down and clipping my own nails and he was interested. He sat on my lap and watched me cut each one of my own nails as I explained what I was doing.... when I was finished he gave me his hands and actually WANTED me to cut his nails. He's 17months and now very cooperative. I still usually cut mine first and let him watch then do his.

I paint my daughter's nails after I cut them. She gets to pick out the color before we start cutting them. Once I started to do this, she puts her hands and feet out for me and doesn't fight me.

My wild two year old will let me clip her nails if I paint them afterward..she loves playing "spa/salon/beauty shop" with me and her older sister!

You've gotten some good suggestions, but please don't use regular nail polish on your little girl – both polish and remover have extremely toxic ingredients. Look for special children's polish if you want to try that route; it also has the advantage of peeling off easily, so you won't have to use a remover.

Use baby clippers and ask her to help. I sit my children on my lap, them facing out, and a take on hand and hold it near their face, and ask "Which ones need cut?", I then let them watch every move I make, clipping where they can see it. I also make comments, like "wow, that one really needs cut". It's working wonders for me.

i keep a nail clipper in my car. when they fall asleep in that deeeeeep car sleep, i just do it once we get wherever we are going, usually my own driveway.

here is some info from a handout i have ....

"Please use good judgment when trying them-a few are a bit unconventional, so please remember that these are suggestions that worked for some parents and may or may not work for you. We all have to find what works best for our particular child and exercise care).
1. Apply deep pressure to your child's fingertips before cutting their nails. Many parents have reported that this technique has helped a lot.
2. For a child who cannot tolerate nail cutting, I would suggest that the mother use an emery board every day or so, to keep the nails short. It will probably be poorly tolerated initially, but the child will more than likely soon accommodate to the feeling and it will begin to desensitize his fingertips. I have had success if I allow the child to do it to me and to himself first. When I do file the child’s nails, I rub the hands and hold the finger very firmly (deep pressure) or use a surgical scrub brush first to desensitize the fingers. Many people never cut their fingernails; they either bite or file them regularly.
3. Try cutting the nails when the child is asleep, or filing when asleep. It worked for my children.
4. Try to cut nails after bath time - nails may be a little softer and easier to clip. Wrap your baby or child in a nice fluffy towel, which will help, keep the child feeling calm. Also, mom can rub some Vaseline or lotion to help soften the nails and give some nice calming input a few minutes prior to cutting. Sing a song, count, make it a game...the distraction factor! (And the best technique of them all for my kids).
5. Another idea is to try baby nail clippers, baby nail scissors, and adult nail clippers to find what works easiest/fastest. I never had luck with a file or Emory board - but it has worked for some of my friends. I also was always too afraid that I'd wake my light sleepers if I tried it while they were asleep. A last solution, and at the risk of sounding gross -when my second was about one I would sometimes bite her nails for her when they were soft enough. This actually used to be recommended quite frequently for newborns whose nails are typically very soft. It is kind of frowned upon (because it's not very hygienic), but may work if you are desperate."

I could have written this questions myself. The only thing that some times works in our house is bribery. One m&m for each nail. I usually get one or two done at a time. Better than nothing!
Good luck, mama!

Do it when she is asleep.

I had to do my two spirited girls nails while they slept for the most part. Maybe you could reach with the crib rail down? Do they ever fall asleep in a carseat? Take advantage of those moments! The older one still doesn't like it - it really freaks her out! She has many sensory issues and her feet are particularly sensitive. We often do "pedicures" that end with her getting to pick nail polish and have painted nails. Turn on a cartoon, helps to distract them from what is going on. I do the same thing with haircuts, give them some kind of treat and a cartoon and that keeps them distracted while I madly clip or cut! Good luck!

I actually did clip them while they slept in the crib. It was very tricky ;) You can slide her arm through the slats. Then gently wheel the crib away from the wall so that you can get the other arm. Although, maybe all cribs aren't on wheels... in that case it is really tricky...lol!

Wait until she is asleep. Let her fall asleep in your lap and do it before you put her to bed.

Put a blanket on the floor. Let her take a nap on the blanket. When she is in a deep sleep, cut her nails.

Good luck.

My daughter was the same way but I would start to bribe her with something she wanted. A tv show, a small treat etc. If she didn't let me cut them she wouldn't get the reward, and I would try again later. She has since learned that it doesn't hurt and is usually over pretty fast.

I tell my daughter if she lets me clip her nails, then she can have polish on them. It works every single time and takes an extra few minutes, but at least they are done.

I am sure you have either tried it or refuse to...but I let my son watch television while I do it (he watches only 1 show/day, and then this added 10 minutes once a week). Also, what if you tried a different time of day, perhaps she is tired/ready for bed after bath (if that is a night time ritual). My daughter (16 months) is pretty feisty, so I am probably going to be facing the same thing in a few years!

This might sound terrible to some - but it works! I clip my three little boys nails & cut their hair while they watch their favorite show & suck on a sucker. By doing it this way I don't need a second person to hold them, there is no wiggling, no whining, no crying. They are too mesmerized with what they are watching & happy about getting a "special treat". (Since they don't regularly get candy.) It's worth a try!

C.

I didn't have time to read the other responses, but I'm sure this one has already been said - at least, I hope I'm not the only mom doing a "no, no!" Haha... I let my daughter watch TV. LOL... I felt awful at first, but good lord, it was such a huge battle and took FOREVER. Now, it takes 2 minutes and she doesn't even care. That's how I brush her teeth too... Oh well. I say, pick your battles!

I always know its time to clip my son's nails when I see the first signs of dirt getting stuck under there. I used to tell him that the dirt was icky monster bugs that would eat up his fingers (or whatever gross thing that he thought was fascinating,.. boys will be boys!) And he would let me clip his nails no problem.Try clipping her nails before the bath when she's more likely to have "ickies" that she can see under her nails. I just used the same technique as I did with teeth brushing. They are much more into it and open to letting you do these things when you make it fun for their level. Make up some crazy story as you clip each nail on how the princess can't get to her pony (thumb to pinky) without clearing the "muddy path" or whatever! She'll probably buy into it way more than you think.

As someone else said, I let my 2 year old watch a video on youtube while I clip her nails.

I've gone through exactly this with my 2 1/2 year old son! And I too feel indignant that I've never once hurt him and he still acts like I'm trying to amputate his fingers!!! :)

I gave in completely and use bribery. I give him M&Ms for letting me clip his nails. One for each hand and one for each foot. Believe it or not, I never have problems anymore. We never give him out and out junk food, so M&Ms are an over-the-top wow treat for him. Good luck!

My son hated having his nails clipped with a regular clipper, so I clip them with a cuticle clipper (looks just like regular clippers, but the cutting end comes down to a small, angled point). For some reason the regular clippers were uncomfortable (too big? Bent his nails?), but he's fine with the cuticle clipper.

We also make a game out of it. I get a little cup, and we try to get the nails off in one piece. "Oooh! Look how big that one is!". Then we take all the clippings and show them to daddy, who is always appropriately impressed. I also let him choose which nail to clip next.

My daughter is very much the same on the topic of nails. It is an on-going battle! But, what I have found that works for us is "spa" time. I let her pick out what color of fingernail polish she would like and explain to her that we can only paint on nails that have been trimmed first. I also use the word trim instead of cut - seems to be just a little softer for some reason. Good luck!

i had the same issues and i know this may sound ridiculous but i cut them outside. he loves to be outside so we go out and cut. i show him how i do it to mommy first and he wants to do it as well. if i can get him to 'help' me (pushing down on the clippers) it is even easier.

I clip my 2 year olds nails while he watches cartoons. I tell him I am going to cut his nails and if he is good he can watch cartoons but if he throws a fit I turn the cartoons immediately off and tell him I am going to clip them any way - he will generally quiet right back down so I will turn back on the cartoons and then he lets me finish. I also always cut mine first so that he can see that we do it too and that seems to help.

Oh, this reminds me so much of my son! He has screamed and struggled since day one every time I try and cut his nails. I once read that you can tell a child's personality and their temperament by how calm they are when you are cutting their nails... But I digress... My son is now three and he has gotten better, but he still screams and struggles at times. I have two 10-month-old twin boys who are absolutely calm when I cut their nails (thank God!!). Anyway, what I do now is do it while he's watching a cartoon. I tell him that I'm going to cut his nails, but in exchange, he can watch a "toonie" as we call them. This has worked for a while now. I think I started doing this when he was about 2 and a half. Maybe this will work for your daughter? I find that he's so interested in what's on the TV that he doesn't scream or struggle as much.