When Is Your Child Old Enough To Start Cutting Their Own Nails?

Part of parents' job in raising children is to teach them to take care of their personal hygiene and other body-care issues. One of these is nail hygiene which is an issue for parents mainly because it is hard to entrust children with sharp tools to cut or trim their fingernails or toenails, Footankle says.

Dr. Larry Huppin and Dr. Doug Hale, recognized experts in the care of children's feet to address foot health issues, said teaching children to trim their toenails is not as simple as teaching them to brush their teeth or bathe. Teaching kids to safely use sharp instruments such as nail clippers or scissors require extra care and good timing.

Children's motor skills and attention spans are not conducive to reaching nail hygiene. Experts suggest parents allow children to cut their own nails when they reach the age of 10-12 years old.

Standard nail trimmers are a type of nail clipper with a pivoting arm and fulcrum design, parents view them as very compact and convenient, but according to experts, these trimmers are poorly designed for proper nail trimming. Such trimmers can cause nail splitting and poorly angled cuts to the nails, eventually leading to nail growth problems and gradually developing into ingrown toenails.

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Teaching and helping your child with healthy nail care

Parents trimming kids' fingernails and toenails must be done correctly; it must be a learned skill. Before letting kids cut their nails, they must know the proper technique for a good cut and avoid getting cuts.

One of the main tips before cutting nails is to soak the toes in warm water to soften the nails, or it can be done after a bath. Also, follow the natural curve of the toe and avoid cutting straight across. Experts suggest always using the right instruments for the job on both hands or toes.

Teaching kids the proper nail care is important to the long-term health of both the hands and feet. Although many adults were not taught the proper care of nails back when they were still children, it is expected of parents today to relay or pass the knowledge to their kids.

The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) suggests parents always check their children's nails and teach them to personally check their nails at a young age to develop healthy habits. According to the AAD, checking nails is very important as the first signs of health problems can appear in nails. Signs may include a dark streak and a nail that begins to crumble and fall off.

Avoiding any toenail problems with good nail care

One of the things parents must teach their kids when trimming or cutting their nails is to be extra careful not to cut the nail too closely and avoid exposing the toenail bed or area beneath the nail. Doing so considering that such can also expose the entire body to numerous viruses and bacteria.

If the toenail's bed is disrupted, this may cause nail infections. Fingernails enhance the ability to scratch, separate, and also enhance fine motor movements, Healthline reported.

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