They’re growing fast, and that includes those mysterious hand and toe talons that seem to get longer every time you look at them, so keep them in check with our pick of the best baby nail clippers. Cutting baby’s nails for the first time can be harrowing stuff for new parents, but rest assured these safe picks will make short work of scraggly nails, and in any case, it’s more pleasant than them scratching themselves and then wailing like it’s your fault.
- Give those freshly trimmed toes somewhere cosy to rest in our best kids’ slippers
- Keep them still and snug in one of our top-pick Moses baskets
You may find yourself trimming their fingernails more than once a week to begin with, while toenails grow a little more slowly. Whatever end you’re cutting, the general guidance is simply to make sure you don’t cut too low, as this can risk cutting the quick and potentially kickstarting an infection. If you’re nervous, you can stick to gently filing back the nails at first, while they’re still very soft and flexible, although baby nail trimmers and scissors are specially engineered with rounded ends, so they’re completely safe when used with care.
Overall, our top pick is the for their stability and onboard LED, however if you prefer the sound of scissors, you may want to give a try.
Some baby experts advise trimming baby’s nails while they’re relaxed – translation: feeding or sleeping – which is where these light-up nail clippers come in so handy. The gentle illumination from the small built-in LED is engineered to be bright enough for you to see by but not bright enough to wake them, and there’s a plastic safety buffer to ensure you don’t accidentally cut too close to the edge of the nail, as well as a removable emery board for clean-up of scraggy ends. Parents with shaky hands also found these a blessing, as the large handles offer stability while you undergo Operation Baby Manicure
If you’re feeling especially wobbly when embarking on your first clipping, these magnifier nail clippers might help ease some of the nerves. With the combination of a built-in 4x magnifying glass and ultra-precise stainless steel blades, there’s very little margin for error when using these American Red Cross-approved clippers, and that little looking glass helps reduce eye strain in overtired and short-sighted parents too. Finally, the ergonomic grips ensure you won’t slip. Aaaand relax.
Like our first pick, this baby nail trimmer comes with an onboard light for nocturnal nail-clipping without waking the client, and a quiet motor to the same end. The difference is in the technical approach, as this one doesn’t use traditional clipper blades, but a fine-grit grinding head to gently and steadily file down baby’s nails to a serviceable length with smooth edges. There are clearly colour-coded heads for different ages, from birth to 12 months plus, and even adult polishing and buffing heads for when you get a moment to treat yourself to a manicure.
Far and away the most budget-friendly option on our list, these Tommee Tippee nail clippers are fairly basic as these things go, but they provide the peace of mind without the extra pocket money, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Reviewers found that, especially for their bargain price, these clippers were strong and sharp enough to handle fast-growing nails, but not so sharp that they worried about doing damage, with an easy-grip handle for more reassuring stability when trying to get at wriggly fingers and toes.
Not everyone gets on with a pair of clippers, so as a bonus option, these are our best baby nail scissors, courtesy of Piyo Piyo. The rounded tips are a far cry from the vicious-looking points of adult nail scissors, and ensure that your precious bundle’s delicate fingertips won’t get nipped. Testers of both right and left-handed persuasions found they were comfortable to use, too, thanks to a well-balanced handle, and that the durable steel blades lasted an age. For us though, at least some of the appeal lies in that cute ducky motif...
