A newborn\u2019s nails, although tiny, grow quickly\u2014about 0.1 mm per day\u2014and it\u2019s easy for the baby to scratch themselves unintentionally, especially since in the first few months they don\u2019t yet have full control of their arm movements. Some babies are even born with long nails, which is why in the past hospitals used to put mittens on newborns to prevent them from scratching their faces. Today, however, science tells us that touch is a fundamental sense for newborns. Through their hands, they learn to know themselves, discover the world around them, and, most importantly, reestablish skin-to-skin contact with their mother.<\/p>\n
The best solution, therefore, is to learn to trim their nails early on, even if it may initially seem difficult or intimidating for new parents.<\/strong> Fingernails should be trimmed about once a week, while toenails\u2014growing more slowly\u2014can be trimmed once or twice a month. During the first 2\u20133 weeks, when nails are still very soft and fragile, it is recommended to use a cardboard nail file, gently rubbing it along the edges. Later on, you can switch to using special baby nail scissors with rounded tips or, even better, spring-action baby nail clippers.<\/p>\n\t\t