Cutting children's nails

*max*

carolpinkdreamer wrote: »

I still do my 14 year old son's!

Really? Is he just very clumsy, or maybe disabled?

When I read the question, I thought it would about a baby or toddler having an aversion to having their nails cut. I know I hated it! I started being allowed to do it myself from age 6/7 I think.

loracan1

I still do my 10 year olds, but if he wanted to try himself I'd probably let him, I'd happily do his toenails too, but no way would I go near my older son's toenails.

Wirenth

They will never learn if you don't let them try. None of us had perfect dexterity when we first started; we learned from our mistakes and did a better job next time. I'd let the 7 year old have a go - it's hard to do a lot of damage with a pair of nail clippers. Nail scissors are another story, though.

3v3

I turned the question around and tried to remember when I began cutting my own nails and I can honestly say I have no memory of my mother ever cutting my nails. I can remember her attempt at cutting my hair, but no memory of trimming my nails. I do have a memory of getting a manicure set for Christmas when I was around 8yr old though.

DVardysShadow

kjmtidea wrote: »

I do all of my lot who are 4,6,8 and 10, just the thought of letting them do it themselves scares me :eek:

Good grief. I think that the older 2 could well be capable with different degrees of supervision.

But overall, I think you will be doing more damage to their respective psyches if they are aware that the thought scares you than they could do to their fingers, toes and psyches left to do it themselves.

Dillence

A couple of weeks ago I told my 5 1/2 year old I was going to get the scissors to cut her nails. By the time I had found them she had already cut most of them with her play scissors! She did quite a good job but I am not sure I will let her try again!

My dad still cut mine when I was 11 or 12 - by this age I was 'kicking and screaming' as I was desparate for long nails!

I think I will let my daughter have another go when she is about 7, so maybe supervise your older child doing it himself.

jokeyjo

my 3 are 12,9 and 7 i do youngests but big 2 do their own but do watch them as my oldest has now got a lovely ingrowing toenail

Lunar_Eclipse

ollow wrote: »

At what age would you allow them to do it themselves? I have an almost 5 year old and a 7 year old, I know they are a bit young just yet but was just wondering at what age you allow them to do it.

I'd say as soon as they are competent at using nail clippers or scissors. I think most 5 and 7 year olds are capable of cutting their own nails, particularly if they've confidently been cutting paper for years. Ultimately you'll know whether it's something you feel comfortable with now or not.

My 11 year old has been cutting her nails since she started school (not as a hard & fast rule, but she likes 'nice' nails), the youngest is sadly a nail bitter so rarely has the need! Eldest has also been applying her own nail polish for years, on hands & feet. They clean their own nails too, since pre-school age (no harm there with a cute animal nail brush!)

I'm quite shocked that people think 7 is probably too young for kids to do this themselves. I know it's a bit tricky to do both hands without being ambidextrous (I still find one easy and the other difficult) and obviously no-one wants a child to cut themselves, but it's not as if it matters whether they aren't cut perfectly.

Dontknowanymore

I do mine, 7 and 2.
The 7 year old is a big fat pansy and wouldn't cut them if I didn't do them, still after 7 years he hasn't realised that it doesn't actually hurt and flinches the whol time! So annoying!
My 2 year old loves havin his nails and toe nails done, I let him have a bash the other day and he nicked his skin a bit, not the end of the world, he tried lol

carolpinkdreamer

*max* wrote: »

Really? Is he just very clumsy, or maybe disabled?

No to both. He's lazy and I'm a fussy mom!