Newborn Nail Care And Ingrowing Toe Nail Treatment
Ingrowing Toe Nail treatment is important to know about .. I think that almost everyone would agree that one of the cutest things about a baby is their feet. Pudgy little toes, still so perfectly round from zero wear and tear. I’m often asked questions about how to care for such tiny perfection right out of the oven.
Many babies are born with their fingernails ready to be cut but not yet their toenails. The fingernails do develop earlier and grow faster than those on the toes.
If you’ve ever looked at a newborn baby’s toenails, you probably have noticed how barely there they are. There is good reason for that. In utero, a baby’s nails start make an appearance nearing the end of the first trimester but don’t often finish forming until the third trimester. Many babies are born with their fingernails ready to be cut but not yet their toenails. The fingernails do develop earlier and grow faster than those on the toes. You may not even need to trim your baby’s toenails right away; it may be months until they grow enough to need a trim. Let them grow naturally until they need to be fussed with.
An ingrowing toe nail will occur when the edge of the nail pushes into the surrounding skin. The skin around the nail will become red and swollen.
Newborn nails, whether on the fingers or toes, are so much softer and more pliable than ours but they can be sharp too and can scratch the baby or even become ingrown. An ingrowing toe nail will occur when the edge of the nail pushes into the surrounding skin. The skin around the nail will become red and swollen. It can be painful for the baby if there is anything pushing on it, and there may even be some pus present too. This is an ingrown toenail infection.
It is not advised to bite the nails, this can transfer bacteria from your mouth and it can also lead to tearing of the nail which can both start an infection.
When cutting your baby’s toenails, it may be easier to do it when the baby is relaxed; either just after a feed or a nice warm bath. It is not advised to bite the nails, this can transfer bacteria from your mouth and it can also lead to tearing of the nail which can both start an infection. Rather, use baby safe scissors to carefully cut the nails straight across.
Make sure that your baby’s socks, shoes, and sleepers are never too tight around the toes. The tightness of the fabric and the pulling from the baby’s movements can cause an ingrowing toe nail as well. As soon as those sleeper feet become too snug start to move your little one into the next size up and just chalk it up to how fast they grow. There should always be a little slack at the ends of their toes in their sleepers.
Make sure that your baby’s socks, shoes, and sleepers are never too tight around the toes.
How to treat an ingrown toenail
If you do notice an ingrowing toe nail starting on one of those cute little piggies, there are simple things you can do to help alleviate the symptoms before you run off to the pediatrician. Soak a gauze with warm water with a little bit of salt dissolved in it and place it on the toe at every diaper change. You can also rub a little over-the-counter antibiotic cream on the area. Allow your baby to splash around for about ten minutes in the warm soapy water of the bath too so you can gently push the skin away from the nail if you can. Try doing this for about a week but if you don’t see any improvement or it’s getting worse then you will want to call your pediatrician or see qualified foot specialist.
Keep them trim, cut them making sure there is a little bit of white at the end. Never cut too short.
Since prevention is always the best medicine, make sure to never let your baby’s toenails get too long. Keep them trim, cut them making sure there is a little bit of white at the end. Never cut too short. Watch out for those growth spurts and upgrade those sleepers, socks, and shoes as often as needed. And always give those ten little piggies lots and lots of kisses.
Does your child have flat feet? Need a foot fungus cure?
Jana is a registered Chiropodist. She owns and operates Ajax Foot Clinic in Durham Region. She treats foot conditions and offers foot care to people of all ages. Jana is a wife and a mother of two.
