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These tips have been contributed by other parents, carers and professionals. We hope they will give you some ideas to try, but if you need further help why not post a question on our forums or talk to our site experts.
Battery nail file
I use a battery operated nail file with my girls - keeps nails short & smooth, no danger of cutting skin & generally very well tolerated. I actually use it to calm my daughter down when she's distressed!
While he sleeps
I cut Ricky’s nails in the middle of the night wearing a head torch which I bought from a camping shop.
A finger a day
When cutting Lucy's nails, we tackle one finger a day when she is relaxed, or occupied on something else.
Use a nail board
When my visually impaired students are able to, I teach them to file their nails instead of having them clipped. If they do this regularly, they will never have to have their finger nails clipped again.
Easy cutting
A good time to cut nails is straight after a bath when the nails are nice and soft.
Take the focus off
When we're cutting Simon's toe nails we use distraction techniques: a book to read aloud from, a handheld electronic game or something he can hold to look at and fiddle with, anything to distract Simon’s attention from his feet!
Make it fun!
With girls especially you can turn nail cutting into a manicure session; use bright nail varnish, do a hand massage.
You do it first
I let Hailey watch me cut someone else's nails, so she could feel comfortable with it.
Round ended scissors
Nail cutting can be hard with wriggly, angry, squirmy people. I use round ended scissors which you can buy at most chemists.
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