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URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/17275.htm
Nailcare for newborns
Overview
Newborns have fingernails that are usually soft and flexible but that can cause injuries to the infant because they do not yet have control of arm, hand, and finger movements and may inadvertently claw at their face. Nails should be carefully trimmed with small, blunt-tipped scissors. Use an emery board to keep the nails smooth.
Review Date 11/6/2023
Updated by: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
