Wrangling your child.

[hannamaren]

To cut their nails, fingers and toes - how do you get them to keep still and not keep pulling away?

And, at the doctor. I had to put L in a headlock for her ears to be checked. The doctor laughed about how strong she is. But she will ony get stronger, please tell me, that by age 2, you can explain and sing a song or something?

[bunch]

Marshmallows and cartoons.

[hannamaren]

Why doesnt my kid like Tv? I could be ana amazing lazy Mom, but after the initial song she is bored. (Although, maybe .i can time nail clipping during that song and trap her in the feeding seat thing)
Today, I am sick, I just wanted to lay around. I put on Dora, Elmo, nothing worked. She cried when I lied on the couch. Yet, my H does that to her all the time - no questions.

[bunch]

Dd is exactly the same. H could read war and peace and I can't send an email. I put on music videos to clip nails. I get maybe two minutes. The marshmallows work the best, but she once ate half a bag while we tried to remove a splinter.

[cjeanette]

While they are asleep. Or by threat...lol.

[hannamaren]

I gave my child an entire big box of raisins to calm her down at the doctor.

[Willis Jackson]

I'm still putting my almost 4 year old in the occasional headlock.

[bunch]

My poor child is going to have so many food issues. Stubbed your toe? Need a snack? Yes? Ok.

[Deleted]

Baby Einstein is the best TV out there.

[Ashley&Scott]

I do his nails while he's sleeping.

[6fsn]

For the 21 month old it's either when she's in the tub or when she's brushing her teeth. She's obsessed with her toothbrush though.

[katiescarlett]

When they're babies I do it while they're sleeping. Now I bribe them. "If you sit nice you can have xyz" when I finish. They have to be in a cooperative mood also :-)

[MadamePresident]

Jan 4, 2013 20:38:38 GMT -5 Ashley&Scott said:

I do his nails while he's sleeping.

Me, too.

My mom used to cut a hole in the bottom of a paper bag and put my legs through it to cut my toenails. That actually worked well. I think because I couldn't see her doing it.

[lindyanne]

Twizzlers - they take a long time to eat so I could do all the nails while he ate one. No recs for the dr. I still have to sort of do that with my 3.5 year old.

[mollybrown]

I just use brute force for nails. I just hold their hands as still as possible and hope for the best So far, no one has bled.

Fortunately, they both seem to love going to the doctor.

[GailGoldie]

i keep a nail cutter in the little table drawer next to my seat on the couch - when they come up to me and have scratchy nails -i just go for it then - hold them in my lap and do it... Grayson used to scream and cry the whole time- i didn't care, I knew he wasn't hurting.... I pinned him down with one leg wrapped around him, etc - and just did it.

Now all 3 are so used to it - they stand at the sink and I do their fingers - then wash their hands afterwards (b/c the idea of what germs are now exposed from under the nails makes me want to puke)

with their toes i have them sit on the stool in the bathroom and do it.

they learn after a while that it's not a choice.

[Deleted]

We do it during bath time. He's pretty good about it, though.

[Deleted]

I have a system for cutting nails. I do it right when he wakes up from a long nap, so he's still a bit drowsy. He holds his favorite toy in one hand while I clip the other. I also sing a song and make funny faces. I can usually get all fingers and toes in one sitting, but not always. I settle for half and repeat the process at the next nap.

I have no advice for the doctor. Luckily DS loooves our pedi, DS just sits in my lap and lets the pedi do whatever.

[Deleted]

Counting can help too, both with dogs and babies in my experience. Count each nail as you clip it. Keep it quick and one simple clip. After a few go 'rounds they will get the pattern of it and the predictability helps put them at ease. This also works with ear drops.

[Deleted]

Thanks for the suggestion of clipping while asleep! This morning DS fell asleep in my arms after nursing, so I clipped his nails. Super easy peasy, and probably the best cut he's ever gotten.

[froggy76]

I'm having the same issue. I used to do it when DD was sleeping/nursing, but that stopped working a couple months ago. She's not into TV, either.

I just try to get her in a really good mood and sit her in my lap and let her see what I'm doing and sing/talk about it. I can usually get at least a few nails done at a time that way.

[karinothing]

We do the headlock at the doctors. DS really isn't a deep sleeper so I can't do it when he is sleeping, but I pretty much just wrap my legs/arms around him and let him scream.

[ihearttheterps]

We let my younger one play with the iphone when we need to trim nails or when he is being particulary squirmy during a diaper change. The only downside is that at 20 months he is now extremely adept with apple technology and goes after the iphones or ipad at every opportunity:P

[whitepicketfence]

Jan 4, 2013 20:29:34 GMT -5 bunch said:

My poor child is going to have so many food issues. Stubbed your toe? Need a snack? Yes? Ok.

I'm guilty of this as well with my 17 month old

My 3 year old is much easier though. Bribes work well and she actually likes to watch tv, LOL.