Preventing Ingrown Toenails In Your Infant

Ingrown toenails are something that plagues adults. It can affect children too, and it can even happen to babies as well. Your infant can get an ingrown toenail, which can lead to an infection of the toe if not taken care of. An ingrown toenail is when the nail embeds itself into the skin, causing pain or infection. An ingrown toenail is painful for an adult, so imagine if your infant has an ingrown toenail. See below for tips to prevent ingrown toenails in infants and other helpful tips.

Prevention Tips

Preventing ingrown toenails should be done to help protect your baby from the pain associated with this foot issue and to prevent infection.

  • Use nail clippers to clip your baby's nails. Do not use scissors or your teeth. Use sharp enough nail clippers so they clip rather than tear the nail. Scissors may not cut as well as clippers and your mouth could spread germs.
  • Always cut toenails straight across. Do not cut them at an angle. Clipping them at an angle could cause the nail to grow out in an odd angle and could cause them to grow into the skin. Also be sure not to clip the toenails too short.
  • Put your baby in shoes, socks, and footed pajamas that fit your baby properly. If any of these are too tight it can cause an ingrown toenail.

Protect your baby's feet to prevent the pain from ingrown toenails. If your infant has any redness, tenderness, or blisters with discharge around the nail, take your baby to the pediatrician or to a podiatrist for help.

How To Treat Ingrown Toenails

Again, take your baby to the pediatrician or to a podiatrist for treatment of ingrown toenails, but to help ease the pain at home use the tips below.

  • Soak your baby's feet in a warm bath with soap to clean your baby's feet and help clear up any infection.
  • Give your baby a pain reliever to alleviate the pain, but be sure to talk to your pediatrician first about giving your baby any type of pain reliever.
  • Place cotton in between the nail and the skin to treat the ingrown toenail and to help guide the nail to grow away from the skin.

Your baby's feet should be well cared for, as this is part of taking care of your baby's health. Keep an eye out for infection, and get your baby to the doctor right away if you see any signs of infection.

For more information about ingrown toenail treatment, talk to a business like Greenberg Paul. 


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