Many children find it stressful having their fingernails and toenails cut. For some, such as those with tactile (touch) defensiveness, this can be particularly stressful. The simple (if sometimes uncomfortable) feeling of having nails cut can become a torture. Many occupational therapists specialise in dealing with children with sensory processing issues such as tactile defensiveness. These will typically include strategies for reducing a child’s defensiveness and adapting the child’s environment to help them cope.
Here are several things you can do at home to make this task more tolerable for your child:
- If it works, try to cut your child’s nails in their sleep. Be careful, though, as sudden movements of your child could possibly lead to hurting your child. Also, if your child wakes up while you are cutting their nails, they may be upset by this.
- Cut your child’s nails after a warm bath. Warm water will soften the nails, making them easier to cut and thereby reducing the distress caused.
- Distract your child to take the focus off the nail cutting. Play to your child’s interests by either reading a book together, singing a song or watching their favourite TV show.
- Use short nail-cutting sessions. There is no need to do all the nails in one sitting. Doing just a few nails each time is more likely to have your child cooperating.
- Making a bargain with your child may get them to cooperate more willingly. In the beginning, choose something you want to use as a bargaining tool, possibly making sure your child hasn’t had this item or activity for a while. Then begin bargaining for only one nail to be cut and build it up as your child copes better.
- Using counting strategies or name the fingers to help them keep track of how much is already done or how much still needs to be done.
- Make sure your child understands (to the best of their ability) why they need to have their nails cut and what exactly will happen (e.g. I’m going to cut your nails with these small scissors and I’m not going to cut your skin. We’re going to do it for 2 minutes and then stop. While we’re doing it, we’re going to read this book/watch this programme…)
- Give your child some control over the task by listening to them, stopping when they ask and keeping things casual. This can help them cope better.
by Catherine Milford