How to Prevent Ingrown Toenails in Infants

Proper hygiene is a must to a growing infant’s overall health. Yet one often-overlooked area is toenail hygiene.

Fail to pay enough attention to your baby’s toenails and the result can be a painful ingrown toenail. Not only does this cause your infant discomfort, it can also lead to an infection if left untreated.

Luckily, preventing ingrown toenails in infants isn’t hard.

Symptoms of Ingrown Toenails 

The biggest symptom of ingrown toenails in infants are signs of discomfort.

A child excessively pulling at a toenail likely means its ingrown. Crying or other signs of pain when putting on socks is another key sign. Some children also limp while walking due to an ingrown toenail.

Another sign of an ingrown toenail is redness and swelling around the nail. If the swelling contains yellow or white fluid, an infection is likely present.

Preventing and Treating Ingrown Toenails 

Preventing ingrown toenails in infants is different than adults. The difference is thanks to the soft nature of both a baby’s skin and toenail.

The toenails of many infants may look ingrown even though they’re not. This is because the nail is so soft and pliable that it will grow down into the toe without causing problems.
Cautious parents can take care to prevent ingrown toenails in young children by cutting their nails in a curved shape rather than straight across. Be sure to leave cut toenails longer than cut fingernails. Another top prevention tip is to never dress your child in tight socks or shoes.

What do you do if your prevention efforts fail and your baby develops an ingrown toenail? The best treatment is to soak their foot in warm, soapy water before attempting to gently file the toenail away from the skin.

Antibiotic ointments also offer relief from pain and swelling.

The Next Step 

Sometimes home remedies don’t cut it for ingrown toenails in infants. If your child is still in pain, or gets ingrown toenails on a regular basis, it’s time to talk to a professional.

Call DFW Wound Care Center for more information regarding the best treatments for infant ingrown toenails. We’ll help you treat this painful condition in no time at all.