The Best Baby Nail Clippers
Many first-time parents are terrified of cutting their infant’s tiny nails. Luckily, a good nail cutter can take all the fear away. If I were to pick the best baby nail clippers for my child today, I’d buy Safety 1st Sleepy Baby Nail Clipper because it cuts tiny nails safely at a reasonable price, and has just that something extra to make it stand out.
This article was originally written in November 2015. We have updated the article as of October 2017 to reflect additional recommendations, but the Safety 1st Sleepy Baby Nail Clipper remains a safe and cost-effective choice and our continued recommendation as the best baby nail clippers.
We tested the top-selling baby nail trimmers on the market today on an infant’s fingers to see which pair was safest, easy to use, and high quality. Besides consulting with a number of parents who have been through the newborn/infant stage to get their views on preferred trimming techniques and favorite products, we also consulted with top pediatrician Jennifer Shu and researched the views of other experts from sites such as BabyGearLab and Babble.
We found that Safety 1st Sleepy Baby Nail Clippers was consistently a top choice.
Who Should Buy This?
Does your baby have fingernails? (Hint: Pretty good chance!) Then you’re going to need a tool to help you trim them. Simple enough. And if you’ve been just biting your baby’s nails off, read on to learn more about why you maybe shouldn’t (it’s also kind of disturbing).
What Makes Good Baby Nail Trimmers?
There are a few different methods for trimming baby nails.
Many parents we spoke to on this topic insist that the best way to trim tiny baby nails is to bite them off. And many doctors send newborns home with instructions to do just that, but some experts and pediatricians emphasize that your mouth is filled with germs, and the last thing you want to do is transfer that to your baby. You may risk giving your baby a finger infection caused by the herpes simplex virus, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. (Ew.)
Sure, there’s nothing less expensive than your own teeth for cutting nails, but on the other hand, you don’t need to invest in a battery-operated nail trimmer that requires replacement pads. There are cheaper options out there that work just as well.
But before you go and buy the first grooming kit with clippers that you see, it’s worth learning what separates a good nail trimmer from a bad one; ease of use, safety features to protect against nicks, and lasting quality so the nail clippers can be used well into the toddler years. And, of course, a reasonable price.
Our criteria for deciding what was a deal-breaker for a product included: difficulty when used on tiny fingers, products that don’t last or break easily, and expense. In our research, we found that the baseline cost was around $4 to $5. Over $10 and you’re only getting a brand name or electronic widgets that you don’t need.
How We Tested
To find the best product, we weeded out trimmers that didn’t fit our bill of must-have features. We scoured the Internet for both bad and good reviews of trimmers to find the top choices online, and spoke to groups of moms to find out what they liked and disliked in a nail trimmer. The products with great reviews got a closer look from us.
We had the mom of an infant and a toddler try a number of the top-selling clippers on the market on her younger son. She had been a big proponent of biting newborn nails in the past, and had also used the simple clippers that were part of a Red Cross grooming kit. As an experienced mom open to trying new ways of cutting her younger baby’s nails, we trusted her take.
Our Pick for the best baby nail clippers
Specifications
- Curved Cutting Edges
- Built-in LED Light
- Emery Board Slot for Steady Filing
- Non-replaceable Battery Included
In terms of different styles and parental trimming needs, Safety 1st virtually owns the overall market with a wide range of products, many of which are consistent best sellers. The brand offers 5 types of clippers, available in different sets and on their own. When I visited various stores in my area, the shelves were stocked (overwhelmingly so) with Safety 1st trimmers.
And it turns out, rightfully so. When it comes to picking the one item that’s going to make it easy for clipping those tiny newborn nails as well as transition well to older infants, we pick Safety 1st Sleepy Baby Nail Clippers.
Our mom tester found that the clippers were easy to use, didn’t nick her baby’s fingers, and was pleased to discover the added LED light actually made a difference.
Admittedly, we do not believe a lighted nail clipper is necessary to get the job done well. In fact, in many cases, a simple nail file might be all you need. However, what drew us to this product was that for a low price you get a quality trimmer — plus, the light seemed to be a nice added bonus, when you could spend equal for one without that feature.
The light made cutting very small infant nails easier to see clearly in all sorts of lighting; we tested in daylight, dim indoor lighting, and during the evening.
One tip popular amongst experts, such as Jennifer White of About.com and Dr. Jennifer Shu, is to cut your baby’s nails while they’re sleeping. The Sleepy Baby Nail Clippers seem to be made for this purpose, hence the name. The LED light means a parent doesn’t have to turn on a lamp and risk waking the baby up.
As an added unexpected bonus, the infant we tested on enjoyed looking at the light and did not squirm with these clippers as opposed to others tested. So these clippers have actual entertainment value for some youngsters! In fact, the mother’s toddler also enjoyed looking at the light while having his nails clipped.
Additionally, the sides of the Sleepy Baby Nail Clippers feature curved cutting edges, designed as a safety feature, which fit well around tiny infant fingers.
The price is just right, too. Safety 1st Sleepy Baby Nail Clippers were reasonably priced and even less expensive than some scissors and trimmers that didn’t offer any extras such as the light.
One thing that isn’t great about the Safety 1st Sleepy Baby Nail Clipper: the nail file doesn’t stay in its built-in slot very well. It’s easier to just use the file on its own than in its special holder on the clipper. Perhaps in its next iteration, the slot for the file can either be nixed or fixed to hold it better so it doesn’t move around loosely.
who else likes it?
Jennifer White from About.com liked Safety 1st Sleepy Baby Nail Clipper, saying the “extended handle and chunkier design also help to make trimming baby nails even a bit easier.”
On Amazon, the Sleepy Baby Nail Clipper scored 4 stars out of 5, with over 800 reviews. One customer said of the Safety 1st Sleepy Baby Nail Clipper, “Forget the magnified ones. What is most essential is a tiny enough clipper to avoid getting in the way of other fingers, and LIGHT. I have tried jeweler’s loupes and all kinds of magnifying gadgets to get a better view to get at those tiny fingernails, but without light, pretty much everything is useless. This thing gets the light to the absolute right place – the fingernail.”
The same reviewer did notice the products faults: “The only downside is that the battery is not replaceable. But in all fairness, LEDs consume so little power anyway.” Nonetheless, the reviewer said they would give the product “6 stars if I could.”
top contender
SnipperClipper Set by FridaBaby
It's no secret we love the entire FridaBaby Line. We're so glad they finally released a nail clipper system. Our one complaint is that it doesn't have the ability to cut nails while baby is sleeping. However, there is a unique peek-a-boo window at the top of the clippers so you can see what you're doing. It also comes with a slim S-Shaped nail file that hugs your baby's finger rather than a flat file which can be hard to maneuver.
If you've fallen in love with the Frida line like we have, you won't be disappointed with this new addition.
Luxury pick
Baby Nail File by Little Martin's Drawer
Okay, so you want to go the route of an electric nail file after all. Well, have no fear! We tried a few options just in case. We tested six designs and Little Martin's came out at the top contender for this luxury buy.
It comes with 3 pads to use on baby and 3 pads for your own use! You can change the speed, as well as the rotation direction. The reason we ultimately chose this as our luxury pick is because of the quiet motor and LED light making it easy to trim your little one's nails in their sleep.
Also Great
Piyo Piyo Baby Nail Scissors
While we ultimately decided that the Safety 1st Sleepy Baby Nail Clipper was our pick based on its price, quality, and unique features, we have to say we also really liked the Piyo Piyo Baby Nail Scissors. These durable stainless steel scissors seemed to be virtually nick-proof on even the smallest fingers. The price was also reasonable, and the scissors felt like high quality in our hand. Ultimately, we felt that the Piyo Piyo scissors would be a little harder to use as your baby gets older and moves into the toddler stage, as it may require multiple cuts to get the whole nail tip. But if you prefer to use scissors over clippers and decide to go with the Piyo Piyo Baby Nail Scissors, you will definitely be happy with the quality, safety, and ease of use.
The Competition
We considered these alternatives from manufacturers, but don’t consider them to be a top choice for the best baby nail clippers category.
- Zoli Buzz-B Baby Nail Trimmer—Too expensive for most parents. It’s a clever idea though (but part of me also is reminded of the clippers used for grooming dogs.)
- Safety 1st Clear View Nail Clipper—As our mom tester said, “Looking through the magnifying lens makes me feel drunk; not what I want while cutting my infant’s nails!” Other reviews agreed, saying that they couldn’t get a steady view because baby kept wiggling.
- The First Year’s American Red Cross Deluxe Nail Clipper with Magnifier—This one has the same issues as the one above.
- Nuby Infant Nail Clippers—Basically just a tiny-size version of adult clippers with a cute design. They cost the same as some of the more popular Safety 1st clippers that have little extras in their design.
Care, Use, Maintenance, and Repair
As Dr. Jennifer Shu says, “the real purpose baby nails serve is to break you into parenthood. They will likely require trimming or filing at least once a week because long nails on the hands of newborns with little to no control of them predictably result in stray scratches.” You’ll want to cut your baby’s toenails about once a month on average.
Besides cutting nails while your baby is sleeping, many seasoned moms have suggested cutting them while feeding. Basically anytime your baby’s hands aren’t busy flailing around is a good time!
One thing about clippers — it’s hard to replace any parts. Your best bet is to just buy new ones. We think the Safety 1st Sleepy Baby Nail Clippers will last a long time thanks to the sturdy stainless steel. If they don’t, the low price point won’t leave you grousing about having to buy another.
Wrapping It Up
With a decent price for safe clipping, plus an LED light that makes trimming both infant and toddler nails more simple, our choice is Safety 1st Sleepy Baby Nail Trimmer. The quality means you should be able to keep this one in your kit for years to come — if you don’t lose it first!
Your Guide:
Jennifer Magid
Jennifer Magid's career has taken her everywhere from writing for InStyle magazine and Neiman Marcus to Walmart and Sam's Club, all of which has been extremely helpful for keeping a partial eye about what makes a product good for most people. When not fielding her toddler's endless questions, she freelance writes and blogs for a local Connecticut moms site.
Sources
- Dr. Jennifer Schu, Interview, Healthychildren.org
- Jennifer White, Selecting the Best Fingernail Clippers and Manicure Sets for Baby, About Baby’s First Year
- Best Baby Nail Clippers and Grooming Stuff, Babycenter Community
- Piyo Piyo Baby Nail Scissors review, Baby Gear Lab
- Baby Basics: Trimming Your Baby’s Nails, Kidshealth.org
-
American Academy of Pediatrics, Nail Care: Fingers and Toes, Healthychildren.org, 6. Nail Care: Fingers and Toes, Healthychildren.org, from the American Academy of Pediatrics
- Baby Nail Clippers or Nail Scissors, Babycenter community
- Jennifer Magid, Photo: baby getting nails cut
- Babble’s Top 100 Newborn Essentials, Babble.com
