Baby toenails are very delicate and can be vulnerable to several minor but painful problems such as ingrown nails or nail malalignment. To keep your baby's toenails in perfect condition, her feet should be washed and dried carefully and her toenails regularly trimmed.
Baby Toenail Growth
According to Stege's Podiatric Topics, the toenail has three main parts: the nail plate, the nail bed and the cuticle. Baby toenails are much more delicate than adult nails because they are smaller and softer. Healthy baby toenails grow quite slowly and should be clear with a pink nail bed.
Trimming Baby Toenails
Your baby's toenails grow a little more slowly than his fingernails and will require trimming only once every two weeks. According to Baby Center, you should trim nails in a straight line using baby-nail clippers or scissors. Any remaining rough edges should be gently smoothed with an emery board. The best time to trim your baby's toenails is after you have bathed him, while the nails are soft.
Ingrown Toenails
According to Dr. McEvoy M.D., because the fatty tissue surrounding babies' toenails is quite fleshy, often a toenail will grow down and become embedded there. Sometimes an ingrown toenail may become sore and inflamed, in which case you should consult your pediatrician.
Toenail Malalignment
If your baby's big toenails are growing at an angle to the sides rather than straight out, she may have a condition known as congenital malalignment of the toenails. According to Dermatology Insights, this is not a serious condition, but you will need to keep an eye on their growth and trim them regularly to avoid ingrown toenails.
Roughened Toenails
If your baby's toenails appear to have lost their transparency and to be growing thickened and discolored, he may have a condition known as trachyonychia, or roughened toenails. According to Dermatology Insights, the cause of trachyonychia is not known, though it is sometimes linked to eczema or psoriasis.
