Keeping infants' nails clean and trimmed is essential to keep infants from scratching their skin when squirming, stretching and generally moving their hands and feet.

To do this correctly, the infant has to be as still as possible (perhaps when sleeping), and there should be sufficient lighting. Use baby clippers or baby nail scissors with rounded tips, and there are also baby nail-care kits that have files and emery boards.

Files and emery boards come in handy for nervous parents who don't feel comfortable using scissors on fidgety babies. If an accident occurs, it's usually minor enough to be handled by applying pressure to the nick with sterile gauze, and using some disinfectant that your pediatrician recommends.

Infants' nails tend to grow quickly so it may be necessary to trim the nails more often than adult nails. Try finding a nail-care kit in Free baby stuff to help with this sensitive job.