One of the causes of ingrown toenails is heredity. So if you or your family members have had problems with ingrown toenails, it would be better to be wary of the signs as well as prevention of ingrown toenails on your baby.

The most common symptom of ingrown toenails is redness and swelling of the toe, more specifically, the skin around the toenail. Your baby would indicate pain or discomfort by crying when the toe is touched or applied with pressure. Your baby may also dislike wearing shoes, pull on his toes, or limp when walking.

Ingrown toenails may also occur when the toenails become too long or wearing shoes and socks that are too tight. To prevent ingrown toenails, it is important to trim the toenails correctly by trimming straight across and not too short. Also make sure that shoes and socks are the right fit for your baby, not too tight.

If your baby has an ingrown toenail, do not dig out or cut the ingrown nail. This increases the risk of infection. What you can do is soak your baby’s toe in lukewarm, soapy water to soothe the pain and help release the ingrown toenail. After about 10 minutes, gently massage the side of the nail so that the nail pulls away from the skin. You can do this a few times a day. When the nail has raised enough, place a small piece of cottontail or gauze under the corner of the nail.

If there is any sign of infection or no improvement after soaking the toenails, contact us to schedule a consultation with one of our licensed podiatrists at one of our over 80 locations.