In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician
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Are you nervous about cutting your baby's tiny nails? We were too! We purchased and tested the top 8 baby nail clippers available today to find the best option for making nail trims a walk in the park. Our side-by-side testing of the competition involved evaluating how easy each clipper was to use, its cutting ability, and its general quality. Take advantage of our hands-on testing, which provides the details you need to find the perfect baby nail trimmers for you and your skill level. So whether you're new to the baby nail scene or this is your fourth little one, we've got a nail clipper for you.
The Safety 1st Light Zoom Nail Clippers are top-of-the-line baby nail clippers with a useful light and clear magnifying glass that brings tiny nails in focus and illuminates them to see what you're doing and avoid accidentally cutting more than you intend. The only way nail clipping could be easier is if you didn't have to do it. We love the simplicity of the design, the familiarity of the functional components, and the usefulness of the combined features that make clipping smooth sailing.
These nail clippers are smaller, which could be problematic for anyone with bigger hands. However, baby nails are small, and the product size suits the application. Overall, in our tests, these nail trimmers are the best in the bunch offering parents a close-up view of tiny nails with a handy light to reduce the risk of accidentally cutting the nail too closely. We think most families will appreciate the valuable features of these nail clippers and the simplicity they provide.
The magnifier and light on the Light Zoom makes nail trims a breeze.
The magnifier on the LIght Zoom is clear and gives a great view of the smallest nails.
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Best Nail Clipper
The First Years American Red Cross Deluxe Nail Clipper
The First Years American Red Cross Deluxe Nail Clipper is a less expensive, light-free option. These traditional baby nail clippers fold small and expand when in use. We appreciate the larger pressure pad on these clippers, the quick clip response, and the enlarged nail view provided by the magnifier. The price of this product is also a bonus, with one of the lowest prices in the lineup.
This clipper feels somewhat flimsy, and it may not last for the long haul through multiple children. Also, the magnifying glass isn't very clear compared to the competing baby nail clippers that include magnifiers. Despite this, the magnifier does offer a closer view, and while you won't be using it for reading, it can help prevent you from accidentally cutting the nail too close or causing an injury. If your budget is tight, but you still want a little extra help seeing the finer details, this trimmer is one to consider. For better quality, consider the Easy Grip Nail Scissors instead.
The American Red Cross trimmer comes with a sweep around magnifier for better viewing.
The Easy Grip Nail Scissors is a unique and fresh take on an old favorite. If scissors are the style you're looking for, but smaller handles leave you wanting, you'll love the easy-to-grip squeeze handle on these baby nail clippers. The scissors are sharp and cut tiny nails well. They won't master a full-grown man or acrylic option, but that isn't what they are designed for. They are good at their job with better visibility than what you might get using traditional clippers. They are of excellent quality and on par with the attention to detail, we've come to expect from Frida.
These scissors have a learning curve as they don't feel natural to squeeze the handle to move the blades when you're first learning to use them. It isn't tricky, but not intuitive either. Overall, these tiny scissors are some of the best we've seen, and we think most parents will love how smoothly and swiftly they get the job done. If you want baby nail clippers that are easier to use, check out the Safety 1st Clear View Nail Clipper.
The Frida scissors are easy to use but the design of the handle means there is a learning curve to using them well.
The YIVEKO Baby Nail Kit is a cute little manicure kit with multiple parts. The kit includes clippers, scissors, a file, and more, which can be helpful if you don't feel comfortable with one style of trimmer. We like the adorable animal-themed carrying case, and the components feel like they will last through a few kiddos without breaking a sweat.
Unfortunately, when a product tries to do everything or be everything to all people, it doesn't do everything well. We worry these scissors are too small for most grownups and that the traditional clippers are not as sharp as we'd prefer. Also, the glass-style file isn't as effective as those with more of a sandpaper design. Despite this, we think some parents will enjoy having various options and the cute hideaway storage that gets the job done, even if it isn't top quality. Those with larger hands may find the Safety 1st Steady Grip easier to use.
The YIVEKO Baby Nail Kit scissors are super small in both handle loops and cutting edge making them somewhat useless depending on the parent or child involved.
The Baby Electric Manicure Set is a battery-operated product that uses different disk types to file and buff tiny nails down without cutting. The kit includes a small case to hold the parts and multiple disks. It also comes with a traditional small nail clipper. This set could be a potential choice for parents so worried about accidentally hurting their little one that they will try just about anything but cutting products.
This product seems like more hassle than it's worth. Ours didn't come with instructions, and the device, which resembles a mini Dremel tool in form and function, doesn't spin fast enough to be truly useful and could cause pain through vibration or snagging on the nail tip or fingertip. Also, it takes longer to adequately affect nail length, which could be a problem if your baby is frustrated or squirming. With clippers or scissors, the process can be swift, and while you might leave sharp corners behind, that is likely preferable to several minutes per finger and an annoyed baby and parent. Although it has a learning curve, the Easy Grip Nail Scissors is one of our favorite picks for ease of use.
The ManiCure Set is self-contained and has a quality feel to it, but we worry it is more hassle than it's worth.
Older children might be a better fit for this manicure set than infants who likely will lack the patience and hate the vibration.
If you want a high-quality clipper with a magnifier, then the Safety 1st Clear View Nail Clipper is one you should consider. This baby nail clipper is easy to use and somewhat of a new take on a familiar favorite. They cut well and are easy to use with a design that parents will find instantly familiar. The magnifier is good and didn't distort the nail image as much as some competitors.
This clipper doesn't have a light, and for a similar price, you can get the same setup that includes a light by choosing a different option. So, if you find a brighter light helpful, it might not be the right option for you. Also, this style of clipper and handle can be challenging for those with larger hands or thicker fingers to use without fumbling somewhat. Overall, if you're looking for a good clipper that cuts well and gives you a little better view, then this is the one you want. For the price, you could also get the affordable The First Years American Red Cross Deluxe Nail Clipper, which comes with a helpful magnifier.
The Clear View Nail Clipper has a good magnifier that makes clipping easy peasy.
The Snipper Clipper Set is a basic clipper from Frida. It is a sturdy, high-quality, straightforward option with simple styling and a clean, cutting edge. These clippers come with a curved nail file that is perfect for baby nails, and they do a great job at rounding the edges so no sharp corners are left behind.
The baby nail clippers are smaller and almost feel too small for even petite hands. They work well but could be hard to hold while managing a tiny baby's hand or a potential crying situation. Also, it lacks a magnifying glass, which, while not a deal-breaker, could be one if you want the reassurance of seeing this "up close." If you are looking for basic clippers and are familiar with the small design, these trimmers cut well and last through many siblings or work as a hand-me-down for others. Still, those with larger hands prefer the larger body of the Safety 1st Steady Grip.
The Frida clippers include a file to help round sharp edges so your baby can't cut themselves accidentally.
The Frida clippers are straightforward and high-quality with a sharp cutting blade.
Performing much like similar competitors, the Safety 1st Steady Grip are traditional clippers in both looks and feel. Still, they have a more substantial grip to make holding and using them more comfortable. We like the design and think it can be a godsend for some parents and the difference between constant fumbling and fast trimming.
The handle on this is a comfortable grip, but it is large and cumbersome, and we think some parents will struggle to hold it and get a good look at the tiny nail they are poised to trim. However, if you have larger hands and can't manage the small size of traditional baby trimmers, this could be a good one to try. Still, other baby nail clippers like the Easy Grip Nail Scissors are much easier to grip.
The larger grip on these Safety 1st clippers could be good for parents with larger hands or who have trouble managing the tiny clippers of the competition.
The Steady Grip might be easier to hold, but a magnifying glass would make it easier.
We purchased and tested a plethora of nail trimming products for baby in this review to find the best of the best.
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff
Why You Should Trust Us
Our Senior Review Editor, Wendy Schmitz, led the baby nail trimmer review. Wendy is a BabyGearLab long-term writer and tester and a mother of 2. When Wendy's babies were small and new, she was very nervous about nail trimming; she just didn't do it! Luckily, there are so many unique and mistake-free options on the market that you don't need to be as reluctant as Wendy. Wendy has been testing baby gear since 2014 and focused on finding nail-trimming products that even the most nervous parent could successfully use. She selected and tested each nail product hands-on to find the best trimmers available.
The electric Manicure Set is an interesting but challenging product to use on infants.
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff
Analysis and Test Results
We tested each style of trimmer for ease of use, cutting ability, and overall quality to provide you with the information you need to find the right trimmers for your baby.
There is a large size disparity between traditional clippers so parents might consider their hand size before purchasing.
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff
Ease of Use
If you are already nervous about clipping your little one's nails, the last thing you need is a product that makes the whole process even more difficult. Therefore, we consider a straightforward trimmer that is easy to hold, easy to clip, and works as the best tool for the trimming task.
If easy to use is what you're looking for, then the Manicure set is not the option for you.
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff
In this lineup, only the Manicure Set is challenging to use with pieces that need assembly before use, and there are no instructions, so it is challenging to know which parts do what and how exactly you are supposed to use this system on your newborn. If manicures are your routine go-to, you'll likely understand what all the parts are for, but some instructions would have been helpful for others. The Manicure Set resembles a small Dremel tool with some files and buffer disks that allow you to trim little nails without using any cutting device. While we can see how this would appeal to nervous parents, we think it takes a lot of effort and a significant learning curve. You could use traditional clippers and complete the job in less than 2 minutes, or you can futz around with this tiny Dremel and 10 minutes in still be filing the nails of an annoyed and squirming baby. Depending on your hand size, some competition can also be harder to use. The bigger clippers of the Safety 1st Steady Grip make the product hard to grip for smaller hands, while the small design of The Snipper Clipper Set can be challenging for larger hands.
The Easy Grip Scissors are the easiest scissors we tried.
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff
While the Easy Grip Nail Scissors have a learning curve, as they are strange and not the typical style of scissors, once you gain mastery, they are effortless to use, and the design keeps the clipper's big hands out of the way so you can better see the tiny nail you're trying to cut. This trimmer is one of our favorites when it comes to ease of use. The American Red Cross Deluxe Nail Clipper and the Safety 1st Clear View Nail Clipper also have a helpful magnifier.
While all of the options can cut (minus the electric file) some are better than others at getting a quick, clean cut.
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff
Cutting Ability
Surprisingly, not all of the trimmers work well for their intended purpose. While many users remark that some contenders can't cut adult nails and are useless, baby nails are significantly thinner and far different to trim than a grown adult's nails. This means testing on yourself is not an accurate measure of how well any of the products will work on babies or children, so put your talons away.
None of the components in the Nail kit work especially well and we think it would be easier to just choose a simple clipper over this cute set.
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff
In this review, most of the traditional nail trimmers cut baby nails with one clip, leaving no dangling nail parts behind. The Snipper Clipper Set, in particular, has sharp edges and cuts very cleanly. The Easy Grip Nail Scissors also trim swiftly with no bending or peeling, even of thin infant nails. Most of the problems we experienced resulted from user error instead of product inadequacies, with some failing to press hard enough on the device for a clean cut and instead ending up with bent nails. The Manicure Set doesn't have any cutting tool, and we think that the files will quickly wear down, necessitating the purchase of replacement files. It also takes time to file the nail down to the desired length, and we think most little ones will grow squirmy and frustrated during the process, which can limit the ability of the product to trim nails effectively. The constant agitation of the file could create more trouble than it is worth. The scissors in the YIVEKO Baby Nail Kit did not work as effectively as the clippers in that set, but both are small, and we suspect parents with larger hands or thicker fingers will struggle to use these devices effectively.
Quality varied widely between the best and the worst, but they all manage to get the job done, it just comes down to how long will they last.
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff
Quality
Most of the products lacked a certain level of quality in our tests, but most are also relatively inexpensive with a limited period of use. While baby trimmers may not require high quality, that doesn't mean they shouldn't strive to be good enough to get the job done without compromise. We feel confident that even the lowest quality option in our lineup will survive babyhood and the period of life where it is useful.
The Frida products look and feel of higher quality than most of the competition; this includes The Snipper Clipper Set and the Easy Grip Nail Scissors. Both options have better metal components and sharp edges with better packaging. The presentation alone makes you feel like you've bought something special. The American Red Cross Deluxe Nail Clipper has the lowest quality in the group, with a somewhat distorted magnifier and plastic parts that feel flimsy and like they might fall off. The plastic has rougher edges, as if it came out of the mold wonky, and it fits together like a child's toy. However, it gets the job done and makes trimming easier, even if the magnifier is sub-par.
We purchased and tested the top contenders on the market to find the best and easiest to use baby nail trimmers for nervous parents.
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff
Conclusion
It is completely normal and expected for new parents to worry or fret about trimming their baby's nails. This is due in part to the nails and fingers being so tiny, making even the bravest parent nervous and shakey-handed about nail clipping and the potential for accidental cutting. What if I hurt them? What if I accidentally cut too close? Selecting the right baby nail trimmers can make the experience easier and less risky, creating peace of mind and preventing possible self-inflicted face scratches. Our complete review includes the details and best products to help make nail-trimming anxiety a distant memory.
