Trimming your baby's tiny nails can be fraught with anxiety, but it definitely isn't one of those jobs you can avoid either.
Newborn nails grow at a freakishly fast rate and those itsy bitsy claws can do some serious damage. So how do you keep your nugget's nails trim and tidy without having a nervous breakdown? By using the right tools, of course.
Baby nail clippers have a much smaller blade size than regular nail clippers, and many also have handy features like LED lights and magnifying glasses to make your job a little easier.
We searched the web for the best baby nail clippers of 2020 and read hundreds of user reviews to make sure they're up to scratch. Check 'em out
Already veering into Wolverine territory? Go ahead and skip straight to our stress-free top pick, the Little Martin's Drawer Baby Nail Trimmer File.
How to Choose the Best Baby Nail Clippers
Whether you opt for a standard baby nail clipper, nail scissors, or an electric file, every nail trimming tool should be safe, effective, and easy to grip—and if it's budget-friendly, all the better.
Check out our personal rating criteria for an idea of what you should be on the lookout for:
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Safety
Is the nail clipper appropriately sized? Does it help boost visibility in any way? Is it easy to handle? The last thing any parent wants is to hurt their baby. Your baby nail clipper should help you avoid it as far as possible.
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Efficacy
Making it through one mini manicure only to have to do it again because your baby's nails are still too long, sharp, or ragged can be seriously frustrating. A baby nail clipper needs to trim those claws properly the first time.
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Grip
Most baby nail clippers are much smaller than the ones you're accustomed to using on yourself. A grippy handle might not seem like a big deal, but it can make your nail clipper that much easier to hold onto and maneuver.
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Price
Paying a little extra for something that does a great job and gives you peace of mind can be a worthwhile investment, but you shouldn't pony up more than you have to. We compared prices to make sure they're reasonable.
The 10 Best Baby Nail Clippers & Sets of 2020
| Safety: |  (5 / 5) |
| Efficacy: | (5 / 5) |
| Grip: | (5 / 5) |
| Price: | (5 / 5) |
| Average: | (5 / 5) |
It might not be a traditional baby “nail clipper”, but if you break out in a cold sweat at the thought of trimming your baby's nails, this electric nail file is a game changer.
Not only does it quickly and effectively file down little nails, but it does so with next to no risk of injury, so you can breathe a little easier when the next mini-manicure day rolls around. And thanks to a super quiet motor and a built-in LED light, you can even get the job done while your baby naps. Plus, it also comes with three color-coded interchangeable pads to adapt to your baby's hardening nails and three separate attachments for you—score!
Pros
Cons
| Safety: | (5.0 / 5) |
| Efficacy: |  (4.5 / 5) |
| Grip: | (5.0 / 5) |
| Price: | (5.0 / 5) |
| Average: |  (4.9 / 5) |
Having trouble seeing your baby's teensy weensy little nails? This innovative baby nail clipper comes with a fold away magnifying glass to help you get a closer look.
The blades are perfectly sized for little fingers and sharp enough to cut through any thickness (even those papery thin newborn nails). In fact, many parents reach for this nail clipper well beyond infancy as well. Worried about holding it? Don’t be. The ergonomically shaped handle makes it a breeze to work with.
Pros
Cons
| Safety: | (5.0 / 5) |
| Efficacy: | (5.0 / 5) |
| Grip: | (5.0 / 5) |
| Price: |  (3.5 / 5) |
| Average: |  (4.6 / 5) |
If things tend to get a little shaky during trims, this one's for you. Simple, but sweet, the Safety 1st Steady Grip has a straightforward design that focuses more on comfortable handling than fancy bells and whistles.
An extra large handle and grippy thumb piece eliminates slips and fumbles, making for a much safer experience overall. The blades themselves are sharp enough to cut without bending or tearing nails and their compact size reduces the possibility of cutting off more than you bargained for.
Pros
Cons
| Safety: | (5.0 / 5) |
| Efficacy: | (5.0 / 5) |
| Grip: | (4.5 / 5) |
| Price: | (5.0 / 5) |
| Average: | (4.9 / 5) |
If you're going the nail scissors route, Piyo Piyo makes some of the best. At a glance, they look pretty simple, but almost everything about these scissors is a cut above the rest.
The handles are balanced, making them suitable for both left and right handed use. The gently curved blades follow the natural contour of the nail for a more streamlined experience while the rounded tips make them safe to use on even the wriggliest babies.
Pros
Cons
| Safety: | (5.0 / 5) |
| Efficacy: |  (4.0 / 5) |
| Grip: | (5.0 / 5) |
| Price: |  (3.0 / 5) |
| Average: |  (4.3 / 5) |
From the creators of the aptly named Snot Sucker comes another awesome offering: the Snipper Clipper.
Rather than using lights or magnifying glasses, this option boasts a carefully placed spy hole so you can see exactly what you're cutting. The overlapping blades are a little different too, working more like scissors for smooth, noise-free trims. As an added bonus, the Snipper Clipper comes with a gentle S-shaped nail file to help you smooth away rough edges and sharp corners.
Pros
Cons
| "Safety: |  (0.0 / 5) |
| 4: | (0.0 / 5) |
| Efficacy: | (4.5 / 5) |
| Grip: | (5.0 / 5) |
| Price: | (5.0 / 5) |
| Average: |  (2.9 / 5) |
“Cut your baby's nails when they're asleep” is sound advice, but getting a good view of those tiny nails in a darkened room can be something of a challenge.
The award-winning Sleepy Baby Nail Clipper solves this issue with built-in LED lights that automatically switch on when you open the clipper. While the side-positioned lights can make it a little tricky to trim corners, it just so happens that this option also comes with a little nail file to take care of any not-so-smooth edges.
Pros
Cons
| Safety: | (4.0 / 5) |
| Efficacy: | (5.0 / 5) |
| Grip: | (3.5 / 5) |
| Price: | (4.0 / 5) |
| Average: |  (4.1 / 5) |
This stylish little baby nail clipper is a great choice if you have small hands or simply want a cute and compact option for on-the-go use.
Smaller than most, the Rhoost Baby Nail Clipper comfortably fits petite hands and takes up hardly any space in a diaper bag or handbag. The bamboo handle and silicone thumb piece deliver a decent grip while giving the clipper a decidedly trendy appeal at the same time. Plus, the extra splash of color might just distract baby long enough for you to get the job done. If you like the look and don't necessarily need an oversized handle, these are well worth a try.
Pros
Cons
| Safety: | (4.0 / 5) |
| Efficacy: | (3.5 / 5) |
| Grip: | (3.5 / 5) |
| Price: | (5.0 / 5) |
| Average: | (4.0 / 5) |
If you take your mini-manicures seriously or just can't decide which tools you like best, this complete baby nail care set is a solid choice.
With two scissors, an ergonomic nail clipper, a glass nail file, and nose tweezers, it takes care of all your nail trimming and booger removing needs.
The not-so-good news? The nail clipper handle isn't particularly large and the scissors aren't the smoothest.
Pros
Cons
| Safety: | (4.0 / 5) |
| Efficacy: | (4.0 / 5) |
| Grip: | (3.5 / 5) |
| Price: | (3.0 / 5) |
| Average: |  (3.6 / 5) |
If aesthetics are as important to you as function, these adorable nail clippers won't disappoint. Despite being relatively frill-free, they still do a great job.
The size is spot on and the blades are sharp enough to cut through thin newborn nails. The grip is decent enough, though not quite as chunky as some, and the blade cover is a nice touch that (surprisingly) you don't see very often.
Pros
Cons
#10
ZoLi BUZZ B
| Safety: | (5.0 / 5) |
| Efficacy: |  (2.0 / 5) |
| Grip: | (3.5 / 5) |
| Price: | (4.0 / 5) |
| Average: | (3.6 / 5) |
Specially designed for babies, the Buzz B is super safe and ultra gentle on tiny nails and tender skin. With two speed settings and four color coordinated pads for different age groups, this electric trimmer makes a versatile addition to any baby nail care kit, but it does take a while to get nails trim and tidy.
If you have a patient baby or simply want something to smooth over ragged nail edges after clipping, this option is worth considering.
Pros
Cons
Well, there you have it—10 brilliant baby nail clippers to help you keep those claws short, smooth, and safe.
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