Of all the baby-care tasks, nothing seems to panic parents more than the idea of cutting their baby's nails.

Clippers or Scissors?

Parents are evenly divided between clippers and scissors. Clippers seem safer than scissors, but can actually cause more damage. The best guide is probably what you're more comfortable using on your own nails — experience counts. And you may discover, that your own manicure scissors are actually less likely to draw blood than blunt-tipped infant nail scissors. The blunt tip does keep you from stabbing your baby, but that isn't so much of a risk. The bigger problem is that the blades of baby scissors tend to be a little thicker and difficult to slip easily under your baby's nails, making it more likely that you'll pinch skin.

Trim Time

Wait until your baby is in a deep sleep when you're learning to trim nails. This means her arms and legs flop when lifted, and her hand is resting open, not in a fist. Hold the scissors or clippers in one hand; with the other, pull the tip of her finger down away from the nail. You should now have better access to the nail, so go ahead and cut. Cut straight across. If you're worried about sharp corners, you can gently file them later. If you do cut your baby, press on the cut and the bleeding will quickly stop. You can also dab on antibiotic first-aid cream.

You will get better with practice — and you will get plenty of practice. Your infant's fingernails may need to be trimmed several times a week. (The good news is you don't need to worry about cutting your baby's toenails. Don't worry if they look weird; they'll grow out slowly.)