Wrinkled Fingernails?

[Green Lady]

Does anyone else's baby have wrinkly-looking fingernails? My LO has had them for awhile (couldn't say how long) and I got to wondering if it was normal.

 

[Septie]

No idea if it can normal. But I do think nutritional deficiencies can show up in the fingernails being different, so I would bring it up to the pediatrician (in case she has difficulties absorbing some vitamins or something, as formula or breastfeeding should be plenty nutritious).

 

[Green Lady]

I'd read some people online mention that it might be a deficiency of some kind, but no one said what. I know fingernails in adults can show deficiencies, but I wasn't sure if babies' nails being wrinkled was normal. Her nails are still quite thin, not hard like an adult's. I meant to ask the HV last time I was at the baby clinic but forgot!

 

[CormacksGirl]

Adams nails had grooves in them and I asked the HV about it and she told me it was caused by Adam sucking his fingers!!! Something to do with his saliva making them soft. They're fine now though!!!!!!

 

[Cattia]

My daughter had this and my son has it too. I was told by the Dr that if the grooves are running long ways then it is just a normal pattern of the nail, but if they run across the nail then it could be a deficiency. I have just started giving DS vitamin drops just in case.

 

[punk_pig]

My LO had these, some were vertical, some diagonal, some horizontal. She doesn't have them anymore so I reckon it was the fact that she had her fists constantly in her mouth as it coincided with the "fist in mouth constantly" stage. No-one was ever concerned that she was deficient in anything. She is 1yr old now and they are mostly smooth.

 

[feedindy]

My daughter had this and my son has it too. I was told by the Dr that if the grooves are running long ways then it is just a normal pattern of the nail, but if they run across the nail then it could be a deficiency. I have just started giving DS vitamin drops just in case.

My doctor said the same thing but also added that if any of the wrinkles have whiteness to them it is also a sign of deficiency.

 

[maddog37]

I asked about this a few months ago. My son has it but only on the fingers he mainly sucks on, so I think it's just like getting pruney fingers, but they're in the mouth so much that the nails are soft.

 

[Green Lady]

Thanks! They do go lengthwise rather than across the nail. Looking at them it's only her middle three fingers that are wrinkly, so maybe it is from her sucking on them! I'll try to ask the HV next time I stop in just in case.