Unfortunately, we can’t tell you for sure what’s causing your child’s ingrown toenails until we have a chance to look for ourselves. That’s because there are several possible explanations.

Not to worry, though! There are a small handful of potential causes that tend to be the most common. They include:

Shoes that Don’t Fit

If your child’s shoes are too small or too big, ingrown toenails can follow. That’s especially true if your child plays sports or is otherwise highly active.

Shoes that are too tight (especially in the toe box area) means toenails can get pressed into the surrounding skin. Go too loose, though, and their shoes can slide around and bump up against their toenails repeatedly during active play.

Of course, this is true for anybody. But because of the way kids’ feet grow so fast, keeping them in shoes that fit appropriately can be a major challenge!

Make sure you’re checking the fit of your child’s shoes at least once per month to ensure there’s still enough “wiggle room” in the toe box. At the same time, resist the urge to give them big shoes to “grow into.” You might think you’re saving yourself a little cash, but you’re also putting your child at risk of foot pain and injuries.

Toenails that Aren’t Cut Properly

The best way to cut toenails is straight across, and short but not too short. You want to keep just a little bit of overhang at the end, and you want to avoid rounding in at the corners.

It may seem like a small thing, but toenails that are cut too short, especially in the corners, are much more likely to snag and dig into the surrounding skin as they grow back out. And of course, toenails that are too long can lead to all sorts of painful nail problems—ingrown toenails being just one of them.

Very young children might need their toenails cut every two weeks to maintain proper length. As they get bigger and older, they might not need to trim quite so often. Just keep an eye on it!

Once your child is old enough to cut their own nails, make sure they understand how to do so properly, and why it’s important.

They Were Born That Way

Unfortunately, chronic ingrown toenails in children—especially very young children who may not even be in shoes yet—is often a sign that they may simply be prone to them due to the way that their toenails are shaped.

If one or more parents or grandparents have also had trouble with ingrown toenails in the past, this scenario is even more likely.

However, this isn’t as bad as it sounds! Even when genetics are part of the problem, there’s a simple solution that can help solve your little one’s ingrown toenail problems for good.