How to fix a black nail

So today my DS, 18 month’s, is climbing over the deck my DH is building. My son and I went out to inspect the handiwork. A piece of wood I thought was nailed down wasn’t, and while not particularly heavy, when it acquired enough force as it fell on my son’s fingers, was quite painful. He hollered and cried, and then we discovered he had a black nail as a result.

My husband felt terrible and I thought my son would lose the nail. My son was through hollering but he was moaning and you could tell his finger hurt.

I am the granddaughter of farmers who have seen everything you can think of. I call my Grammy, who puts my grandfather on the phone. “Take a sharp needle and poke it through the cuticle under the nail bed at an angle. One or two drops of blood will come out. It will release the pressure.”

We put him in his high chair. My husband held his choosers. I ran rubbing alcohol over a needle. I poked. Nothing. It wasn’t sharp enough. I took a deep breath and jabbed, hoping I got the angle right and that I went deep enough. My sone cried. One big fat drop of blood pooled. Minutes later he was no longer moaning but singing a happy tune. His nail is still discolored but he won’t lose it, and the pain is gone.

God bless grandparents. This is just a quick tip - made a huge difference.