Babies begin to grow fingernails very early in development, around 12 weeks into pregnancy.
According to the reference material, fingernail development starts remarkably early:
- Fingernail Development: "Twelve weeks into your pregnancy, or 10 weeks after conception, your baby is sprouting fingernails." This highlights how early in gestation this process begins. The reference also notes, "Your baby's face now has taken on a more developed profile", indicating the rapid development happening at this stage.
Therefore, fingernail growth starts during the embryonic stage of development, at about 12 weeks of pregnancy.
