AIBU or is painting children's finger & toenails....

[buxomwenchonapony]

... just harmless fun?

or

Is it just the beginning of the lifelong quest for beauty, the first idea that she is 'better' when she is painted or plucked or tanned or in some way adorned.

Only I've just painted dd1's toenails (she's 4). She asked for blue toenails with pink spots and I obliged, that's ok, isn't it? Or will i be taking her for spray tans and eyelash extensions next?

I expect this topic has been done to death previously. I'm new though, humour me?!

It's about as sexualising as letting a toddler wear a sparkly fairy dress IMO.

Itty bitty nails in pretty colours

I did at a friends seven year old in eye shadow, lipstick and blusher.....

Its harmless fun

This thread has made me think of when I went on holiday to Greece when I was younger - I made friends with a girl (we were both 16 I think) and we went into the town together and both got our nails pierced (a tiny hoop with a gemstone through the white bit at the end so no pain involved). My friends parents went MENTAL. I remember just thinking - she can cut her nails if you don't like it! Not the same as the OP but it just reminded me.

Like Coffeedodger my DD (3.6) asked this week to have it done as she saw me do it - I rarely wear it. She wanted to do mine in return so she is parading nicely painted toes and I'm sure you can imagine what mine look like

Oddly I wouldn't let her paint her fingernails at the same time though.

I let DD paint mine too and have to remove it from my feet discretely so as not to offend!

Harmless fun.

harmless fun.
Just had my feet done and DD (5) always gets her nails(hands) done at same time - they offer (free)
Is this the rocky road to fake tanning/waxing (at a young age) etc don't think so.
But NEVER kept on for school.

MN has really changed, not for the better.

Harmless. My boys have had blue toenails this summer (blue being the colour of choice for boys, obviously they don't want any of that pink stuff).

Although son was sneered at by some girls at the paddling pool yesterday, who clearly thought the very idea of a small boy with blue toes was completely unacceptable. He's 4.

His dad had blue toes as well, as boys insisted that daddy matched.

I'm a bit hmmmmmmm about make-up and nail varnish but come down on the side of fairly harmless if taken into context and not in order to make little girls feel this is the only way to demonstrate their femininity or to feel properly attractive. It's actually the over-sexualised clothes that really get my goat. Not a bit of nail varnish or some make-up put on for fun.

both DS1 (7) and DD (2) like their nails painted.
DS favours black, blue, green and DD likes her Princesses Rock sparkly pink one.

I really don't like it when it looks like adults nail polish colours. Young children shouldn't be trying to look like dressed up adults.

But if it is kids type colours and designs then I guess thats fine - still not a fan, but as I haven't got any real reason for this I accept I abu.

no problem with it at all. Its all part of dress up games.

I personally think it looks horrible on children. I don't really know why, I just think it's unnecessary.

My 6 year old bridesmaid came to my house to get ready for my wedding with pink nail varnish on. 8 year old bridesmaid's mother noticed and offered to do her daughter's nails the same. I politely declined and instead found some nail varnish remover to get rid of it from the 6 year old's nails.

well my boys all LOVE having their toe nails painted, well the 11 yr old doesnt anymore but the 8, 6 and 3 yr olds do.

i painted my toe nails recently and was tempted to paint dd's (5mths) but thought she was a bit too young and her nails too small, once she asks i will do tho, its harmless fun :)

Harmless fun :) If I'm doing my own, DD1 loves having hers done too. I don't let her wear it for school though so it's generally only at weekends or holidays.

Ruby

Bourjois do a really cute one, its a very sheer pink but has different coloured glitter in it, added bonus is it dries in 30 seconds, I cant imagine any adult would want to wear it but my 3 year old thinks its the most beautiful thing in the world!

Harmless fun. DD (3.4) hasn't asked yet but I have no problem with it. Won't be giving her my blacks and purples though :)

I don't like fingernails being painted on small children - I just think its looks awful. HOWEVER - I paint dd's toenails but only very pail shades (peach, pink, silver, sparkly). She's 4.

Harmless fun. DS has had bright blue nails for the past couple of days. DD is still too young though.

that should be pale not pail

ds loves it!!!

Harmless fun. DD's toenails are mint choc chip at the moment.

I was a tomboy as a child and even I liked having my nails painted. Rarely use it now except on holidays. Hence the mint green polish!