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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Nail polish on babies?

99 replies

handbagCrab · 23/05/2012 12:14

Not sure if AIBU but I saw a baby being pushed around with bright pink painted toenails and I thought it was a bit ott.

Is it a bit much to paint a baby's toenails or is it the done thing for little dds?

OP posts:
Ithinkitsjustme · 23/05/2012 12:15

I hate it but would prefer it to having their ears pierced! Grin

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 23/05/2012 12:15

Well I dont have a DD but personally I think YANBU!!

I also hate jewellry/pierced ears on babies too, just looks wrong!

Sirzy · 23/05/2012 12:16

How old?

If old enough to pester ask then as a once every blue moon thing then fine. If a tiny baby I would find it a bit odd though.

RetiredDJ · 23/05/2012 12:16

you are BU, but only a little. I don't think I'd do it personally to a child but maybe the Mum was fed up of having her little girl mistaken for a boy and decided to paint her toes pink rather than doing something more permanent like piercing her ears?

Sirzy · 23/05/2012 12:17

Retired - what's wrong with a dress to show a child is a girl if it upsets you that much!

AWomanCalledHorse · 23/05/2012 12:17

I used to know someone who would paint her baby girls toenails from birth.
Her reasoning is that she had to wait so long for a girl (6 boys) that she was going to spoil her.

wigglesrock · 23/05/2012 12:19

It depends how old, I have 3dds and the eldest (6) likes painting her nails, sometimes I do her toes at the weekend, my youngest is 15 months and she was waving her toes at me last weekend in anticipation.

DaenerysTargaryen · 23/05/2012 12:19
IAmNotACowbag · 23/05/2012 12:21

YABU. If I ever have a daughter she'll be tattooed and pierced by aged 1.

jamdonut · 23/05/2012 12:22

Any type of cosmetics for small children is wrong in my opinion,and also agree with comments on pierced ears. Wait till the child is old enough to give their own opinion on what they want! That goes for extreme hairstyles on small boys and little girls having hi-lights too! It makes me think they are being treated like little dolls.

eurochick · 23/05/2012 12:23

Yuk.

surroundedbyblondes · 23/05/2012 12:24

That could have been me! DD1 had her nails painted for a birthday party last week. DD2 (18month) clamoured for the varnish too so I did her two big toenails and she was delighted. We were out for a walk before lunch and she took her socks off as it's v warm here. Sorry if you think I'm tacky, but it really is all about the context!!

pumpkinsweetie · 23/05/2012 12:24

Don't agree with it at all, children should be children, not covered in make-up, fake tan & nail varnish!

RetiredDJ · 23/05/2012 12:24

Hi Sirzy I'm not upset, did my post come across like I was? It wasn't meant to.

I don't think there is anything wrong with a dress to show it's a girl. I was just saying that I thought IMO that painting nails was better then piercing ears on a very little child. That's all :)

Pinner35 · 23/05/2012 12:25

My DD's aged 4 and 2 are forever asking to have their nails painted. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't....but I find the "child" polish comes off in the bath so its never on for long.

PandaWatch · 23/05/2012 12:26

One of my nephews went through a stage of wanting his nails painted bright colours when he was about 2.

I think if they are old enough to want it done it's harmless. But I'd probably be a bit Confused if it was on a baby too young to express such an opinion!

Sirzy · 23/05/2012 12:26

No you didn't come across upset at all, I just thought painting nails was an odd way of showing someone is a girl!

wigglesrock · 23/05/2012 12:26

But children are being children, they are not putting the nail varnish on to appeal to others. They see an older sibling/parent painting their nails and want to have a go/join in. Its a bit of nail polish, but as I said depends on how old the baby is.

MaisyMooCow · 23/05/2012 12:27

Surely this can't be healthy for the baby's nails. They need air to grow strong. I know if I've had nail enamel on my toe nails for quite a while they begin to feel slightly brittle.

Plus, what about the nail varnish remover too, that must be quite harsh on the baby's delicate nails and skin.

MustControlFistOfDiplodocus · 23/05/2012 12:31

I'm sure it's harmless bit like the moustache I've just drawn on 18mo DS Smile

surroundedbyblondes · 23/05/2012 12:32

That's why it's still on there from last week, I don't want to use any remover on her toes!!!

Psammead · 23/05/2012 12:32

I really couldn't care less about this. It's not permanent or painful or harmful. I have never done it, but I cannot summon the energy to feel outraged when others do.

PandaWatch · 23/05/2012 12:32

MustControl - is that because people kept thinking your DS was a girl> Grin

IAmNotACowbag · 23/05/2012 12:33

I'm sure peroxide is fine to highlight babies hair with too.

PandaWatch · 23/05/2012 12:36

Yes - using peroxide on a child's hair is most definitely on a level with a bit of nail varnish Hmm