DTs came home from PILs today with NAIL VARNISH on...

[inamuckingfuddle]

...and it wasn't their 5 yr old cousin that had put it on them it was their f*ing 58 yr old grandad they're only 3 I'm furious!

I do DS's toes and have done since he was 1 - but only because he wants his done when he sees me doing mine. So he gets the same colour as me - normally pink. He loves it and it grows off. Would probably stop though at an age where it could embarrass him.

Fingers I wouldn't do though, because I'd worry he's nibble the pollish off and ingest it...

Mummypotpot, we are exactly the same here. My daughter found my makeup one day and ruined it all, but she had so much fun doing it.

I don't wear makeup unless for parties or special occasions myself, and often get berated by my daughter for not putting on makeup, high heels and pretty dresses. I was taught by my mother that it was unnecessary and unimportant. I to this day still can't put it on properly.

She and her brother are allowed to play with their makeup in the house, but not outside. A colleague of mine has given them all her samples (ex-cosmetic saleswoman) and they love it. It is dress up and fun.

My ds's paternal aunty used to paint his toenails when he was a tot. He liked it, just like he likes face painting etc, dont see the harm persoanlly

I got half way through this thread and had to add my bit.

inamuckingfuddle - I totally agree with you. I think there's nothing worse than seeing teenies with nail varnish, earrings and the like.

Dressing up is totally different and I agree that nail varnish and makeup in this context is fine, but I think it should be made clear to the child that it is dressing up, not for everyday, and a time set for its removal.

Perhaps it's my childhood that makes me feel this way - these are the values of my parents and my maternal Grandma, but I do not think they are old fashioned in the least. I think that children are growing up faster than my friends and I did - I'm 30 (what do you other 30's girls think?). I commute into London from SE London and, call me a snob, but I don't want my daughters (ok so only 22 weeks with No 1 bump of undetirmined sex!) going to school with hair full of gel and spray and faces plastered with make-up at the age of 13 (and younger), like the girls I see every morning. Perhaps they were the 4yrolds who wouldn't go out without their faces on.

On the whole Grandad thing, I think that is totally down to the Grandad in question. In he case of my FIL, it would never happen (he didn't stop talking about what he wanted to talk about as we delivered the pregnancy news - first grandchild btw - and thereafter made no comment), but it would be different with someone else. For instance my Dad's best friends. They're both about 60 and Grandads to girls and I wouldn't have any objections there.

This is all about personal opinions / attitude, the context, and the people involved. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Don't berate inamuckingfuddle just because she has a different opinion and attitude to you!

why does it matter so much, like someone said before there are bigger battles to fight, if i wear it why cant they, like i said i paint toes only...theres no harm so why does it matter its only nail polish....it doesnt say to all the other toddler boys in town hey boys i wear nail polish....it says nothing at all

I think it's cool that your children have a grandad who is bothered enough to want to play with them - see no difference between nail varnish and dressing up in silly hats and too big shoes which my dd also loves. Nail varnish comes off, it's not like he tatooed them or something. but I defend your right to be upset as we parent differntly - one thing my in-laws do which really gets to me is to regularly give dd (2.9) espresso coffee! drives me mad but probably not so to many others.

at 2yr old on espresso - nightmare

i know! they reckon they add lots of milk but she still comes home from their house buzzing -

have only read the op but..

I really can't see what the problem is. It's not like you can't take it off!

My dd loves having her nails painted
she even paints her father's toenails he often has one blue big toe and one pink

You used the f word twice: in your first post and a little after that and that if you do it on mumsnet, you probably do it in real life. I wasn't making a "vicious" attack, I was trying to point out that there are probably a few other things to worry about than something as harmless as a grandfather choosing nailpolish as the means of playing with his granddaughers. (I had to retrain dh who inadvertantly "taught" dd the word fing ell when she was 2!!!)
And I would suggest considering a little more the difference between putting makeup on your child to beautify them and allowing your child to play with makeup as part of the dressing up experience. Should flightattendant not let her ds play with a tutu in case it causes him to grow up to be a crossdresser? Big difference between lettting him play with a tutu and flightattendent purposely dressing him in a dress to go out in. Again, really just think you may want to save your energy for when they are teenagers...believe me you will definitely need it then. And nailpolish will be the least of your worries.

I think there are better things to get worked up about, it sounds harmless to me. I've put it on my niece since she was about 3, she loves it. I think its nice that her grandad is paying her some attention.

don't see the problem myself. my 18 month old niece loves having her nails painted, carrying around her handbag with her pretend mobile phone and keys, and big plastic bracelets and necklaces so she can be just like mummy.

If what you are saying is that the grandad had no idea how you felt about it then you are absolutely being unreasonable!