To only want my 2YO DD’s nails painted on special occasions?

[LittleMrsMama]

My parents have said they plan to paint her nails next week. She’s only just turned 2 and never had her nails painted before so I’d rather she only has them done for a special occasion. My parents look after her once a week, and usually see her at the weekend too - so not a special occasion.

However part of my questions why I think it’s a problem as I’d let her get her face painted…

Bizarre - why would they want to do that?!

I'd supply them with peel off nail varnish. It's the chemicals to get the standard stuff off that id not be happy with. You get all the fun with peel off and it comes off in the bath (basically coloured PVA glue).

Face painting is for kids. I assume you don’t mean put make up on.

I don’t think painting a young child’s nails is the worse thing but it does seem a little strange, and would they do it for boys and girls or is it just introducing girls to it?

Does your child want rheir naila to be painted? Tbh it sounds like a right faff of getting her to sit still while it dries.. I don't know why anyone would bother!!

Why in gods name would you plan to paint such a tiny girls nails?

it's one thing to put a tiny wee bit on (small strip up the middle, not covering the whole nail) if she wants them done while you're doing yours, BUT I did them when they weren't around. The chemicals in nail polish & covering the whole nail is bad for them.

again with the face paint, not keen on such tiny children, 'no you can't' works. But very very occasionally won't hurt too much, but again I didn't want that crap on their skin until they were older.

just say 'No, she's far far too young for nail polish'.

they had their shot at these decisions when you were a tiny child, it's your decision for your child.

Grandparents planning to do it with a child that's not even 2 is just plain weird.

I used to paint my DD’s nails when I’d run out of things to do !
I wonder if it’s a bit of control on your part ? Just something to be aware of, I know I’m a bit of a control freak. It’s just part of my personality and I have to try and control it.

Lots of 2 year olds, girls and boys, want their nails painted. Spending time with granny is a special occasion imo. I doubt she'll be taking her for weekly manicures, just a bit of fun together

I can't see the issue. Lots of kids that age want to wear nail varnish as it's colourful and sparkly and fun.

It comes off so it wouldn't bother me.

Nail varnish is generally a gendered, adult thing which is probably why you're thinking twice. That, and the weird announcement that they've 'planned' to do it a week in advance. To me, that nudges it into bizarre and questionable territory. To them, it's clearly 'a thing', and the fact that you are posting about it indicates that it doesn't sit right with you either.

Control on OP part

Yeah. She has every right to decide her 2 year old doesn't have her nails varnished. That's normal, not controlling.

Well it is a very boring thing to do to a toddler, I would never do this, but it doesn't seem that logical to me to only want it done for 'special occasions'.

I don't like painted nails on small children, I don't know why, I just never have so I wouldn't be impressed.

I think it's pretty harmless in general, but then my now 4 year old absolutely loves having his nails painted and begs for me to do it, and has done since he was the older end of two. But it's a weird thing for them to plan and announce, rather than just doing her nails while granny does hers or whatever, so it does seem that they're making it into a 'thing' and I can see why that makes you feel uneasy.

I had a relative that wanted to do that, only to the girls though, to make them ‘look pretty’, not to the boys of the same age. My daughter wasn’t interested, one of the boys were but wasn’t allowed. Never too early to get some sexist stereotyping in for some people. And yeah, the chemicals aren’t great for young children.

Do they think she's a toy for them to dress up

I painted my nails for the first time in years in front of my not long turned 2 year old and she didn't want it anywhere near her as of the smell.

It made me think I don't know what's in it and said to my mum I wouldn't want to paint hers yet as of that.

You can get some nail wraps for when they are older but not now. She doesn't sit still long enough for starters.

You can buy kids nail polish which only lasts a few days and doesn't contain all the harsh chemicals. We have Miss Nella or Piggy Paint for my 6 year old. Alternatively nail stickers are an option as they can be removed very easily.

It's massively stereotype thing to do so I get your hesitation.

Has she asked to have it done?

Mine hates you washing her hands. No chance would she sit while you painted her nails and wait for they to dry.

YABU

Seems like a control thing on your part

You seem fine with the nail polish - as you'd be up for having them done on 'special occasions'

You seem fine with the concept of her having her nails done - same as above

So why are you having an issue with this?

It’s a bit of a weird thing for them to want to do, but I guess at least they are not planning ear piercing or a haircut! I wouldn’t really have too much of a problem with this myself though as long as they used proper kids nail varnish. My DC loved having their nails painted at that age (and still does aged 5).

My 2 & 5 your both currently have chipped remnants of paint on their toe nails. They enjoyed having it done, picked the colours and even asked for little stick on jewls (it looked super tacky, but they had a blast).

Because it's toes I'm not bothered about take it off, which cuts down on chemicals, and it's covered when their wereing shoes anyway. Could toes insted of fingers be a compromise?

Thanks everyone! DD has never asked for her nails painted or even noticed if I’ve painted my toenails so I’m not sure why my parents are so keen to do it. Thanks for all the advice on which to buy if they do go ahead!