5 year old gel nails - is just once ok?

[ChronicallyOnLime]

God I don’t want to sound like an awful mother because I know gels can weaken nails.. but will one time be ok?

We’re off to Disneyland next week as a surprise for DD and she is utterly obsessed with having her nails done, we always use regular polish for her but they never last more than a day or two. I do my own gels at home for special occasions and I’m wondering whether I could do it on DD just for our trip?

I can avoid filing her nails surface as it’s not necessarily being done for that much longevity as you would an adult. But I’m just wondering if it’s still a terrible idea?

There’s no way I would do this.

I think your daughter’s interests sound lovely but they are not superior to someone else’s kids because they happen to have zero interest in fashion or make up. I have no interest in either. My kids both love a bit of playing with eyeshadow and getting nails painted. One of them is also really interested in fashion and, alongside other interests, learning to make clothes for her dolls. She’s so good at maths she’s working at a level 2 years beyond her age, throws herself enthusiastically into every sport/activity going including rugby & surfing, is massively creative and does some gorgeous paintings as well as building her own Lego models, plays imaginary games, rides for miles on her bike with her dad, adores live theatre and enjoys a museum visit to look at anything Roman, Egyptian or Greek. She goes to school with a group of kids who all have professional parents and attend a wide range of clubs, read extensively and have plenty of cultural capital. They also like playing dress up, doing each other’s hair and experimenting with make up. You are being pretty rude about the idea of someone having some different interests and it’s very much uncalled for. You can just say something wouldn’t suit your kid or doesn’t interest them without being disparaging about children who are different.

There are no "little boys pamper parties" where they get their hair and nails done. Their parties are usually exiting!

Yes, there are ranges of kids' makeup. I think they have fewer chemicals. So they don't stay on long, but kids don't care - it's not like they're commuting and doing a full office day!

I would have a think about having the nails done if my 5yo was this obsessed. Not a good example imho.

You do. You can't be feminine without hot-pink nail polish. I'm surprised you don't know that.

😂

Nope, can’t back you up. My 6 year old likes a bit of kids peel off nail varnish every now and again, but generally isn’t bothered. It’s more a fun activity rather than - I want my nails to look painted. Defo not bothered about make up or other stuff like that.

I have not read the messages. I would not do this on my child. I wouldn't deprive my child of having the teenage/early adult experience of having her nails done.

Are u insane !!!
no way

I loved playing dress up a child but I seriously never cared about my nails until I got older. It was nice to experiment with nail polish once in while around 11/12 and get my nails properly when I was teenager. However, I was never that focused on my appearance.

1. any decent nail tech will refuse to do them as they won’t be covered by insurance. Min age 12 or 16 for most insurance companies.
2. you can get a VERY SERIOUS allergy to Methacrylates from gel nails. I sadly have it and it caused me to have breathing issues and asthma type symptoms.
3. An allergy to Methacrylates will also mean that she won’t EVER be able to have certain medical treatments that use these chemicals such as bone repair cement.
4. My Consultant said that there has been a massive increase in the numbers of youngsters becoming allergic to these chemicals in recent years as they’re still young and their bodies developing and she thought it was horrific that the law doesn’t protect them more.
5. LED are the types of bulbs used. Ultra Violet light is the light they emit, so yes they are one and the same. However, that risk pales into insignificance compared to the risk of her getting a lifelong allergy.

I think nail stickers are fine but not gel nails.

I don't believe I said it was, but thank you for shouting.

I'm very feminine. I love pink, I look after my hair. I wear make-up every day. So does my 26 year old daughter.

Neither of us had gel nails at 5 or ever have had them. Or make-up, or glitter tattoos.

It's perfectly possible to be a feminist and to be feminine.

Why relieved? I'm sure that little girls who are more girly than yours have other things they like, too. And if your daughter did like nail polish, that would not preclude her from liking space and dragons as well! You post illustrates the false dichotomy that an interest in anything traditionally feminine must preclude other types of interests.

I can only imagine how confused you'd be if you saw a little girl driving a toy digger with her toy dragon as a passenger, while wearing sparkly hairspray and nail stickers! 😂

Edit: I mean the little girl having sparkly hairspray and nail stickers, not the dragon. Although he could also have some too, if he wanted. (Or she.)

I agree. I'd never do it on my 10 yr old DD..

That’s something that resonates with me but with make up. It was so exciting to me as a young teen to be allowed my own make up I can still remember it clearly fifty years later. I was still given rules as to what and how much make up I could have, but that didn’t bother me. I was ecstatic to get my first eyeshadow pallette,it’s quite a precious memory really.

It won’t cause any damage , go ahead and make your dd happy. These scaremongers are the ones that push their cuticles with a bamboo stick once a month and think it’s more than enough.Some don’t even know the difference between gel and acrylics.

My daughter got gel nails done when she was five for a holiday and she’s still alive.

Why would you ask this on mumsnet??

Were you replying to me? I often get mixed up with the quote bit and maybe you did? Apologies if not!

Sorry - posting for the millionth time cos I keep thinking of this!!
say you do decide it’s a real treat for her and you let her have gel nails “just this once”… next time it will be she wants them for Christmas later this year with a Santa and snowflake pattern … and then a little bit of mascara or lippy….
then the year after - face masks and highlights “BUT YOU GAVE ME THE GEL NAILS MOM” …. And then she will be 8 and want an IPhone …. And then she will be 12 - why can’t I go to the mixed sleep over the boys are fun to be with!!
im not saying your DD would be like this - just harder to push back as there will always be things she wants that you won’t agree with . And also I just feel the concentration on the image and presentation of oneself over and above living in the moment and not caring is why so many young people are more dissatisfied with their lives. The longer you put that off the better x

Well they’re hardly character failures lol. There have been posts on here saying there are dangers and professional salons won’t do them on five year olds. I haven't picked up a cuticle stick in decades, never mind once a month. Why can’t she just have some pretty nail stickers?

Yep me too… such a joy and a new era for me ..

https://www.bad.org.uk/dermatologists-reiterate-artificial-nails-warning-and-risk-of-at-home-kits/

Not sure if anyone has raised this yet, I certainly didn't know about it until a friend who is an anaesthetist began to chat about how many women aren't aware they have managed to develop an allergy through the use of this stuff until they are mid-op and the medical team have to deal with the reaction.

Biab Not gel is healthier for nails.

DD and she is utterly obsessed with having her nails done, we always use regular polish for her

I keep coming back to the OP's first post and can't believe what it says.

I've never ever heard of a 5 year old 'obsessed' with having her nails done or a parent saying 'we always use regular polish'.

What sort of childhood is she having?

Or IS she having any childhood?