What age is nail varnish O.K.

[Hereisalittleteapot]

What age do people feel it is reasonable for children to wear nail varnish. I was having a disagreement with a friend over the fact I do not allow my 3 year old to. She does ask sometimes but she also sucks her fingers sometimes and I just don't like it on young children.

Friend says this is hypocritical as I sometimes have a manicure.

I think after reading the replies I am going to put it off for at least another couple of years. Definitely not before her hands go in her mouth less. If she asks persistently at some point the nails seems a better option.

My son loved having his nails red & black as a 3yo to look a bit Spider-Man-ish. He continued to have that (sometimes green & blue to look Hulk-ish etc) until he went to school, when he grew out of it.

My DD however has never wanted her nails painted and wouldn’t occur to her.

My 4 year old loves kid friendly nail varnish

I think the peel of children’s stuff is fine from whenever they show an interest. I think mine have had that since 4-ish on the odd occasion they show an interest.

Actual nail polish for special occasions, maybe 10, 11, 12? And gels etc from when they can afford to pay for it themselves 🤣

I do a single coat on my DDs’ nails occasionally and they are 4&7 (but only just so I did do it when my youngest was 3). It’s not allowed at school so I only do it at the end of each term. It comes off pretty quickly with just one coat. I don’t really consider it make up as such, I don’t think blue nails are equivalent to mascara and red lipstick. But equally, I have literally no opinion on what other people choose to do with their children, and certainly wouldn’t call someone a hypocrite. Which doesn’t even make sense, because obviously you do some things you don’t allow a 3 yr old to do!

We’re the same as this for our girls 5 and 6, for at least the last couple of years. I’ve never considered it “make up” but they love painting their nails before holidays etc and are very proud of it so I don’t see the harm. Not allowed at school. (Seems funny that I’m in the minority, my mum was very strict and I thought she was the odd one!)

Just to add though, I wouldn’t think you were odd or hypocritical for having this rule - just different!

For fancy dress, as soon as they want to.

Actually having their own and wearing it whenever they like, probably secondary school age.

I think I first started age about 11. I got them free with Girl Talk magazines 🥹

What else does your friend allow her kids to do because it’s hypocritical not to? Drink wine? Drive her car? She sounds ridiculous.

Depends on the context

me and my daughter sometimes would spend time where I fud her nails and make up then she did mine ( I’d look like a clown 🤡!)z this was just a fun way to spend time together and we obvs didn’t go out - she’d be about 4/5 at this point,

if it’s proper nail varnish I’d say probably late primary for a party, or secondary for more everyday

just my opinion

I let mine from quite young, maybe about 4/5 for my youngest who wanted to be like his sister. It would usually be a rainbow of different colours. Basically the rule was once they could sit still long enough for it to dry. However I agree it's not a great idea for a child who is likely to eat it. It's a silly argument to say you are hypocritical. Funnily enough I still don't let me primary age DC have a glass of wine for example.

I was allowed at 8, back in the 70s. I had to remove it for school days, though. I still think 7/8 is about the right age to allow it.

I kept it on my son when he went to nursery. They werent bothered

I never let my daughter wear nail varnish or any other makeup until she started secondary school. I think young children look horrible with makeup.

Well I just let my 3 year old have it on her toes last week for going on holiday but said no to fingernails. I think at 3 if they show interest (dd begged me to let her) it’s fine as a treat.

As pp says though I equally think it’s fine to think that’s too young and have a rule they have to wait until they’re older. Each to their own and I deliberately don’t buy friends kids make up or nail polish as gifts no matter what their age as I don’t know of their parents would be comfortable with it.

My 5 year old has nail varnish (water based kids stuff) and she loves it. She does her nails her self. She also paints her little sisters toes (2 years old) and it’s a nice bonding moment for them. 5 year old also had childrens make up that she loves to wear when dressing up. Not out the house but I can’t understand why people get their knickers in such a twist about it

YABU to refuse to paint your little daughter's nails.

Having painted nails just like mummy's is one of the loveliest and most exciting things a child of either sex can imagine around age 2-4.

What are you afraid of?

The kid friendly stuff is really different to proper nail varnish but if you have a finger sucker I’d just go for toes when you’re ready. Basically they longer you can hold off the better but she’ll probably have it put on at a party by 4/5.

Toes are easier.
You can get nail stickers which are great for kids of any age

My DD used to have it if she asked, probably from age 5.
she had her own around age 10- she used to do her brothers nails too - they would have been 6 and 2.
the little one wears nail varnish very day now - he is 22 ☺️

On the odd occasion non-toxic kid friendly from 3 if she asked for it. I don’t consider it ‘make up’ as such.. she wants her hands and toes to look colourful or glittery. Not French tips or false eyelashes!

However your friend is an idiot.. it’s none of her business how you choose to parent and as other have pointed out adults do a lot of things we don’t let kids do.

Surprised a 3 yo would sit still enough to let you paint them! My DD’s were about 8/9 when they started painting one another’s. It isn’t allowed at secondary so now they get them done in the summer holidays only.

Mine used to like having her toes painted aged about three. (Only the one that dries in 60 seconds for obvious messy reasons.) She is now 16 and doesn’t want toes or fingers painted. 😆

I don’t have any real objection to it at any age, it’s just fun, for boys and girls, but for little kids I would only use the kid stuff. It just washes off.

My 3 year old has it all the time, had it when she was 2 as well, she loves it and asks for it regularly, it didn’t cross my mind to think she was too young.