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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Is it appropriate to paint a 4yo girls nails?

58 replies

lullaloo · 20/04/2011 11:43

My 4 YO loves dressing up and if i let her would cover her face in my make up. She loves to play with my shoes etc. I have bought her play shoes and fancy dress . I am assuming that this is a normal thing for a 4 yo, however am very aware that i do not want her to think apperance is everything. would love to hear your comments.

OP posts:

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darleneconnor · 21/04/2011 08:11

Im a feminist and find the bras for babies trend appauling but I think a bit of nail polish is fine. Ive put some on ds and dd since they were tiny toddlers. I'd take it off for school, though.

deaconblue · 21/04/2011 17:28

Good question. It wouldn't bother me in the least but dh is really anti. He says dd can't have her toenails painted til she's much older (she's 3 ). Won't even let me do clear stuff

MadameSin · 21/04/2011 18:20

Bluddy

yousankmybattleship · 21/04/2011 18:26

I know lots of poeple do it but I don't think it looks nice on young children and do not let my DD (age5) do it. Plenty of time for all that when they're older.

post · 21/04/2011 18:37

Next door neighbour offered to do dd's once. Dd replied primly 'my mummy says that makeup for little girls is gilding the lily'

girliefriend · 21/04/2011 18:42

I've painted my dds nails before now as a little treat!! She is 5yo and its only a little dab on each nail which normally wears off after a day or two!!

FGM · 21/04/2011 19:43

I painted DD's to nails for the first time recently. She is 4yo. She said "La la la la la, now I look like a real mummy!"
I thought I was a real mummy- now I know what I've been doing wrong all this time...

onehellofaride · 21/04/2011 22:42

interesting thread. Not sure why but I tend to look at people whose children have their nails painted in the same way I look at people whose children have their ears pierced. I am not sure how I will deal with this when it comes up (DD 23 months)

littleducks · 21/04/2011 22:46

I dont let my nearly five year old

NettoSuperstar · 21/04/2011 22:53

My 9yr old DD isn't remotely interested in make up or painted nails but when she was 4, she loved both.
Go figure

I've never had a problem with either on her, and I adore make up and painted nails.
DD just isn't interested for now, in fact I have a hard time just getting her in the shower.

I reckon if it's accessible, they lose interest, if it's forbidden, they want it more.

I've had so many of DD's friends over who are desperate to play with make up because they are not allowed, whereas DD can't be arsed and would rather eat a cake, or climb a tree.

CatWithKittens · 22/04/2011 09:53

I have always taken the line that make up or nail varnish is fine when dressing up as a grown up and playing pretending games but not in everyday life and have said that some things are for children and some things are for grown ups - just as grownups don't use slides in playgrounds and children don't drive real cars. DH & I have always felt that pierced ears and make up for children is pushing them through childhood too fast and introducing elements which are inappropriate for the way we want to bring our children up. After all a large part of wearing make up and doing our nails and being concerned about our appearance is for the man in our life - at least it is in my case - and I really don't want my DDs thinking in those terms yet; it will come quite soon enough. I think what I am groping towards saying, without wishing to offend anybody who does not see it in the same way, is that make up and so on for little girls is coming near to sexualising childhood.

VinegarTits · 22/04/2011 10:55

ds is still wearing his green nail varnish 2 days in, it matches his blue and green flip flops, i had the stick surgically removed from my ass years ago though

CatWithKittens · 22/04/2011 19:14

VinegarTits - I'm sure the poor creature was delighted.

VinegarTits · 22/04/2011 19:38

well his toes havent fell off yet

tassisssss · 22/04/2011 19:40

i don't love it but my TWO year old currently has her nails painted in my defence she has a big sister but still...!

2cats2many · 22/04/2011 19:41

Well, I painted my 2 1/2 DS's toenails this afternoon. I was doing mine and he wanted his done too. He just wanted to copy mum and is no problem as far as I'm concerned.

hester · 22/04/2011 19:43

I have always allowed it as part of dressing up. Not 'to look pretty' and never as routine/to school etc.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 22/04/2011 19:58

Before I had DD I would have said no way. Now she's 3.3 and although hasn't mentioned it, she's bound to soon. Can't say I'm bothered either way. A dab of light pink on her toes isn't going to bring the world crashing to a halt.

allbie · 22/04/2011 20:03

DS is 4 and has his toenails done by his sister...alternating colours! He loves them and calls them 'his pretties'. He even does ballet! Shock! Horror!

MotherSnacker · 22/04/2011 20:07

I painted my dds from about age 3.

alarkaspree · 22/04/2011 20:14

Darleneconnor - there's a bras for babies trend???? WTF?

I am happy with nail varnish on toes but not keen on fingers because they tend to chew it off. fwiw. But when my dcs were babies I would have frowned on it. I also used to disapprove of kids' tattoo stickers. Have lightened up a bit now.

Bunnyjo · 23/04/2011 09:32

DD, who is 3.8, has been begging me for weeks (and weeks and weeks) to have her nails painted as many of her friends do. As it is the Easter holidays, I have relented and she has her fingers and toe nails painted now. She is delighted and understands that having nail polish on is a rare treat and not something that is allowed during school/ nursery time.

Oh and WRT to bras - I went to get fitted for nursing bras yesterday (36wk pregnant) with DH and DD. As I was being fitted, DD was happily parading round in bunch of very padded display bras. Mind, she did try on one of the bras mummy was trying on too, but announced 'That is far too big mummy - I can fit my head in there!' [bublush] [bugrin]

FuppyGish · 23/04/2011 09:36

we do it here for parties or holidays, i dont mind her having it on as long as its occasional.

Meglet · 23/04/2011 09:37

I'm rather fond of children with coloured toe-nails (boys and girls). I don't wear make up, but always have toe polish on.

The question is how do you get them to stay still long enough to get it on? Even if mine asked for it I think they'd smudge it off after a couple of seconds.

thefirstMrsDeVere · 23/04/2011 09:38

How do we stand on dogs & nail varnish?

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