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Parenting

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Original poster

Nail varnish. What do you think about it on children?

97 replies

S1ur · 12/08/2008 01:07

Is it okay to put it on small, preschool children? Assuming they have asked for it and is part of some well-thought out holiday play scheme/considered parenting approach to behavioural issue.

Or is it unsafe and cheap and frankly a wee bit suspect to paint the toe nails of a four year old?

Or is it just fun occasionally and ffs just polish after all?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

farrowandball · 12/08/2008 10:47

no (bored sigh) i dont wear a wimple. i wear make up. which i wasnt allowed to wear until i was a teenager and, amazingly, i dont wear much now.

look - you asked a question, i gave you my opinion. if you didnt want alternative views, dont ask.

but my bottom line is that wearing clothes and cutting hair is of an entirely different order to putting make-up on kids. like i said, you can do what you want. i choose not to.

but - i'm going to bow out now because i've seen this stuff kick off before on here and i really dont want to get into a slanging match about something so trivial.

Lauriefairycake · 12/08/2008 10:48

I've told the ten year old I will paint her toenails if she stops biting them and her nails on her hands - hasn't happened yet

but she's not allowed make-up til 12

ThatBigGermanPrison · 12/08/2008 10:48

I have seen a Barbie one (my friend had it when we were about 12) that is a fabulously garish pink and peels off very neatly.

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Anna8888 · 12/08/2008 10:50

My daughter (3.9) regularly tells me she must "just put her make-up on" when we are leaving the house to go out (she did this this morning when we popped out to buy croissants for breakfast).

It's fun to wear a little make-up and it really is so harmless...

littlelapin · 12/08/2008 10:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Anna8888 · 12/08/2008 10:51

My daughter (3.9) regularly tells me she must "just put her make-up on" when we are leaving the house to go out (she did this this morning when we popped out to buy croissants for breakfast).

It's fun to wear a little make-up and it really is so harmless...

tiredemma · 12/08/2008 10:51

TBGP- How old is your DS? (is he 5?) My ds is the same age and is obsessed with all things 'beautifying', at the moment he is into French Plaits.

WhereTheWildThingsWere · 12/08/2008 10:56

My ds is 4 and loves his long blond curly hair tied into a pony tail.

He would pass for a very pretty girl.....

ThatBigGermanPrison · 12/08/2008 11:04

yes, he's 5. He's always nagging for my makeup, but I have my own reasons not to let him wear it.

It's mine!!!

hercules1 · 12/08/2008 11:05

Anna- my dd does the same if we are going out! It is sooo not to do with sexuality. I love wearing makeup as an adult and wasnt allowed to as a child. It really is harmless.

tiredemma · 12/08/2008 11:12

I let him have some old stuff. He says that he loves 'the feel' of lipgloss!!

Original poster

S1ur · 12/08/2008 11:35

Ordinarily my dd uses felt tips to decorate herself with.

It just so happened we were putting on a show involving face paints and costumes and she asked if she could have her toes painted. I have always said no before, this time I said yes.

I am pretty on the fence about this really. I don't like it much, but certainly don't think it is akin to scary made-up beauty contest children.

Thanks to those who left tips about removal or alternative colourings.

OP posts:

aly16 · 12/08/2008 11:38

My DD is only 2 and asked me to paint her nails the other day whilst watching me do mine. I only did her toe nails but she loves it and it looks really cute! It doesn't harm her and is easy to clean off I see no problem with it from toddlers onwards x

Flamesparrow · 12/08/2008 11:43

DS currently has beoooooooootiful red toenails (he did have fingers too but it came off) - he saw nappiesgalore painting hers and asked for his to be done too

Tatties · 12/08/2008 11:49

Oh surely it is just a bit of fun? When I have been doing my toenails ds (3) has asked for some, and the only reason I didn't put any on him was because I knew he couldn't sit still long enough for it to dry!

solo · 12/08/2008 11:50

I don't like it, but each to their own.

Badgermoose · 12/08/2008 13:59

DD (4) loves having her toes done but also currently has a wellie obsession so its not displayed to its full advantage. My only real gripe is that she insists on doing my toenails for me so I spend much time looking like the front half of my feet have been in a chainsaw accident.

I don't wear make up (too lazy) so there is none in the house and she's never seen me put any on, but when MIL is staying she's into her makeup bag like a rat up a drainpipe. I think she sees it as an extension of dressing up, and not any different to face painting. At the moment its all just a game for her and I don't think that there's any element of sexualization in it currently. Suspect I'll feel differently when she's older, hormones are coming into play and I really have reason to be concerned about her projecting an over sexualised image

cocolepew · 12/08/2008 14:22

Unless there's a man who has a clown fetish, my DD in her make-up is perfectly safe.

charleymouse · 12/08/2008 14:29

It encourages DD to have her nails cut otherwise I have to do them when she is asleep.

She has only had them painted a couple of times and only her toenails.

I wear little make up but usually have my toenails painted. She just wants to be like Mummy. It also is good for hiding the muck underneath them

DH does not like the idea of lip gloss and the connotations behind that though, DD does occasionally put lipstick on. I have managed to change it to lip balm/chapstick as she doesn't look when doing it just likes to smear Lipstick all over her face or anyone who will set still near her. She has no idea there is nothing visible

Broodymomma · 12/08/2008 21:38

I seen a little girl age about 4 and her mummy having their nails done at one of these nailport places in the shopping centre the other day. It looked like they were having a lovly girly day out. I dont see anything wrong with it every now and again tbh.

yummybunnymummy · 12/08/2008 22:42

My 2 ds love having their toenails done as its something they see mummy do......however my ds1 was quite upset that daddy wasn't joining in the toe-painting event and everything being very jolly (nice family together activity feel etc) he agreed to let them paint his toe nails (much to my surprise and 2ds delight) Imagine his horror when his mum and dad pop over for a cuppa and see their alpha boy and grandsons all painted....absolutely priceless!!

ivykaty44 · 12/08/2008 22:45

I love to paint my dd toe nails with red polish and then apply black dots onto the red polish - her toe nails look like ten ladybirds in a row

Pannacotta · 12/08/2008 22:46

I think it's a bit tacky and don't much like it on small girls even if its only for fun.
That said, I have been known to put a bit of make up on my 3 yr old DS when he asks so cant take it too seriusly.

cheesesarnie · 12/08/2008 22:49

nail varnish was only way i could cut ds1 nails when little!lets cut your nails then you can have them painted!when he started nurser we changed it to clear stuff and he outgrew it soon after.and wanted to be peter pan who apparently doesnt wear nail varnish but likes short nails.

yummybunnymummy · 12/08/2008 22:52

love the ladybird idea!

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