[JGarrick]

I don't see any harm in it, and it's easy enough to remove if you change your mind.

[Stormster]

I don't love the idea of doing it but I dislike the idea of NOT letting her explore something as innocent as "color" on her nails even more.

I say go for it and don't put tooooo much importance on the fact that it makes her pretty etc...more what finally said: It's really just about a pretty color on her hands. A creative fun thing to do. Like those temporary tattoos!

[EZ2Luv]

Nothing wrong with it. My God daughter loved make up an nails at a very early age. I don't look at it as gender thing but more of creative. Better nail polish than a sharpie.

EZ

[Canadamom92]

At work (I work for a hospital), we were told that nail salons can transmit Hep C from person to person, because many re-use clippers and/or files that can be contaminated. You might want to be careful where you bring her.

As far as painting my kids' nails, I do toenails because they're less likely to chew on those.

[feelingreyt]

I see nothing wrong with it. My dd, who is now 8, loves getting her nails painted. We only do light colors. I prefer a pale pink w/glitter. She also loves getting her toe nails done.
I have never taken her to a Salon for a manicure, we just do them at home. More often she gets all dolled up when she is with her girl cousins. They have a bast!

[Shai's Mom]

When my daughter was around 3 or so, she had a nail-biting period. That was also the age she started to ask for nail polish. I told ther that she'd only be allowed to wear it, if she would stop biting her nails. It worked wonders.

My older son was totally puzzled at my colorful toenails. I never painted them in front of him. He sooo wanted his nails polished as well. I'm not into little boys wearing nail polish, and DH, well, he would frankly have a fit.

[Shai's Mom]

Originally Posted by Stormster

I don't love the idea of doing it but I dislike the idea of NOT letting her explore something as innocent as "color" on her nails even more.

I say go for it and don't put tooooo much importance on the fact that it makes her pretty etc...more what finally said: It's really just about a pretty color on her hands. A creative fun thing to do. Like those temporary tattoos!

Ugh.. temporary tatoos. I HATE them. A lot of the ones for boys feature skulls and similar horrid things. And when the tatoos start wearing off, they look just dirty.

[nikkianni]

DD was just under a year when her teenage aunt painted her toes. "Just her toes, and it's just pink" she told me when I got there to pick DD up.
She'd been doing my 4-year-old niece's nails and my niece wanted DD to have her's done too.
I wasn't thrilled, but OK, one time is fine.
Now if they were doing nails and DD wanted hers done I'd say yes. When we were old enough to hold still while they dried, we could have our nails painted.
I agree with other posters in that it's just a fun thing to do that's unique. You can pick the colors you want, decals, etc.
And if you hate it mom, you can always just take it off.

[Jo Ellen]

I don't see a problem with it at all. My dd was about that age the first time she went with her grandma to the salon and they had time to do her nails. DD thought that was the greatest thing. The only down side is she thought she needed to go every time her grandma went. But that too passed with time. LOL

[finallyamom0310]

I am all about letting DD do what mommy does. Luckily I don't have time so she has only seen my nails painted once since she was born. If she asked, I would go for it though. Great bonding time.

[cetalley]

Originally Posted by Jo Ellen

I don't see a problem with it at all.

The only down side is she thought she needed to go every time her grandma went. But that too passed with time. LOL

Okay, I must be the downer her..sorry. I am a Firstmom and love coming into the different forums, to learn, and most times enjoy reading about great stories with moms and their children. You are ALL so great at being Mommies and learning new ways that are all about "our" children and whats best for them...SO KUDDOS, to all of you. I am also a cosmetologist , and when I was practicing(now a SAH-farmers wife),I was constantly researching non toxic hair products/lotions/polishes, for all ages, but specifically for children. I must tell you there is NO such produt that is NON-TOXIC to our children . The best I came across was a product called,"PIGGY'S PAINT". however when we put polish on either ourselves or in my case my 10 yr old granddaughter, non-toxic, means will not poison. It still contains resisdual monomers(thickeners/hardeners) and lead,diglycol ether,polyurethane(100parts per million)mica, and or titanium oxide. Again I am just a cosmetologist, not a scientist/phsycian. When learning about these products, I made a decision to NOT allow my granddaughter this luxury until this past year, only her toenails, and just this past X-mas, we did her first manicure. However, I was more concerned about taking her to the SALON than anything else, for the chemicals we ingest while there are More toxic thn the amount a child may or maynot put into their mouths. Until Sami( gdaughter) was old enough,I painted her toes with a product by piggys paint. If you use a blow dryer for about 2 minutes, for the most part it will be dry. I used to have her sing her ABC'S 2 times before she could move, this was just about the right amount of time to allow it to harden. I am not telling any of you what to do ..just chiming in with my knowledge of what i learned and applied to my grandaughter. You are welcome to go to piggy's paint.com , and check out the products yourself. In my own daily rituals, ESPECIALLY if it is something I am going to ingest/eat, if the product contains ingredients I do not understand...I don't eat it. I went to an allergist to discuss some of these ingredients a few years back...He told me something I have never forgotten..."If it will spoil in 7 days or less it is healthy for you...if it won't rot in a month or 2, why would you want to ingest it?" Blessings and keep on being good mommies to our children...C.J.

[ocracoke]

I say go for it! My daughter is the same way. I use to get my nails done -- pre child times -- but can't afford it now. My daughter is a rough and tumble girlie girl. Plays hard and loves anything girlie. She loves loves loves getting her nails done -- not professionally. So I made a point of getting some nail polish for her -- I picked out the subtle colors that barely show. She loves it. Admires it. So once in a while I do it.

While on vacation I visited a friend whose 5 year old got play make up for Christmas. My daughter came into the living after "playing" all made up. It looked rather silly actually. My friend commented how pretty she was and I kept thinking "DON"T SAY THAT!" I am not sure why she likes makeup -- I don't even remember where I put my makeup.

Samantha

[Saya]

Thanks everyone for your advice and thoughts!

So the weather was frigid here this weekend and Anabel was under the weather, so we really needed an indoor activity. So Saturday afternoon we all went to the nail salon around the corner and Mommy and Anabel got their nails painted (Anabel while sitting on daddy's lap). She was thrilled, and spent the whole rest of the day saying "Nail polish!!" with great glee. When it was bedtime and I turned off the light, she said "Mommy, I can't see my nail polish!" very mournfully, and I had to ensure her it was still there and she'd see it again in the morning.

Samantha, I'm the same way. I rarely wear make-up, I get my nails done like twice a year, I'm just not a very made-up person. And yet Anabel is ALL about the make-up at age 2! (Whenever my mother or aunt come over to visit all she wants to do is empty their handbags and try all their make-up on. I have no idea where she gets it from!)

Cetally - thanks so much for you insight. I will look into these products for the future.

[maricela]

I've been doing my dd's nails she she was about 2 y/o & that's because she's a total girly girl! The few times I've taken her to the nail salon, I only let them paint. I trim her nails before we go. I let her wear only very pale colors or clear. My mom went to get her nails done a few weeks ago & Grandma let's her do what she wants & she came home with GOLD GLITTER nails!! LOL!! She thought she was SO FANCY!! LOL!!

Enjoy it and take lots of pictures! I know my DD enjoys it SO MUCH!!

[trixila]

I must be the rare mother who would never put nail polish on my daughter. I recall seeing it on little girls at the park and thinking "no way!" They have plenty of time to grow up. No brainer, no pierced ears either. My 4 yr old daughter does love to help me put on my make up and delights in the process.