Nail Polish for Toddler?

[Anonymous]

Just found this forum on nail polish for kids (I'm searching for non-toxic safe nail peelable polish for a girls' pajama sleepover party). I don't know that having cute pink nail polish is creepy on little girls. I remember quite fondly wearing glittery pink nail polish when I was a little girl, when it actually stayed on between playing outside, swimming, digging my hands into dirt/sand/snow, or drawing - which means that the polish lasted all of, oh, maybe half a day. It was just plain fun and made my nails feel dressed-up - to match the hair accoutrement, frills on my dresses, or the shiny-ness of my shoes.

That said, I asked my manicurist about painting my then-2-year-old daughter's nails, she gave me an absolute no - not from a morality standpoint, but from a chemical standpoint. She recommended that the earliest age when kids wear nail polish be 6 - when their bodies are bigger, and the chemicals they get exposed to are not as concentrated as when they're so little. She also noted that nail polish can weaken their nails.

[Anonymous]

Funny-- my daughter was an infant when this thread was started, and I remember thinking at the time NO WAY!

Well, now I have a three year old. She wants anything and everything she sees me wearing. I have to put my high-heeled shoes on the highest shelf, because she insists on putting them on and trying to walk, and I'm afraid she's going to sprain an ankle. She actually cries big fat tears when I tell her she can't wear my earrings (her ears aren't pierced). She appropriated one of my old makeup brushes as her own, so that she can put on pretend makeup in the mornings while I'm getting ready. So, for her 3rd birthday, I finally caved and painted her toenails the brightest, least-sexy color I could find. She was simply over the moon. Wouldn't keep her socks on for more than 10 minutes at a time, before pulling them off to admire her electric blue nails. After a couple days, I started chipping the paint off a little at a time in the bath, and after a week, it was all gone, no chemical remover needed. Since I'm wearing socks and slippers around the house now, she doesn't see my painted toenails, and she's not asking for it as much.

So my experienced revision of my previous position is: Special occasions only.

Oh, and agree with one of the PPs on temporary tattoos. Tackiest thing ever. I will never budge on that.

[Anonymous]

The Children's Place now carries a line of children's nail polish that is non toxic and scented when dry.

I don't have a little girl but I was tempted to buy some for myself but I didn't want to get caught at my desk sniffing my fingers!

[Anonymous]

Piggy Paint is totally safe. Water based. I buy it at Buy Buy Baby.

[Anonymous]

Mine started probably maybe around 2.....at her Aunt's house (my very girly sister).....who has 3 boys. She also somehow got my wiggly child to sit for toenail polish. Anyway, she's been having her nails done since. It really helps with the nail cutting, as a special treat. She has kid nail polish.

My daughter also had her ears pierced when she was 7 months old, so I get a lot of nasty comments. I honestly don't care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine started probably maybe around 2.....at her Aunt's house (my very girly sister).....who has 3 boys. She also somehow got my wiggly child to sit for toenail polish. Anyway, she's been having her nails done since. It really helps with the nail cutting, as a special treat. She has kid nail polish.

My daughter also had her ears pierced when she was 7 months old, so I get a lot of nasty comments. I honestly don't care.

By "having her nails done" I mean by me, not actually going to a nail salon. I don't even go to a nail salon so it would be a trip to take her there!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh, and agree with one of the PPs on temporary tattoos. Tackiest thing ever. I will never budge on that.

Check back with us in another three years.

[Anonymous]

I AM A MOTHER OF A 3 YEAR OLD NAMED KAITLYN...AND SHE IS A DIVA IN TRAINING. YES I AM VERY PROTECTIVE ABOUT HER AS WELL AS MY SON, BUT I DONT SEE ANY THING WRONG WITH PAINTING HER NAILS..MOST OF THE TIME I PAINT THEM MYSELF AND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE I WILL TAKE HER TO THE NAIL SHOP, BUT SHE LOVES IT, BUT DONT GET ME WRONG SHE IS ONLY 3 SO WE STICK WITH LITTLE GIRLS COLORS (LIGHT PINK OR COTTONCANDY) THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHE LOOKS FOWARD TO AND ALLOWS US TO DO MOTHER DAUGHTER THINGS TOGETHER....

[Anonymous]

I'm a 21 year old mother who had my first babygirl when I was 19, I painted my daughter nails since she was 18M I see no harm in it, I would say use non toxic because it's safer, I mean what is the big deal it look super cute, And no please dont judge me by my age, oh she just young she don't know anything, I actually know alot im really mature compare to other 21 who has a child. My generation is different I was born in the 90's to someone who was born in the 70's who is weird about typical things like that like getting a tattoo. Were more hip I guess you can say.. Anyway if you feel like painted your daughter nails feel free, and if you don't then you don't we all have perspective

[Anonymous]

I'm a 21 year old mother who had my first babygirl when I was 19, I painted my daughter nails since she was 18M I see no harm in it, I would say use non toxic because it's safer, I mean what is the big deal it look super cute, And no please dont judge me by my age, oh she just young she don't know anything, I actually know alot im really mature compare to other 21 who has a child. My generation is different I was born in the 90's to someone who was born in the 70's who is weird about typical things like that like getting a tattoo. Were more hip I guess you can say.. Anyway if you feel like painted your daughter nails feel free, and if you don't then you don't we all have perspective, it doesn't make you a bad mother.

[Anonymous]

I painted my daughters' nails starting when they were about 3 because they loved it! They wanted "mommy nails".

I didn't use non-toxic nail polish. I've actually never even heard of it.

The girls are 17 and 15 now. They are still alive, but I'll make sure to mention their exposure to toxic chemicals at their next doctor's appointments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can buy Hello Kitty nail polish at Child's Play. I started using it on my DD at around 2, because that's the only way I could get her to let me cut her nails. I cut, then she gets a polish.

Honestly, I don't see the harm. She's not wearing make-up (although she LOVES gloss that she got in a goody bag once). She doesn't wear sexy clothes. It's just fun dress-up stuff. Same as putting on a tiara or tutu (or firehat or spidey outfit) in my book.

No it isn't. She won't grow up to be Spiderman, but she will be wearing make up and nail polish soon. Oh, wait...nevermind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a 21 year old mother who had my first babygirl when I was 19, I painted my daughter nails since she was 18M I see no harm in it, I would say use non toxic because it's safer, I mean what is the big deal it look super cute, And no please dont judge me by my age, oh she just young she don't know anything, I actually know alot im really mature compare to other 21 who has a child. My generation is different I was born in the 90's to someone who was born in the 70's who is weird about typical things like that like getting a tattoo. Were more hip I guess you can say.. Anyway if you feel like painted your daughter nails feel free, and if you don't then you don't we all have perspective, it doesn't make you a bad mother.

Wow. Do you really need a stronger argument against it than reading this post by the "mature" and "literate" 21 yr old mother?

[Anonymous]

Piggy Paint is great.

[Anonymous]

I painted dd's nails when she was 2, she had enough patience for 1 hand though, so we left it at that. Not too excited about it, but I was doing my own nails, and she was watching w big interest, so I asked if she wants it too.