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North Carolina Babies
MrsHughesNC
member
Toddler nail polish
MrsHughesNC
member
I think Holly would love to have her nail polished. She loves wearing jewelry around the house, putting on "makeup" (ok, Minnie Mouse chapstick, and pretending to put my makeup on her baby doll. hehe) I almost just used some of my regular polish, but saw some people on the 24+ mo board mention Piggy Polish, and other non-toxic water based nail polish. Is that necessary, really? She doesn't really put her hands in her mouth anymore, and doesn't chew her nails. I just can't justify spending $10 on a tiny bottle of polish for her though, when I've got tons of my own regular polish.
Also on the 24+ mo board, it was presented as a poll whether or not everyone "agreed" with painting a toddler's nails. Some people were vehemently opposed to the idea, saying it was "too adult" or making them grow up too soon. I had no idea this was so scandalous. I'm not talking acrylic tips a la Toddlers and Tiaras. hehe. Just some simple pink sparkly polish. Your thoughts on the topic?
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Re: Toddler nail polish
I got a pedicure a several months back and there was a mom there with her 2 year old getting her toes done (the thought never crossed my mind until then). I came home and Jocelyn loved my toes so I did hers as well. She's asked for it a few times since then and I've done them with my nail polish (like pale pink). She has wanted her finger nails done too but I just use clear. She was SO excited to have her toes done, and I think it is cute. I don't see it as a big deal. We haven't done it in quite a while so I think she has forgotten about it.
Would I take her into a salon and get stuff done, no. But having her sit on her potty and get her toes painted and blown on by me makes her happy so why not!
This!! I want to see pics when you do it!!
Maddie has pale pink toes right now
. There are only so many indoor activities you can do with a sick 2.5 year old, lol! Hers is a $1.99 clearance bottle from Target. I think the Piggy Paint idea is really cute, but it's just too expensive.
I totally side eye someone that freaks out over a toddler's nails being painted. I mean maybe if they were painted black or something I can see it being inappropriate, but otherwise? There are just more important things to worry about in life, lol.
Maddie loves when I paint her toenails, she thinks she is so cool. I've never painted her fingernails, but just b/c I don't know if she could sit still long enough for them to dry, not b/c I'm opposed to it.
I just painted Natalie's finger nails for the first time last week and she loved it! I think it was adorable how excited she was to do it. I don't think it made her any older to have her finger nails painted (I don't even paint my finger nails). It was just something fun to do together. She loves to dress up and be a princess so it was just another way to "dress up". I've never heard of special polish for toddlers. We went to the store and picked out a color she liked and that's what we went with.
Granted I have no intentions of letting her doll her face up in makeup before she's a teenager but we'll probably go to get pedicures together if she likes it, maybe when she's 4 or so as special mommy and Natalie (or Claire) time.
In my opinion, there are plenty of other more important issues out there to be firm with my girls on than whether they put a little nail polish on their fingers at 3 yr. old.
I don't personally paint my nails, so just logistically, I highly doubt you'll see my toddler's nails painted.
But, as it happens, I think that the whole make up thing for kids & even tweens is a little absurd (and I definitely consider toddler nail polish to be make up). I know it all seems harmless one at a time, and it very well might be for a once in a while thing to do, but it's part of this girly girl culture that leads girls to value themselves on their looks. I don't think it's necessary for toddlers to wear make up, and it might be fun but there are lots of fun things to do with toddlers that can impact their learning and self esteem in real ways.
I'm not wanting to get in a big argument here, just saying that I don't think we'll go that route in our house & I totally get why folks on the other board would be upset about it. JMO though, I'm sure it won't be a popular opinion.
I was just posting the same thing
Personally, I sure hope more goes into my girls self esteem and how they carry themselves as women (or tweeners and teenagers) than just whether I paint her nails as a toddler for fun.
I suppose some could make simliar conclusions when having little boys play sports at a young age -- it may start encouraging them to only think they'll excel in life if they're athletic because all boys should be athletic, right?
I definitely plan, and hope I succeed, in teaching my girls to value themselves for their intelligence and personality and not what they look like but I sure love to have pretty toes while I'm doing that.
There is no way I'll be spending $10 on a bottle of nail polish esp since she isn't sticking everything in her mouth now.
I do see myself painting R's nails from time to time for a fun activity.
My MIL and SIL painted R's toenails without asking me when she was 1 yr and I don't think I've gotten that upset since that time. I think that's a decision that a parent should make and they were undermining me. More importantly, she was still putting everything in her mouth too. It was disturbing on several levels. Also, there was just something about the maturity of nail polish on a 1 yr old that bothered me too. Just like if someone covered her with blush and eye shadow now. That would greatly upset me.
Anyways....that was a sidebar, I see nothing wrong with nail polish if the parent is cool with it.
I'm obviously not as far along as most of you guys in my toddler parenting, so I'm not wanting to come off high & mighty & judgy (sorry if my last post did!) I do feel pretty strongly about it though. I know most of you all personally and know you're great mothers to great girls and don't mean to be all preachy to different opinions.
I just finished this book, and I have to say, it was really eye opening. I know the title and some of the ideas are hard to swallow, but it was really well written and non-judgemental and IMO something girl moms should really read. If not because you agree with everything, just to think about really important stuff like how we influence who our girls are going to become, and how the media is trying to influence them... and ways to combat all that. It's a different world than when we were little!
Meh...I personally think there's a big difference between embracing feminity with some jewelry or pink nails, and assessing one's worth because of "how pretty it makes them." I do get what McJ is saying though (and respect that she's not trying to start an argument, so I'm not trying to start a counter-argument... hehe)
But I tend to agree with Racey's last response. I don't agree with one's worth being measured by anything physical--relative beauty, height, weight, disability, etc. And I will raise my child(ren) to believe the same. But I won't go out of my way to avoid the things that are traditionally considered "girly" to reinforce that belief. I won't force them on her either though.
The girls on the other board were mainly against it because to them, painted nails were (sexually) provocative. I don't get that connection, personally.
This is true, and makes me sad and scared!
That opinion makes me think of how some people view toddlers wearing 2 piece swimsuits or even pierced ears. I don't get that connection either. I'm not trying to start a debate, but I guess it's just all in the eye of the beholder.
I'm glad you posted a link to that book McJ, I saw that somewhere a few weeks ago and thought it looked interesting, but then forgot about it. I am fascinated by gender roles in our society- I was a women's studies minor in college b/c I think that stuff is very interesting.
I grew up VERY girly. If something is available in pink, I'll always pick that over any color. I love dressing up, I love ruffles, and I love being girly. But for whatever reason, I have never had self esteem issues, and I don't think I value myself or others based on appearance. In fact, I rarely wear make up and have no problem going out in sweats with my hair pulled back in a pony tail- doesn't bother me at all. So I guess I see girly-ness and self image as two very separate things.
I tell Maddie all the time that she looks pretty or beautiful or whatever. But I tell her just as much (if not more), that she is smart, funny, sweet, polite, super fly etc. I think it's natural for little girls (and little boys too) that are around their mothers a lot to want to imitate them by dressing up, pretending with make up, etc. And I have no problem with her exploring her girly side. I am open to letting her explore anything she wants to right now- whether it is carrying a purse and babydoll or racing around kicking a ball and pushing trucks.
I think for me it's more about teaching her that things like make up and high heels and nail polish can be fun and special, but I love her just the way she is, and I hope she does too. I think it's different to say "oh, let's paint our toenails, that's a fun thing for you and Mommy to do together" than to say "oh, we need to paint your toenails before we go out, they look better painted."
Wow, this has gotten long and I still feel like I have so many other thoughts on the subject, lol. McJ, I hope you do not feel like you are being picked on, b/c I totally understand where you are coming from and respect your thoughts on the subject. I am going to read that book- we should get together and discuss after I read it
.
Thanks, Jenhum
I'd LOVE to discuss w/ you when you finish... I feel like the book has brought up so many interesting and thought provoking things and DH is sick of me talking about it. Like I said, whether you choose to agree with all of what's said or not, it is definitely things that are worth figuring out where you stand on. *shrug* I feel a lot more informed... and motivated to make a well-rounded and independent, media-savvy and "whatever she wants to be" daughter!