Kiddie manicures

I don't bring my daughter with me on a regular basis but occassionally I do bring her with me when I get my mani/pedi done and let her get her nails and toe nails painted. She is very much a girly girl and really enjoys this; she knows it's a treat and she doesn't get to go everytime. I've been bringing her since she was about 4 years old, she's 5 now. I often paint her fingernails and toe nails at home and she's gotten to the stage where she wants to try painting her nails herself so under my supervision I'll let her do the one hand she can do well and then I do the other hand. She's into doing different colors on each nail -the creativity side of her. Although, there have been times when she's gone with me before and only wanted her nails done and not her toes ... I know this is not something she expects and is not something she takes for granted and understands it's something special for her.

When I read the headline of the Suri story, "Katie Holmes loves getting manicures with Suri", I was already rolling my eyes at the celebrity indulgence of it all. But when you read the story, that piece of info is only part of a sentence within a whole other story, and it's talking about how it's Suri who loves to go. It's irritating that the headline twists it to make it sound like something it's not (my impression from the headline was that Katie was the one wanting to glam up the 2-year-old). As you think about it, why wouldn't Suri want to go to the beauty parlor, where her mom probably spends a fair amout of time?

Lots of little kids are fascinated by the colors of finger and toenails. My son, much to his "manly" father's chagrin, has taken a marker to color his nails before to copy the effect.

I say if you can afford to take her occasionally, and she realizes it's a treat, why not? Just beware of the sanitary issues divaballerina brought up!

GopherGirl

Hi!

I've been taking my now 9-year old to the nail salon occasionally (once every few months) since she was 3. I use it as special "mom/daughter" time. (We do that with all the kids, dad & I will take turns taking them out on "dates") She knows it's a special occasion time, and I get veto power if she chooses blue or cherry red polish!

She's at the age now where she likes having her nails look nice all the time, so I let her paint them at home with sheer pinks. I'll be honest, she sometimes gets pouty when she sees my nails freshly manicured and I didn't invite her along. I tell her when she's grown and has a job, she'll be welcome to spend her own money on manicures!!

I take my daughter (she is 6) with me every two weeks. She gets her fingernails and toenails painted while I get my regular fill. I don't think it's inappropriate, nor does it create "diva" behavior in her. She loves it and looks forward to the Thursday nights that we go.

My princess 10 year old also complains she doesn't get pedacures and manicures because "all her friends" do. Well, at 43, I just had my FIRST this past year, so I'm not spending that kind of money on her. For now, I have pacified her with doing her nails at home (she does mine also--when I'm not going out and can re-do them when she isn't looking). I get toothpicks and do little designs like flowers, hearts, and smileys and have bought some inexpensive little decal/stickers to decorate them also. She probably tells the kids at school she gets a professional manicure, which I know is a fib, but if it helps her to fit in without breaking my wallet . . . that is fine.

Also, I do worry about the sanitary issues, maybe I'm paranoid (I'm not a germ freak) but I saw a news story when I first moved down here about people getting nasty sores from those footbaths, so besides being a cheapskate, I just always think of that when I go past a manicure shop and decide my homemade manicures aren't so bad afterall!

I think you do what feels good for the two of you, but by no means should she get them as often or more than you do. To me, if it's a fun mom/daughter experiece a couple times of year, that's perfect, but I like that you do it for her at home...kids just like time with mom; that's what makes them feel special.

Brooke Romney is an unbalanced mom of three young boys who constantly has too much to do, and too little time. She writes the Mom Beat column for The Gilbert Republic.

I didn't get my first manicure until I was 25. I didn't get my first pedicure until I was 27. I love the look of french tips on my fingers and toes, but I don't always have the funds to do that.

I think mother/daughter time is essential to a healthy relationship. I would consider taking my child to get her nails done if she were old enough to understand why it's special. (perhaps 10). I just don't see the point of letting first graders get pedicures at the salon when you can do them at home for a lot less.

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