What Kinds Of Nail Polishes Are Safe For Your Kid
Some kids are well into elementary school (or beyond) before they show any interest in having their nails painted, while others aren’t old enough to form a complete sentence but still manage to ask you to paint their nails. Caregivers frequently wonder whether or not nail polish is safe for children and, if so, what age is appropriate to allow them to begin painting their nails.
Dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, explains in an email to Romper that there is no “magic age” for painting children’s nails. “It is personal preference,” she says, “[and] people often prefer to wait until a child is old enough to avoid putting their hands in their mouth.” This is because when children put their fingers in their mouths with polish on them, they may be ingesting the chemicals and ingredients found in many nail polishes.
The tricky part is that even if your child is no longer sucking their thumb, they may still be putting their hands in their mouth in other ways, even if only while eating. As a result, Dr. Garshick advises caregivers to be cautious about the products they use when painting their children’s nails. “It is best to find products that are water-based and free of certain chemicals such as formaldehyde, toluene, camphor, and DiButyl Phthalate (DBP),” she says. Piggy Paint, Ella + Mia, and Suncoat Girl are among her favorite polishes.
If you have a few shades of non-toxic nail polish on hand, put them to use by recreating some of these adorable nail designs for kids.
