When you treat your daughter to her first pedicure , you want the experience to be filled with fun, not a recipe for disaster. To make certain your little girl’s first nail spa experience will shine as brightly as her pampered piggies, polish up on these five tips for your first mother-daughter pedicure.
Find a kid-friendly nail salon
Not all nail salons and spas welcome youngsters with open arms. Be sure to call ahead and verify that the nail salon you’ve picked has experience with kiddies before booking your first mother-daughter pedicure.
Time it right
When pampering a youngster who still takes naps, cutting it too close to the time when she should be sailing off to dreamland may make for a cranky spa partner. Book your mother-daughter pedicure during the time of day she’s the cheeriest, whether that’s bright and early or just after her nap, so you can both get the most out of your bonding time.
Skip the tools
Kids often fear what they do not know, so your kiddo may not be keen on the idea of having a stranger use sharp, unfamiliar tools on her toes. “pedicure procedures like pushing cuticles back or applying scrubs to tender feet are not necessary for kids,” advises Jennifer Paige, owner of Plush Beauty Bar in West Hollywood. “At Plush Beauty Bar, we simply apply a quick-drying, non-toxic, water-based polish and if necessary, trim and shape the nail.”
Opt for kid-friendly products
When it comes to your child’s sensitive skin, choose kid-friendly nail products like Piggy Paint that are gentle on her tootsies. “Piggy Paint is specially formulated from God’s natural ingredients and dries to a hard, durable finish,” says Piggy Paint product manager Stacey Feagans. “There are no toxic chemicals; it’s free of formaldehyde, toluene, phthalates, Bisphenol A, ethyl acetate and acetone.”
Make sure she’s ready
You may be eager to get your sweet girl into the nail salon for her first mother-daughter bonding experience over pedicures, but make sure your princess is ready for such an adventure. “There is no definitive age for a child’s first trip to the nail salon,” explains Paige. “Different kids have different abilities to sit still, so it really depends on the child.”
Dr. Fran Walfish, child and family psychotherapist, author of The Self-Aware Parent, urges parents to wait until your youngster is old enough to appreciate the special treat. “I think tweens are ready for the experience of a first time pedicure on ‘special’ occasions. We sadly are raising an entitled generation with growing narcissistic traits. Let’s wait and allow kids to be kids.”
Ready to put these five tips for first mother-daughter pedicures into play but not sure she’ll sit through the whole process? Try a do-it-yourself pamper and polish at home first. You may have to postpone her first trip to the nail spa, but you’ll be building memories that are just as fun!