How to Polish a Toddler's Fingernails

Kids often want to do the same activities that their parents do, so don̵7;t be surprised if your toddler grows an interest in having her fingernails polished just like you. To prevent her from trying to give herself a manicure with your supplies, you can offer to do one for her with some kid-friendly polish. After a few tries, you should get the hang of painting those little fingers without too much mess.

Things You'll Need

  • Hand soap
  • Towel
  • Fingernail clipper
  • Nail file
  • Kid-friendly nail polish
  • Q-tps
  • Low-odor nail polish remover

Instructions

    • 1

      Ask your toddler to wash and dry her hands thoroughly before you begin. This removes any gunk on your child's hands and prepares the nail surface.

    • 2

      Gather your supplies and have them within reach. With your toddler̵7;s short attention span, you don̵7;t want her getting up and running around in the middle of the manicure while you look for something. Grab a child-sized fingernail clipper, a nail file and kid-friendly fingernail polish. You should choose a natural, nontoxic, hypoallergenic polish for your little one̵7;s fingers. Regular fingernail polishes can contain harmful chemicals, which are not good for your child to inhale or wear.

    • 3

      Offer some visual entertainment, like her favorite movie, while you work. This may just distract your child long enough for you to get the job done.

    • 4

      Trim your toddler̵7;s fingernails with the nail clippers. Don̵7;t cut them too close to the skin -- otherwise you may cause pain or bleeding. Use a file to smooth the edges of the nail.

    • 5

      Ask your child to place her hands on your work surface with her fingers fanned out. This makes it easier to get to each of her tiny nails.

    • 6

      Shake the fingernail polish to mix it up. Unscrew the cap, lift it up and scrape the excess nail polish on the inside neck of the bottle. Gently hold the finger you̵7;re working on while you paint the nail with the other hand. Start near her cuticle and spread the polish up toward the tip of the nail. Repeat this movement until you completely cover each nail with polish, dipping in for more polish when needed. Wait five minutes or so and apply another coat. If you get some polish on the skin around the nail, quickly wipe it away with a Q-tip.

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