The hubby says it is all my fault that Baby Girl is the way she is. I don’t think so – I just know she likes girly stuff, so when she asks me to do something girly, I do it as time permits, and is age appropriate.
In a former life, I was a nail technician. I actually taught for a while, and I really enjoyed it. Baby girl wanted to do something that “ladies do,” so I suggested that we do a quick pedicure. Pedicures for adult women can be harsh. Our feet go through so much more than the little soft feet of our daughters. Between high heels and running out to the mailbox without shoes, our feet take a beating, and sometimes we have to beat them right back into shape.
I wanted to do something for her to show her how to pamper herself – that was quick, cheap, and could be done with what I had in the house. Dinner was on the stove, and I didn’t have a lot of time.
I went into my bathroom in search of mild products that I could use on her. I found some some JR Watkins Bath Soak in Lavender which is all natural, some tiny cotton balls, a natural sea sponge, 
I put the water in the plastic shoe box, put one towel under the shoe box, and let her feet soak in the plain water for about 2 minutes. I took each foot out and removed the nail polish bits she had on them, then put them back in with the JR Watkins Bath Soak (just a few crystals). I didn’t file, buff, or push back cuticles. That’s not such a good idea for little kids, the cuticle keeps out the bacteria, so moving it around, especially on the feet, is a no-no. I clip toenails after bath time when they are soft. Two minutes in water isn’t long enough for me to feel comfortable clipping her toenails. After washing her feet with the natural sea sponge, I dried them with the other towel, and gave her a quick foot massage with the The Body Shop Peppermint Cooling Foot Lotion. She almost fell asleep. After that, I put the tiny cotton balls between her toes (this was the part she had been waiting for), polished her toenails with the Piggy Paint Non-toxic Nail Polish in Pastel Blue, and that was that – fifteen minutes, tops.
I used to watch my mom do her own pedicure every week, and hopefully my daughter will get in the habit of taking care of her feet. She already wants to do it herself next time. Mission accomplished!
3 Tips for a great kiddie pedicure at home:
Get everything you need before you put her feet in the water. Depending on the age, it may be best for your floors to do it in the bathroom if you have the space. Kids like to splash in water – even grownups can tip over a foot bath and make a mess!
You can get foam toe separators, if you are worried about having cotton lint stuck to the nail polish. The Piggy Paint 4 Piece Pedicure Set
Blow dry her toenails. If you are using Piggy Paint, it lasts longer it you blow dry them on low between coats. It also keeps you from having to start over when you hear her shriek, “Oh no mommy, it’s messed up!”
You can click on any of the links in this post to find out where and how to get the products that I used.
FYI: I was not compensated by any of the companies mentioned in exchange for mentioning them or writing this post. As always, my opinions are my own. For more information on sponsored posts, click “about”. Be sure to spot test any new cosmetics that you are using on your child. Allergic reaction to any product is possible. You can click on any of the links in this post to find out where and how to get the products that I used. If you purchase through those links, I may earn a commission.
