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'I was blown away by one 4-year-old. She wanted a French manicure. She knew exactly what shade of pink and what shade of white for her tips," says Yvonne Osondu, owner of Seta Wellness and Skin in Toronto.

"This girl said, 'Not pinky pink, please.' "

Call it graduation from Pampers to pampering. The latest trend in BYOB (Bring your own Babe) is visiting the esthetician.

"It's definitely a trend," says Kimberly Critten, who owns Bloom Essentials in Vancouver. "A lot of girls come in with their grandmothers. It can really be a bonding experience."

Bloom offers nail art, like daisies and ladybugs. For boys, there are skull and crossbone or spider web designs for their toenails.

Osondu, who studied early childhood education, says her young clientele "get right into" manicures and pedicures. She even gives hand and foot massages.

"They feel mature and sophisticated. They flash their hands and pose. It empowers them. They feel part of something. They're not getting shooed away. They know when it's mommy's turn, they have to sit quietly."

Divas in the making? Not necessarily.

"They're so polite. They say 'Thank you.' The mommies give the girls money and they tip," says Osondu. "They understand the protocol."

Sophia Filippetto, who owns Just Nails in Toronto, has clientele as young as two. "They always want to do just like their moms do. It's a good way to introduce them to grooming."

While some may think it's too much, Filippetto says, "I had a customer who brought in their standard poodle and wanted red polish for its nails. I prefer three-year-olds."

Toronto's Fabulous Manicure/Pedicure Bar hosts mani-pedi birthday parties for their four-year-old clientele. "They've done the movies and sleepovers," says manager Olivia Underwood.

"It's a sign of the times," agrees Jennifer Fineberg, who runs exhalemobilespa.ca. She's visited more than 100 homes for birthday parties since she started her mobile-spa business a year ago.

"They have over 40 colours to choose from. They get an exfoliation pineapple scrub. We shape their nails and then they get apple cinnamon lotion. The girls are up on it. Even five-year-olds know within two minutes what they want." (For a party of 10, it costs $275.)

"The polish lasts," she says. "They don't have to do dishes."

Rebecca Eckler's mommy blog is ninepounddictator.blogspot.com.