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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to want to punch the mother I saw yesterday getting baby's ear's pierced?

477 replies

ElleBelly · 21/08/2013 11:59

Was in Claire's Accessories yesterday with my 4yo daughter, and there was a Mum getting baby's ear's pierced. Bab must have been about six months, and was screaming her head off, made me feel sick. Cannot for the life of me understand why people put their children through that at that age. It's so cruel. And mother was laughing with friends about it! Have got DS second lot of imms this week and dreading it, pathetic,over emitional,hormone befuddled woman I am, and just think its so wrong to put a baby through that pain uneccessarily.
Sorry for the rant but I so wanted to give her a slap.

OP posts:
usualsuspect · 21/08/2013 12:03

Aaaaaarrrrrgggggghhhhh

impatienttobemummy · 21/08/2013 12:03

Slap away! My sis in law plans to do this asap 6mth old girl I think she's an idiot

hettienne · 21/08/2013 12:04

I don't understand why Claire's don't have a policy against piercing screaming/crying/distressed children.

HappyJoyful · 21/08/2013 12:05

Brief search on here will tell you subject done to death week after week..
month after month.

I suspect you will get a few people ARGHHHHING & YAWNING!

Live and let live - cultural differences - personal preferences

AKissIsNotAContract · 21/08/2013 12:05

YANBU. Wasn't there a petition started about Clare's doing this last time this topic was raised on MN?

racmun · 21/08/2013 12:06

Disgusting. I personally hate earrings on girls but then I wasn't allowed mine done until I was 18.......

Surely there should be a minimum age introduced of say 12 at the youngest.

Original poster
ElleBelly · 21/08/2013 12:09

Thought it would have been done to death but am new to Mumsnet and couldn't be bothered to trawl through entire history before posting, plus it upset me and needed to vent.

OP posts:
Jinsei · 21/08/2013 12:09

It's the norm in some cultures. I personally don't like it, but I don't think it's that big a deal if others choose to do it.

ChimeForChange · 21/08/2013 12:09

YABU for wanting to punch, violence solves nothing :-)

YANBU for being disgusted. There is absolutely no practical reason for piercing babies ears. It is purely cosmetic and someone would want to 'improve' the look of their baby is beyond me.

ChimeForChange · 21/08/2013 12:10

*why

HeySoulSister · 21/08/2013 12:11

your op is horrible....makes you as bad imo

also,why was baby crying......had the ears been pierced at that point?

Greythorne · 21/08/2013 12:14

I think earrings are a minor issue. I would allow my DDs to have their ears pierced if they wanted them done. On a baby? The issue of keeping the piercing clean would worry me.

But punching someone? Nah.

Tattoos on people of any age on the other hand are absolutely foul

Feminine · 21/08/2013 12:17

Parents should be able to get it done at the Doctor.

if they really want

The "punching" bit is a bit silly though.

Original poster
ElleBelly · 21/08/2013 12:19

Yes had just been pierced... and OP a little tongue in cheek, not a violent person was just pissed off about her blasé attitude as much as anything else!

OP posts:
hettienne · 21/08/2013 12:19

I don't really think wanting to punch someone hurting a baby is as bad as actually hurting a baby.

Tee2072 · 21/08/2013 12:22

Yes, violence is the perfect response to something that is none of your fucking business.

Fakebook · 21/08/2013 12:22

If you felt so angry by it, why didn't you say anything? Was it because its none of your business? Because it isn't.

Amrapaali · 21/08/2013 12:22

Claire's don't pierce ears of babies that are screaming or in distress. I had my DD's ears pierced when she was 1. The first time was a no go as she was too panicky and the Claire's assistant flat out refused.

The second time took all of 30 seconds, and DD was upset at the sudden shock more than anything else...

hettienne · 21/08/2013 12:23

Your baby was upset at the sudden shock of you punching a hole through her flesh? Who'd have thought it.

Saffyz · 21/08/2013 12:24

YANBU. If the child wants their ears pierced when they're old enough to decide, they can do it then.

HeySoulSister · 21/08/2013 12:24

I would think the shock and noise of it distressed the baby more than any pain......its the pain afterwards which i hate the thought of. especially if it becomes infected. horrible.

StephenFrySaidSo · 21/08/2013 12:29

"Claire's don't pierce ears of babies that are screaming or in distress."

yes they do.

northernlurker · 21/08/2013 12:29

I don't care whether it's cultural reasons or for appearence, it's an unnecessary procedure that the baby can't consent to and no reputable practitioner should be doing it.
Absurd to say 'it's none of your business' - the OP saw a parent inflicting pain and mutilation on their child. I would say that's everybody's business wouldn't you? God knows why piercing infants isn't illegal. It should be.

Original poster
ElleBelly · 21/08/2013 12:30

No I didn't say anything, because I'm not going to have a row in a shop in front of my daughter and with a baby with me. Well aware that its none of my fucking business, lots of things are none of my fucking business but doesn't mean I can't have an opinion on them or be angered by it.

OP posts:
Amrapaali · 21/08/2013 12:31

Really Stephen? Shock

When I had my daughter's ears done, they very specifically said, right at the outset, "We will not proceed if your baby is too upset". Mind, this was a good 6/7 years ago. Don't know if Claire's has changed...