To think Claire's should not be piercing the ears of a hysterical 13 month old whilst she is held down?

[ScottishG]

I was in Claire's Accessories with dd today. A small child was crying hysterically. I looked around to see what was going on and was horrified to see a baby being forced to have her ears pierced. She was being firmly held on an adult 's knee (? mum) surrounded by 3 or 4 men who seemed to be with her and the assistant doing the piercing. Her ears were held by the adults whilst they were pierced. It was horrible. She was so upset it was distressing to see.
I have no clue why anyone would put their baby through this and think it is wrong to hurt your child in this way. However, I also felt Claire's were wrong to go ahead with the piercing when the child was so very distressed. Surely they could have refused to continue? I can't get the scene out of my head and Dr(13) was upset too.

This happened in our local Claire's too. I walked into the shopping centre and everyone could hear screaming. A child had had one ear pierced and staff and mum were trying to persuade her to have the other one done but she was having hysterics.

Was with DD (8) at the time, it put her off ever having it done.

I’m not sure Claire’s staff have the option without getting fired but I wouldn’t be able to put a small child through this at all. It’s horrific.

Its not the piercers fault to be fair, Claire's should change their policy. Might be worth raising it with them, if enough people complain? I used to pierce ears years ago, where I worked they did babies from 3 months. Usually the first ear was ok but then they would have to be held down screaming for the second. It often took a long time and was distressing, not to mention unsafe. It was awful, I didn't agree with it and I hated it but was firmly told it was up to the parents not me

Mine were allowed to have theirs done at 11 in the summer before starting secondary school. That's when they were old enough to make that choice, and also be responsible enough to look after their ears. Doing it to a baby or toddler is vile and chavvy

Have these mothers never heard of sepsis....Can't imagine Claire's is that sterile and is run by teenage girls

Shame Claire’s by putting it on Twitter and ask for company policy.

It is terrible if the staff are under pressure when a baby is clearly in distress. It really is time there was an age limit put in place.

This is terrible. Surely the child protection services should take a stand on this. I am not in the UK but maybe mumsnet should take a stand -start a petition, protest against Claire’s or a boycott till they stop?

When I worked at Claires we pierced from 4 months with parents permission. This was about 12 years ago though.

That’s so horrible, poor little baby. Just because something is a cultural norm doesn’t make it acceptable. FGM and stoning women to death for committing “adultery” (being raped) are “cultural things”.

Claire’s accessories are very vague about age restrictions on their website.

God that's awful. I have no idea what possess people to do this to their kids.

Me and DH had to hold DD1 (3 years old) last night whilst we gave her some essential medicine as she was refusing to take it, and that was upsetting enough, and we didn't really have a choice. God knows why someone would put their kid through that just to put holes in their ears.

I agree with PP about shaming them on Twitter. Unfortunately it’s a very effective technique.

That's not Claire's policy at all!!! When I got dd's ear pierced she nearly ended up with just one ear pierced as she wouldn't sit still (she was being far too nosey)) and I wasn't allowed to gently hold her head with my hand (was told by the member of staff they couldn't pierce if I was restraining DD)

Something traumatic and unnecessary, for the gratification of adults, to a weak and vulnerable child, is the very definition of child abuse.

The NSPCC needs to be useful, and do something about this.

Fwiw, unnecessary male circumcision is the same to me. We stopped butchering animals to appease God, yet we allow our children to have bits cut off unneeded? Abuse.

Not a mum but....I firmly believe kids shouldn't have it done until they ask for it and are able to understand and deal with the after care independently. I had mine done at 14, but I think 11-12 is the youngest a child has the mental capacity to deal with it.

Ear piercing is a permanent disfigurement which is done for non-medical reasons. For that reason, I think there should be an age limit and nobody under 16 should have it done. Over 16, it should be done only with the child's clear consent - and if aged 16 or 17, it should also be with the parents' consent. Adults (over 18s) can do what they like to their own ears.

I worked at Claire's before, as long as the 3 month jabs had been done and the parents took the red book along, it was "fine".

I do wonder why people make an unnecessary and permanent decision for their child when they're too young to express an opinion.

I can't see how it can ever be justified.

I would like to see an age restriction put on it and it would be around age 10.

Not only is it bat shit crazy to inflict pain on your baby for absolutely no good reason, earrings on babies look tacky & cheap. Sorry... but that's my opinion. Babies are lovely, perfect little squidgy things they just don't need it! It's selfish, so you can go aww doesn't it look cute? It doesn't

I had an interview at Claires years ago and was asked if I would pierce a child's ears if the parents wanted it but the child didn't. I said NO. I was told the paying customer (the parent) is most important, so I would have to. I disagreed, and funnily enough didn't get the job!

@twixsticks what was their reasoning for the 3 month jags having to be done first?

I was four when I had mine done, but my DPs thought I understood what I was asking for, and I think I did as I remember it being done and being very pleased and happy about it, and I allowed the aftercare.

They were not done with a gun though, my ears were pierced properly and I remember feeling the numbing spray, but didn't feel the piercing at all.

Babies should not have their ears pierced at all. If children want it done their parents need to decide if they understand what they're asking for and if they're old enough to allow the piercings to be kept clean afterwards and the parents should not allow the use of a gun, which is an absolutely terrible way to pierce ears.

How awful. I think it should be made illegal until the child is old enough to decide for themselves.

I don't understand any logical reason why it's considered OK to inflict pain and permanently alter your child/ babies body.

And it looks absolutely awful.

I had DS1 in the States and circumcision was the norm. On his hospital bassinet it was written in huge letters NO CIRC NO BOTTLE

How many times does it need to be said, do not get any piercings done at Claires, they are NOT trained adequately. Makes me feel ill whenever I walk past a Claires and see a "piercing station"

Any respectable piercing/tattoo studio would never pierce a child or anyone that could not consent themselves.

Why are they still allowed to do this, it baffles my mind?
Awful, lazy parenting to go to Claires to get their child pierced especially when its clear that child is terrified and doesn't want to be pierced, raaah.

Gets me so agro.