AIBU to feel uneasy seeing a baby having his ear pierced?

[JoannaVictoria]

My 11 year old daughter has been asking for a long time about getting her ears pierced and I have given in.

Went into a chain store to have them done and there were two women and the piercing lady who was very young holding down a baby boy (he must have been about one) ready to pierce his ear.

AIBU Im thinking this isn’t right?

I know it’s legal etc and Im not a judgemental person but it just felt so wrong. Needless to say we left as I didn’t want to witness it. He was already screaming and thrashing around.

It just seems so unnecessary at that age. Other people in the store didn’t seem to have an issue with it.

I certainly wouldn't dream of piercing a baby. I do know in a lot of cultures it's very common. Turkey, Spain, some African and Asian cultures.

Though that's usually girls. Either way they can't consent and it's an unnecessary risk.

Well said!

Ew, how incredibly tacky not to mention cruel. Yuck.

Used to see/hear it all the time when Claire's was open. I got my ears pierced at 10 after having begged for years, it was a reward for passing the entrance exam for the secondary school I wanted to go to. Most of my freinds had theirs done around the same age. My Mum took me to a reputable beauty parlour to have it done, they said they won't pierce babies. I never understand why people had their babies/toddlers ears pierced so young.

Some people may have only just started reading Mumsnet, so that's a pointless comment.