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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Make up on a 2 year old

56 replies

purepurple · 19/12/2009 12:33

We had a party at the nursery where we work. I work with toddlers, so they are 2 rising 3.
One little girl was brought in at 8 o'clock, dressed for the party which started at 2.30 with eye shadow and lipstick on. From her own Tinkerbell make up kit, applied by Mum.
I thought it was very sad that this mother thought it appropriate to do this.
So, would do you think?
I have a 13 year old and hate to see her in make up, but accept it as part of growing up, but to sexualise a 2 year old in this way makes me feel very uneasy.
I have just read the 'Pink Stinks' thread and feel that some parents are turning their daughters into 'pink princesses' and I am very uneasy with it.

OP posts:

pigletmania · 19/12/2009 13:34

I dont think that the marketeers care, I think that Asda were selling thongs for pre teens, as long as they make money thats all that matters. There are bikes being sold in Argos complete with make up kit wtf . I am not saying a little make up is wrong just piles of it being worn by little children. There was something i was reading about pre teen waxing and tanning

pigletmania · 19/12/2009 13:35

Yes i remember doing a bit of that in my Social psychology course and part of it covered attraction

pigletmania · 19/12/2009 13:35

and the psychology of wearing make up which was very interesting.

MarthaFarquhar · 19/12/2009 13:37

surely its just dressing up?

my DD loves her sequins and glitter as much as she loves her Digger and Thomas the tank.

I let her dress up in tacky plastic jewellery and borrow my lipgloss, in the same way I let her dress as a witch for hallowe'en.

pigletmania · 19/12/2009 13:40

Sure a bit of make up yes, but heavy eyeshadow, lips as red as a baboons bum, and cheeks that look like they have been exposed to the heat too much, no no no, especially outside in public

QandA · 19/12/2009 13:41

'I hope the parent doesnt get to read this.....I would be seriously annoyed and complain to your employers if I were the mum'

Unfortunately There will parents all over the country who will have sent their 2 year olds to nursery with make up on, so purepurple is probably safe

LynetteScavo · 19/12/2009 13:42

It's no different to face paints.

CErtainly isn't sexualising.

I wear make up eery day, but certainly not for any sexual reason....I would wear makup if the only people left on the planet was my mohter...it makes me look less dead.

Mybe I should have had serious concerns about DS2, who would happily apply lipgloss and nail varnish for nursery when he was 3.

Original poster

purepurple · 19/12/2009 13:42

Yes, hildren love drssing up. But most of their choices are dictated by adults. I don't like the fact that lots of children are like a 'mini-me'. That is very wrong. Children should be allowed to be children and not mini adults.

OP posts:

LynetteScavo · 19/12/2009 13:44

But the real question is was she wearing heels........

Tortington · 19/12/2009 13:45

oh at that age i don't think there is any harm
i think this becuae it is imitation at age 2

at age 13 - it's to attract boys attention

completely different IMO.

now if the toddler came in like katie price everyday - aye, i might agree - but some tutty fer a party? nah ...mountain...molehill

GetOrfMoiLand · 19/12/2009 13:49

I don't think this is a huge issue to be honest. There is nothing sinister about a 2 year old putting on tinkerbell make up on for a party. I would be a bit if she made her child up every day, however for a special occasion there is nothing wrong.

Yes, emphasising the lips with lipstick does havea sexual link, however I really don't this pplies with some very mildy pigmented children's make up. It is just a bit of dressing up and copying mummy.

DD used to love tinkering about with my make up wore some to parties. She is 14 now and is has not been burdened by being overly sexualised from a young age. She never wears make up exepct for parties (you should see some of the girl at her school who wear make up of Amy Winehouse proportions, but that's a whole other thread). I however wear it every day, and am like Lynette in that I put it on even if I am not going out the house, it is just an every day routine like brushing my teeth and washing my hair.

Pikelit · 19/12/2009 13:49

Not having daughters, I haven't had the issues about make-up - dsd was 14 when she became dsd. But I have always loathed make-up (and pierced ears and high heels) on very small girls. It's one thing to enjoy playing with make-up at home but quite another to go out to an event made up for it. Horrid. Quite horrid.

PlonkerTeatowelOnTheirHeads · 19/12/2009 13:55

I spat out my drink then nevergoogle! Classic

Ok, I don't wear make up often and I don't encourage my children to wear make up but my 9 and 6yr olds love to play with make up and 'do' each other up. They're just playing.

I walked in the room the other day to find little dd3 (2yo) done up with blue eyeshadow and red lippy, she was naked with clip clop shoes on too

Make up on littlies to 'enhance' features is grim. Make up on littlies to roleplay is play. There is a world of difference.

So, I guess whether I think YABU or not depends on the context of why the toddler was wearing the makeup.

pigletmania · 19/12/2009 13:59

At home is different to out in pubic and regularly. used to smear my mums make up on me when little but making your lo like a little lolita no no

ZsazsaCarnadine · 19/12/2009 14:05

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha at nevergoogle, didn't get past that!

BTW, my DS's creche workers probably have a field day with DS going in with nail penned ladybirds and spiders on his nails. But I don't care he loves them!

timelordvictorious · 19/12/2009 14:11

Completely agree with Rindercella. My PFB is nearly two, and am appalled at the thought of anything being needed to make her prettier than she already is.

I don't like it. Little Ff likes playing with my blusher brush if I'm getting ready, but that's it.

(nevergoogle, I just spluttered when I read that too!)

BlackYellowRed · 19/12/2009 14:16

I'm no fan of make-up, pink and overly girly stuff but ... It was for a party and a one-off. It's not that bad, surely.

Pikelit · 19/12/2009 14:31

It's not an offence worthy of being Drummed Out of the Mummy Club, admittedly. But definitely worthy of sanctimony.

cordonbleugh · 19/12/2009 14:34

at home is fine. but not out in public imo

In fact, I've bought 3yo DD a make up set for christmas.......to stop her ruining mine!!

nimbs · 19/12/2009 15:01

I agree with the others that it's fun for little children to copy mum with tinkerbell make- up etc at home but really hate it when it's used by a parent/carer to 'enhance' a child's face.

One little girl at my ds's school party had full make up on - she's just 6 with eyeliner, mascara, eyeshadow,lipstick - the lot Her mum wants her to be a mini me - poor little thing.

minxofmancunia · 19/12/2009 15:13

yabu it's just dressing up for a party. My dd loves playing with make-up, she has a couple of cheapy kits from Claires after the desecration of my bobbi brown cream eyeshadows .

She often has a bit of lipgloss on that she's smeared on herself and we have girly days where I do her nails.

Not sexualised just dressing up and fun. On the other hand I think girls wearing make-up like they do in these wierdy american beauty pageants is freaky and horrible so it depends on the context iyswim.

If it was apllied with precision every day I would find that odd.

Pushingonthrough · 19/12/2009 15:26

I'm pretty sure that putting lipstick on the facial lips is doing nothing but emphasising the face contours and features.

I hope to god my face doesn't resemble my nether regions when I go out - especially after having 2 babies come out of there

I never wear daytime makeup - only when I go out (which is depressingly rare!). My dd loves all thing that glitters including makeup and I have no issue with her playing around with it. It's not something I encourage but I'm not going to burn my bra in front of her either.

Who knows, with all this practise she may actually work out how to apply it properly rather than resembling Aunt Sally like I do!

Pushingonthrough · 19/12/2009 15:28

Posted early sorry!

However I do agree that it looks hideous on toddlers and 2 really is pushing it for "party" makeup. So in that respect YANBU.

ReindeerInaSkoda · 19/12/2009 15:36

Other than not wanting nasties on a small child's face (which is why my 2yo dd only uses Aveda)the only thing that worries me a tad is that people think a bit of make-up on a toddler is somehow sexualising them. I know all the soc psych/anthropology stuff but even so...

I think there is a world of difference between what the OP describes and those hideous US beauty pageants.

ReindeerInaSkoda · 19/12/2009 15:38

I lide about the 2yo dd btw. She uses MAC.

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