Mum Slams Parenting Magazine That Suggests Mums And Dads Could Wax Or Pluck Children's Upper Lip Hair

A mum has blasted a parenting magazine for suggesting young children could have the hair on their upper lip waxed or plucked.

A photo of the article published in US Parents magazine was shared by Instagram account Sturdy Mom Central, run by a mother from Wisconsin.

“I am appalled at parents magazine for this article stating that it is okay to wax or pluck your preschooler’s ‘moustache’,” she wrote on Instagram on 18 November.

“The featured picture even makes me angry. What is this teaching our young children about appearances? It is absurd!”

The article begins by explaining that almost all children have hair on their upper lip, but some is “darker and coarser” than others.

“Thick and coarse hair on a little girl of boy’s upper lip is only a problem when it starts to impact their happiness and self-esteem,” paediatric dermatologist Jody Levine is quoted as saying in the article.

The article then goes onto explain how to remove the hair with scissors, “if the child wants to”.

“If the hair is too short to cut, waxing and plucking are safe alternatives for kids who can handle the discomfort,” the article reads.

“But it’s best to avoid bleaching creams at this age as they can irriate young skin.”

Commenting on the photo, other parents were shocked by the comments made in the magazine.

“100% agree with you, what the heck?!” one person wrote.

Speaking to HuffPost UK, Dr. Jody Levine (the expert quoted in the magazine article ) who is a paediatric dermatologist and mother of five said: “I agree wholeheartedly that a parent should try her very best to take a child’s focus away from body image and make a child confident with whom he/she is as a person.

“However, a parent must also strike a balance and not ignore a child’s call for help. If a child is getting bullied or embarrassed in school as a result of an image that is different from others, it is not good parenting to ignore one’s child’s concerns.

“A parent must be equipped to help her child when in need and should be aware of her options. Parents Magazine is raising awareness to an issue that although not common, does exist, and parents who criticise the magazine for offering this education are misreading the article and are not adequately considering those children who may be psychologically affected.”

HuffPost UK has reached out to Parents magazine for comment and will update this piece upon their response.

Before You Go

Yes, You CAN Make A Family Walk Fun

Don't say 'who wants to go for a walk?'(01 of08)

Reframe a walk so it's enticing and exciting using words like explore, play, adventure.Who wants to climb a castle or who wants to find some treasure or skim stones? (credit:Alexander Nicholson via Getty Images)

Don't plod in a straight line - and back again.(02 of08)

Choose a wiggly walk and terrain made for adventuring. "It's all about keeping children's minds off putting one foot in front of another," says Clare Lewis. (credit:Stephen Lux via Getty Images)

Always have an appealing destination - and make pit-stops along the way.(03 of08)

It could be a café with their favourite hot chocolate or their 'secret' place like a climbing tree. Make regular stops to admire natural curiosities, make a den, whittle a stick or play in water or whatever you fancy. Encourage your kids to take photos. Clare Lewis's family always take 'scroggin'; a New Zealand name for a hikers' mix of nuts and seeds, dried fruit and chocolate to keep energy levels up. (credit:ArtMarie via Getty Images)

Join forces with another family or get the kids to bring their friends.(04 of08)

Children love the sociability of a walk and bringing friends increases their activity as they challenge each other to jump the highest or widest, splash in puddles, climb trees or find the best stick. (credit:Alistair Berg via Getty Images)

Walk together in a chatty clod, not a single line with you barking 'come on, keep up'(05 of08)

There may be times you have to walk in a line, but take turns with who's the leader. Also, let your children choose the route (within reason!). (credit:Bounce via Getty Images)

Play games as you go.(06 of08)

Hide-and-seek, capture the flag or ambushes - sending kids on ahead so they can jump out on you - are all favourites. Bring a ball or a Frisbee to play with too. (credit:JLPH via Getty Images)

Turn your walk into a treasure hunt. Or an obstacle course.(07 of08)

Children love places to clamber over like a rocky beach or challenges like climbing trees or jumping over streams. Challenge children to touch that tree and run back, hopscotch between the pavement cracks or run along the low wall. "You could go on a shape walk, finding stones, shells and leaves that are all the same shape," suggests Clare Lewis, co-author of Adventure Walks for Families in and Around London. (credit:Imgorthand via Getty Images)

End on a high.(08 of08)

Match a walk to your kids' ages. You don't want want to leave them exhausted. Talk up what fun you had, so next time you suggest an adventure walk they leap at the chance. (credit:ArtMarie via Getty Images)