4 year old getting pierced ears at Superdrug

Horrendous! I've never liked children getting their ears pierced (think I stated my goddaughter should be 16 before she got hers done, her mother said 12, lass is in her 20s and still unpierced) but the thought of putting my 4 yo through that is just unthinkable. She barely lets me brush her hair, there's no way she'd let me take care of the wounds, and that's if she got more than one done anyway.

She likes looking at my earrings but that's it for now. She can wait til 16.

It’s awful. I saw a tiny toddler getting her ears pierced in Claire’s once and she was absolutely screaming, completely distraught. And her grandmother was filming it.

It’s only places that do cheap gun piercings that will pierce young kids’ ears. Proper body piercers who pierce correctly with needles in a sterile environment, rather than crunching a blunt sleeper stud through your ear in a grubby shop, are invariably very strict about age limits and consent.

I’ve got loads of piercings and the place I go to will not pierce the ears of children who are under eight, ever. And for children are over eight, they will only pierce their ears if a) they ask for it themselves and explain why they want it done and b) can demonstrate that they understand the aftercare and why it’s important. If the piercer doesn’t feel they understand, they tell them to come back when they’re a bit older. They will not pierce any child who doesn’t want it done - the moment the child says no, the piercer won’t do it, however much the parent tries to persuade them. And yes, this does mean that sometimes a child gets one ear done, decides it’s too scary and refuses to have the other one done! The piercer will always respect the child’s wishes.

it's incredibly tacky in very young kids and babies. the reasoning is always "oh it's so they won't remember it" but it's not like it's mandatory at all!!

And you are a judgemental know it all!

I can remember having mine done at 3 years old and it wasn't traumatic or painful at all! Some people are so dramatic 🙄

There's a difference between a child wanting them pierced and being held down and having them pierced. A massive difference. Even if the child wanted them pierced and then found out it hurts after one, the parent should say ok we'll leave it rather than force them to have it done. And shop should not be complicit in this even if it means a partial refund or change in policy to come back another day.

I've said 10 to my DD. She will be able to understand better and take care of them herself. If she wants them done of course.

There should be a minimum age.

Not sure what it should be but 18 is too high.

Absolutely! It doesn't really matter about anyone else's culture really, what's wrong is wrong! We would never in this country subject children or anyone under 18 (or stand by as they are subjected to) any pain that's not medically necessary. That's why no tattoos/sex/drinking/smoking/vaping before 18 (hopefully 21) or anything else that might result in pain for the child (or future pain e.g. diseases) . Hopefully all other countries drop all their customs that we might not agree with.. Other PPS have said it's absolutely disgusting that parents might allow any of these things that could cause children pain or inflict future suffering, that's worth considering

Presumably anyone who is lobbying against it was a former baby... my mother had mine done when I was around 18 months old and I think it's vulgar as fuck to do it on a child, much less one who has no idea what's happening. The idea of inflicting unnecessary pain on a child for little more than vanity is disgusting.

Yanbu. It's child abuse, and it also looks ugly and chavvy. I know in the US it's considered normal to have them done young ( for some people) but I hate it.

Have any former-babies bothered to lobby or protest?

The most vocal people are the white middle class who've never had it done themselves, and always compare it to African girls being tortured through FGM.

I don’t agree with kids that young getting their ears pierced. My daughters 5 and won’t be having them done for a long time yet.

@Robotshavetakenoverthenavy - exactly why I said: if you feel piercing is on par with FGM (FWIW I completely disagree) then perhaps channel your outrage into lobbying for a change in laws. At the moment it is unfortunately still legal in the UK, so it’s unclear what a complaint to Superdrug will achieve.

Some cultures think it's ok to mutilate female genitalia, yet we don't allow that. Why do we allow people to mutilate babies' earlobes?

@fungipie first set was done when she was 3, second set done for her 5th birthday. Her idea.

I was 15 when I got my ears pierced. I think ear piercing on under 12s is chavvy.

How is it gross if the 9yo asked for it, and both she and her parents are happy? Honestly. Not even close to OP's example

Because birth and umbilical cords , and other medical procedures such as injections, are necessary and done for a positive benefit.....

My DD still hasn’t got them done and she is 21. She says she doesn’t like the thought of metal in her body.

Strangely though, she did get a tattoo when she was old enough.

The right time to get a child’s ears pierced is a personal family decision. There are many cultures (not just “chavs” as a few PP have suggested) who pierce children’s ears when they are babies and many other families choose to wait until children are past the toddler stage so they can help make the decision as to when and whether they want their ears pierced.

While I personally think the parent in the OP was unreasonable to continue with the piercing as her child was clearly in distress, I also think OP is unreasonable to complain to head office if the parents had consented and this is apparently all that the shop needed to proceed. I am also not sure what the OP expected when she intervened: that they would stop the procedure? If you feel that strongly about the issue OP, I suggest you channel your outrage into lobbying for a change in the law. Until it’s illegal to pierce small kids ears with guns with only parental consent then there is nothing the shop/parents did wrong. Morally/in your personal opinion: yes. Legally: no.

There needs to be a law on this but some cultures do piercings from almost birth and any law would be considered racist.

Children should not be pierced or circumcised ( another story.)

I've always said it's physical abuse if a young child who hasn't consented

Causing pain and a hole in a part of a body is abuse

Hate seeing on a baby or toddler

Mini blondes dd7 has asked about getting her ears done as 3/4 of her friends have

But only mentions every now and again

So I'm waiting to her to beg beg beg so know she really wants it

then will consider it and will be over summer holidays

I had mine done at 11 and had to beg beg beg

I still remember the horror of seeing this done to someone’s babe in arms in a jewellers when I was a teenager (in my 40s now). It looked and sounded horrific.

Wow I had no idea they were allowed to do this so young . Sis and I had ours done at a jeweller around 9-10 . it was a good jeweller had guard on the door and everything 😄 .When I was visiting the town one time my son got his done around the same time , the same place . Why do it so young kids are happy enough with pieces of plastic toy jewellery .