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

JoannaVictoria · 2026-06-12T15:44:18+00:00

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.

LoveHearts69 · 15/06/2026 15:17

My husband is from a culture where they pierce babies ears, I take on and appreciate so much of his culture but that was an absolute no for me. There’s no way I’d put my small babies through that and the risk of infection.

I have a lot of piercings myself but I think they look awful on babies and young children!

Letskeepcalm · 15/06/2026 15:01

plims · 12/06/2026 16:50

That’s irrelevant

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Agree totally irrelevant

Ponoka7 · 15/06/2026 10:08

Backedoffhackedoff · 12/06/2026 18:34

Claire’s has closed down

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Concessions are still open. Our one is still running exactly the same, same staff etc, just under the new name. A French firm has bought them. The point was, posters wouldn't believe a shop would pierce a baby's ears.

Flamingojune · 14/06/2026 17:41

Sunnyyetnotsunny · 13/06/2026 13:02

I thimk there should be ban on bringing in circumcision into earrings discussion. It's absolutely ridiculous comparison and it really makes - 1) light of circumcision especially fgm, 2)people sound bit dim if they think these are comparable in any way

I think there should be a ban on posters telling others posters what they can and can't discuss and calling them stupid when they don't agree with them

Jc2001 · 14/06/2026 17:36

User97463 · 12/06/2026 16:57

Wait till you hear about circumcision...

Two wrongs don't make a right.

MrsKateColumbo · 14/06/2026 17:34

I thought it was falling out of fashion, I only know one under 13 with hers done, even my Spanish friend with 4 girls is making them wait till y7. I keep waiting for DD to bring it up but she's not even into play earrings.

Seagoats · 14/06/2026 17:28

LadyLooo · 12/06/2026 16:53

"AIBU Im thinking this isn’t right?"

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

????????????

Clur1982 · 14/06/2026 17:02

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

iloveanearlynight · 13/06/2026 14:40

NearlyNewNonny · 12/06/2026 16:48

It's been done to death on MN.

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

ToadRage · 13/06/2026 13:44

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.

Allders · 13/06/2026 13:11

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

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 13/06/2026 13:09

Sunnyyetnotsunny · 13/06/2026 13:02

I thimk there should be ban on bringing in circumcision into earrings discussion. It's absolutely ridiculous comparison and it really makes - 1) light of circumcision especially fgm, 2)people sound bit dim if they think these are comparable in any way

Well said!

BillieWiper · 13/06/2026 13:07

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.

Sunnyyetnotsunny · 13/06/2026 13:02

I thimk there should be ban on bringing in circumcision into earrings discussion. It's absolutely ridiculous comparison and it really makes - 1) light of circumcision especially fgm, 2)people sound bit dim if they think these are comparable in any way

godmum56 · 13/06/2026 12:58

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 13/06/2026 12:41

Hardly the same level of pain and harm, though? I don’t see how those are in any way comparable.
For the record, my DDs weren’t allowed to get their ears pierced until they were 13.

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my point is that because something is done in some cultures doesn't make it right or desireable

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 13/06/2026 12:41

godmum56 · 13/06/2026 12:26

in some cultures its normal to circumcise boys. In some cultures its normal to circumcise girls.

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Hardly the same level of pain and harm, though? I don’t see how those are in any way comparable.
For the record, my DDs weren’t allowed to get their ears pierced until they were 13.

godmum56 · 13/06/2026 12:26

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 13/06/2026 11:22

I don’t like seeing babies with earrings, but in some cultures it’s normal to do it when they’re tiny. Only yesterday on the bus I saw a baby, no more than about 15 months, with little pearl studs in her ears.

in some cultures its normal to circumcise boys. In some cultures its normal to circumcise girls.

Sunnyyetnotsunny · 13/06/2026 11:29

Bingbongsingalong · 12/06/2026 20:38

Totally agree, it's assault and I wont back down on that. If I put holes in my child (without their consent) in any place other than their ears, i'd be in trouble, so why are ears okay? If people want to decorate something, get a bloody Christmas tree.

I often wonder how many babies who have had it done are bad sleepers? I have never been able to sleep with earrings in, it causes me literal pain, so I take them out, but babies can't communicate that they are uncomfortable!

I asked mum and I was a good sleeper apparently.
I still sleep in my standard earrings. I don't take them off unless cleaning or swap for special occasion ones. Always did. I always had either small round or flat back. Wouldn't sleep on butterfly back though.
We also never had to take them off for PE unless they were massive. I remember only one classmate had imjury in all that years. I guess it's different if you are really so used to them? I don't know

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 13/06/2026 11:22

I don’t like seeing babies with earrings, but in some cultures it’s normal to do it when they’re tiny. Only yesterday on the bus I saw a baby, no more than about 15 months, with little pearl studs in her ears.

MomsGotInk · 13/06/2026 10:51

My daughter kept begging for her ears pierced on her 9th birthday. I said yes providing she understood the process/aftercare & we went to a properly trained/hygiene certified body piercer. I have multiple piercings & 3 children but I don’t like baby/toddler ear piercings.

Corryvreckan · 13/06/2026 09:41

plims · 12/06/2026 16:54

What does this mean?

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It means somebody is too stupid to use actual words.

godmum56 · 13/06/2026 09:35

thestudio · 12/06/2026 22:08

But much, much more abusive.

Putting a child through unnecessary pain to conform to adults' totally random social norms is fucking disgusting.

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I agree, that's dreadful.

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 13/06/2026 06:40

SisterMidnight77 · 12/06/2026 21:04

I would hate to see an 11yo having their ears pierced too.

Same. I think body modification should be 18+.

I say that as someone with tattoos and piercings.

ByRoseBiscuit · 12/06/2026 22:21

ToddlerMum7473244w · 12/06/2026 16:49

I was born abroad where they pierce your ears right after birth if you're a girl! More hygienic and less drama than having it done at 11 in a supermarket.

My daughter had hers pierced when she was 10 after asking for a long time. There was absolutely no drama and she got to make the decision for herself about her own body

RaininSummer · 12/06/2026 22:17

Child abuse if the poor kid was screaming etc for an entirely unnecessary procedure.