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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

138 replies

JoannaVictoria · 12/06/2026 16:44

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.

OP posts:
Sartre · 12/06/2026 17:59

You shouldn’t have gone to a chain store, always always use a proper piercing shop.

That aside, it is more common in some cultures. My mum had mine pierced at 2 and my dad was outraged so removed the earrings to let the holes close up over the weekend. I got them redone at 10 when I explicitly asked. My DD got hers done at 13.

Backedoffhackedoff · 12/06/2026 17:59

JoannaVictoria · 12/06/2026 17:54

It was at a Lovisa store and the baby was on a woman’s lap ( I assume his mother) with another lady of similar age holding him still on her lap whilst the mother held his head for the piercing lady who was marking the ear with a pen.

I was just shocked at other people in the store looking like this was normal and just wanted to know the general opinion on this.

Show quote history

Oh would you look at that! You just happened to be in the same jewellers a PP linked to a story about.
Amazing they’d risk it again after they got into the national news and widespread condemnation last time. They’re like the child catchers aren’t they? 🤨

ThejoyofNC · 12/06/2026 17:56

ThejoyofNC · 12/06/2026 17:53

Chain stores do not pierce babies' ears.

I stand corrected, just googled lovisa.

Original poster
JoannaVictoria · 12/06/2026 17:56

I have just had a look at the piercing policy for Lovisa and they pierce from 6 months old with the parents permission 😔

OP posts:
Original poster
JoannaVictoria · 12/06/2026 17:54

Backedoffhackedoff · 12/06/2026 17:37

“Chain store”
”baby being held down”

what chain store do you reckon would pin a baby down to get their ears pierced?

Show quote history

It was at a Lovisa store and the baby was on a woman’s lap ( I assume his mother) with another lady of similar age holding him still on her lap whilst the mother held his head for the piercing lady who was marking the ear with a pen.

I was just shocked at other people in the store looking like this was normal and just wanted to know the general opinion on this.

OP posts:
Jhm88 · 12/06/2026 17:54

@Backedoffhackedoff I hope you are right and it didn't happen.

ThejoyofNC · 12/06/2026 17:53

Chain stores do not pierce babies' ears.

Backedoffhackedoff · 12/06/2026 17:52

Jhm88 · 12/06/2026 17:50

YANBU. It should be illegal under a certain age (maybe under 6/7/8? I'm not sure.) there's just no need for it. For those saying they don't believe OP - it happens. I know someone who recently got their almost 2 year old daughters ears pierced. Apparently, she was very brave but what is the rush? That age cannot properly consent and I find it hard to believe it was their idea. Let small children be small children.

Edited

I said I don’t believe a chain store employee held the baby down.

obviously I am aware that babies and toddlers get their ears pierced

Stepmum900 · 12/06/2026 17:51

I saw a baby have its ears pierced in the chain store you’re probably referencing. It was under a year old. Went from being a smiley happy baby on its mother’s lap to crying profusely as you can imagine. Was horrible to see.

Jhm88 · 12/06/2026 17:50

YANBU. It should be illegal under a certain age (maybe under 6/7/8? I'm not sure.) there's just no need for it. For those saying they don't believe OP - it happens. I know someone who recently got their almost 2 year old daughters ears pierced. Apparently, she was very brave but what is the rush? That age cannot properly consent and I find it hard to believe it was their idea. Let small children be small children.

Backedoffhackedoff · 12/06/2026 17:49

godmum56 · 12/06/2026 17:45

there was a video of this happening at a chain store shown on here a few years ago....might have been a Claire's but I don't remember.

this https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/distressing-video-viral-ear-piercing-25252107

Edited
Show quote history

It says in the article it’s an independant jewellers called lovisa

TeaPot496 · 12/06/2026 17:49

When children above 7 or 8 (or anyone) gets their ears pierced in a proper location, they are asked several times and the staff make sure they are happy to go ahead and also check that they are happy with the exact location of the piercing.

I know of several people pierced very young where the piercing is in a bit of an odd, off-centre or otherwise position, whether this is how their lobes grew as a baby / toddler I don't know, but they wish their parent didn't do it.

There is no good reason to do so before the child can choose and consent properly.

godmum56 · 12/06/2026 17:48

Dweetfidilove · 12/06/2026 17:47

I didn't, but she was fine pretty soon after, so I'm guessing he knew what he was talking about.

Show quote history

being able to be comforted is not the same as forgetting.

Dweetfidilove · 12/06/2026 17:47

godmum56 · 12/06/2026 17:44

did you ask how they knew?

Show quote history

I didn't, but she was fine pretty soon after, so I'm guessing he knew what he was talking about.

godmum56 · 12/06/2026 17:45

Backedoffhackedoff · 12/06/2026 17:37

“Chain store”
”baby being held down”

what chain store do you reckon would pin a baby down to get their ears pierced?

Show quote history

there was a video of this happening at a chain store shown on here a few years ago....might have been a Claire's but I don't remember.

this https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/distressing-video-viral-ear-piercing-25252107

Dweetfidilove · 12/06/2026 17:45

chocoluv · 12/06/2026 17:32

Yes the pain of a vaccination is very quick and both adults and children usually forget it very quickly.

Piercings are completely different as there is a foreign body stuck inside and so the pain can last weeks.

Show quote history

Ah, yes. I was thinking only of a sharp pain and done; but you're right about the healing process.

sharkstale · 12/06/2026 17:44

Backedoffhackedoff · 12/06/2026 17:37

“Chain store”
”baby being held down”

what chain store do you reckon would pin a baby down to get their ears pierced?

Show quote history

Pretty sure nowhere pierces ears under the age of 6.

godmum56 · 12/06/2026 17:44

Dweetfidilove · 12/06/2026 17:00

The doctor who vaccinated my child told me babies forget pain very quickly 🤷🏾‍♀️.

did you ask how they knew?

Keepoffmyartichokes · 12/06/2026 17:41

I was my ears pierced as a baby, back in the 80's. I don't wear earrings and wouldn't have chosen to have my ears pierced. I wish my parents had given me the choice. I had years of sore ears where I reacted to different metals and now I have scars. Ok they are not big and don't affect my life but I would have rather had the choice

plims · 12/06/2026 17:40

Backedoffhackedoff · 12/06/2026 17:37

“Chain store”
”baby being held down”

what chain store do you reckon would pin a baby down to get their ears pierced?

Show quote history

That’s true

Backedoffhackedoff · 12/06/2026 17:37

plims · 12/06/2026 17:28

Why?

Show quote history

“Chain store”
”baby being held down”

what chain store do you reckon would pin a baby down to get their ears pierced?

Flamingojune · 12/06/2026 17:36

chocoluv · 12/06/2026 17:31

Neither are good.

Unless it’s for medical reasons, neither sex should have their genitals mutilated.

If an adult wants to be circumcised, then he can do so once old enough to give consent.

Show quote history

I was being facetious

chocoluv · 12/06/2026 17:32

Dweetfidilove · 12/06/2026 17:00

The doctor who vaccinated my child told me babies forget pain very quickly 🤷🏾‍♀️.

Yes the pain of a vaccination is very quick and both adults and children usually forget it very quickly.

Piercings are completely different as there is a foreign body stuck inside and so the pain can last weeks.

chocoluv · 12/06/2026 17:31

Flamingojune · 12/06/2026 17:23

Depends which kind, male is quicker than female

Show quote history

Neither are good.

Unless it’s for medical reasons, neither sex should have their genitals mutilated.

If an adult wants to be circumcised, then he can do so once old enough to give consent.

Flamingojune · 12/06/2026 17:30

Dweetfidilove · 12/06/2026 17:00

The doctor who vaccinated my child told me babies forget pain very quickly 🤷🏾‍♀️.

Great. Bring back smacking!