Babies & Toddlers With Pierced Ears

Well, quite... but it's a bit difficult to cut them off before they've appeared and grown, surely?

My mom took me as a baby. I don’t resent it at all, and have lots of ear piercings now.
Having said that, I would never pierce a baby, because I just don’t think it’s necessary. It needs to be their choice, not mine. I don’t particularly judge other parents who choose differently.
i took my eldest daughter to get hers done when she was about 9, and my two youngest daughters haven’t asked yet so they haven’t been done.

I just dont understand why? Small children dont need earrings. Why do that?

It used to be a lower social class thing.

There. I’ve said it! 😬🫣 Come for me…

So the whole of Spain are " lower class " then? As its usual for babies to have ears pierced just after birth

I let my daughter do it when she was nine. Lock me up!

Yeah, cultural differences aside.

I don’t know about Spain. I’m talking about the UK

I think I was being a bit cheeky

So, what would the penalty be for piercing a baby or a young child’s ears? Prison time, or just a fine? Would it be seen as a reason to get social services involved?

Personally, I’d never pierce a very young child’s ears, but I don’t think it’s so egregious that there needs to be laws banning it.

Yes there should be a minimum age and no idea why it isnt considered child abuse and no using 'culture' shouldn't be an excuse, it's ridiculous

it is purely cosmetic. Only people old enough to want a piercing and understand the aftercare etc should be getting them.

I couldn't agree with you more OP. There is no consent involved so it shouldn't be allowed. I still remember the day about 10 years ago when I walked past Claires Accessories and there were two grown women pinning down a screaming toddler while she had her ears pierced. I complained to their Head Office but they couldn't have given a shit. I'm glad they've gone into administration and wish it had happened sooner.

Yes my daughter was born in England (now27) but christened her in Spain when she was 6 months old and all the ILs and my then DH ( very middle class )family were gutted she didn’t have pierced ears. Half the gifts we got were earrings lol.
We moved there a few years later and I think I got them done when DD was 3 /4
MiI was besides herself as I recall lol x

I was 3 when I got mine peirced 😊 but I wanted them done so I could wear earrings like my sister's did

I can't imagine anyone with a brain deciding to allow someone to pierce their baby's/child's ears for their own benefit? How can it be a benefit to the child at that age ?

Not long ago before Claire’s closed, I was walking past a mum getting her baby’s ears pierced and had to listen to the baby being quite upset. So yeah sometimes it does end up being our business. I have huge empathy for parents since because becoming a parent myself but I did judge this mum and I couldn’t give a shit that it was her culture.

My understanding is that many proper piercing shops that pierce with a needle in this country have a minimum age of around 9 for this reason. Thank god Claire’s closed. I had mine done on my 10th birthday.

Yeah I mean it’s not as bad as starving your DC or physically and/or sexually abusing them but I judge any parent that pierces a baby’s ears regardless of their “culture”. There’s just no need. Just parents putting themselves first.

Central europe some decades ago:
My classmate (girl) believed that a mother to be swallows a pair of earrings and if the baby is a girl, they will come out on her ears.

Yes, it is absurd and our teacher gasped in disbelief (especially when she asked the same question for the second time), but... all girls had their ears pierced and it was done (on parent's request) by doctors on newborns. Using the needle, not the gun. The idea was that a newborn doesn't have to understand the aftercare, and majority won't meddle with them.

From the small number of girls without, quite a lot were annoyed with their parents that they would rather have it done as babies.

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I agree it should be a decision people do about themselves. Moreover, removing the baby pierced cohort could delay the interest of other children.

I just don't see it proportionate to make it illegal if the religious/cultural boy circumcision stays legal. And good luck trying to outlaw that one.

Some people don’t seem to understand that two wrongs don’t make a right. Away with the whataboutery, piercing babies isn’t a religious practice so should be uncomplicated to ban. Squeamishness about protecting small children because of ‘culture’ or fear of being accused of classism is cowardly.

I personally hate it, I think kids should be over 16 personally, I had mine done when I was 8 and second holes when I was 12. I didn’t look after
them very well and have slits rather than holes because of stupid earrings from the 1980’s. Whilst I realise there are cultures that pierce their kids ears, it’s not culture in the UK.
id extend that to circumcision too, boys and girls of course! Monstrous to be messing around with babies bodies

I used to not like it at all, until I spoke to a friend who had had it done as a baby (Indian background where it seems to be more common). She said she was glad to have had it done as a baby as she's a wimp with pain and now has ears pierced with no memory of the pain!

Just to give an alternative view...

My first thought was "thread as old as time...." (to the tune of "tale as old as time" from beauty and the beast). Although it's not been done for a while, so maybe good with a refresh!

I also think it's weird and unnecessary and should probably be illegal. Same bucket for me as non-medical circumcision (although that is of course more serious due to being more painful/ invasive).