Opinions on Ear Piercing For Babies/Toddlers?

[RabbitsRock]

Just seen a photo on Facebook of an ex colleague’s child who I don’t think is even 2 & she has pierced ears. I just think it’s so wrong. In really little babies it’s even worse! At least wait until the child is old enough to choose & even then, that’s really too soon. I first had mine done at 16 & they soon healed over as I couldn’t be bothered to do what you’re supposed to do properly.

Non medically required body modification for children without their consent should be illegal.

something like an ear piercing is small enough the child does not need to be 18 to understand and consent. Not sure what the specific age should be.

It shouldn’t be allowed until a child can give informed consent. It is their body so ultimately needs to be their choice but with an understanding of the risks and the care involved.

Personally I would have a ban on under 10s having any piercing.

My teen absolutely does not want her ears pierced. Imagine if I’d just gone ahead and did it to her as a baby?

na, no grown up consent , no piercing

Personally I think it’s a horrible thing to do to a baby or young child, & in my opinion it looks cheap & tacky.

It’s in the same league as a vegan cat.

Abusive

Think its so out of order. A child should be able to decide for themselves if its what they want. Some parents are disgustingly selfish.

I do have to make the point that in the UK we get the Bounty lady and her naff photos and in Costa Rica they have ear piercing. I'm not sure what's worse.

Piercing a baby is not for me and I have at least 10 percings in each ear. My own DD was 8 and I still think it was a bit soon because they just would NOT heal. Advice to 'leave them the f* alone' doesn't really work on all kids and the amount of swimming they do isn't good for healing. All that crap Claires' sell probably makes healing worse too. I also blame my mum for swapping the titanium earrings to 9ct gold ones that were probanly cut with tin.

I can see the point of having them healed before baby is even aware of them but the thought of a toddler with a ripped ear fills me with horror. Reputable piercers won't touch children until the children understand what they are asking for. Mine doesn't anyway. It doesn't stop me asking my 10 year old if she'd like a 2nd set done! She very sensibly said no way!

In my opinion, it’s a form of child abuse because they can’t consent and a form of forced body modification. I know it’s technically reversible, but it’s not without risk to begin with and doesn’t take away the lack of consent.

I was never allowed to have my ears pierced despite begging my parents pretty much every day as a teenager, but my mum refused. This meant I was one of three girls in my secondary school without pierced ears. I almost got it done at 17 but I just started working at McDonald’s and earrings were not allowed. A few years later, my friend (one of the other 2) decided they wanted to finally get their ears done and asked me if I wanted to do it too. I thought about it for 5 minutes and then decided I was good.
I've realised I kind of like being in the minority of people my age (I am mid-20s), without it being done, as it makes me feel slightly special. Complete irrational I know and I don’t know why I felt like that, as I still ‘resent’ my mum for banning me from having it done. But yeah, I don’t think I’ll ever have it done now.

I will let any future children have it done if they want it, but they have to come to me and ask. No way will I force it on them.

Crass

Gross and chavvy. I feel like it should be categorised as a form of child abuse

Nope, nobody is sticking a needle in my 2 year old unless it’s needed (vaccines, blood tests or hospital treatment).

Nobody should be having holes made in their ears unless they have actively consented . Personally I think it should be banned for anyone under 11 .

I think it’s grim. Totally unnecessary

You can get special baby earrings that have a different backing to adult ones. That is what they use in countries like Mexico where it is traditionally done by the midwife as soon as a baby girl is born.

I think it is truly awful and there should be older minimum age requirements. A place near us has a sign saying minimum 2 months of age. I once heard someone boasting they went straight from the hospital to have their daughter's ears pierced. The baby was something like 18 hrs old.

Speaking at the other end of this. I’m heavily pierced. I allowed DD to get her lobes done on her tenth birthday. She held in her upset until we got outside, then sobbed in my arms. She’s now 13 and asking for a belly piercing and nose piercing for her 14th. She’s also stepped it up to wanting a septum piercing because “nose piercings aren’t cool”. She’ll be getting no further piercings at this early age and I don’t give a fuck about being a hypocrite.

Well that makes it perfectly normal then?! You're poking holes in the body of a baby so they can wear something that is only beneficial to older kids or adults. It's wrong.

A nightmare to keep safe once it’s in and the act itself is bordering on child abuse imo

What does that say about circumcision then ?

Yeah. I really look up to my in laws as parents but MIL was a little confused when DH told her we won’t be piercing toddler DD’s ears. DD stands out for this reason when we visit them abroad. She has an illness meaning she’s had more than her fair share of blood tests since birth and it’s bad enough seeing her having these which are obviously necessary. It also makes me feel very squeamish when I think about how much toddlers prod, poke and pull at each other. How don’t they get ripped out often?

I’m not a fan personally particularly on babies why do that to something so perfect?

I really loathe piercings on small children. No earlier than secondary age in my opinion.
I really don’t understand why so many parents want their CHILD to do adult things….. childhood is so short… please let children be children.

It’s awful and I don’t understand why people do it.

My two nieces had theirs done as babies and I was embarrassed to be seen alone with them incase people thought I had chosen to do it to them.

A very decent and probably the best piercing studio in our area wont do ears till age 11. I respect them for this, loads of people complain to them about it and say its my child and its my choice, completely ignoring any consent that child should have. When my daughter is older and if she wants her ears done they will get us as a customer as I respect their rules and think its a great stance to have.

People who have them done as babies and toddlers are vile. Just absolutely vile.

In my opinion its genital mutilation and should be banned for all bar a medical reason.