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Original poster

Baby ear-piercing

205 replies

cherryred · 19/01/2011 09:57

I know this topic has been talked about before but I feel so shocked at having witnessed a baby having her ears pierced that I'm bringing it up again.
I was in a branch of Claire's with my 10 year old when it happenned, the baby was quite young and absolutely howling in shock and pain. My daughter started crying too, she couldn't believe anyone would needlessly want to hurt their baby in this way. I left feeling that this really shouldn't be allowed to happen, ear-piercing doesn't benefit a baby in any way, it's as if some parents don't realise that babies are real people with feelings not just little dollys to dress up. Ok rant over! Angry

OP posts:
FabbyChic · 19/01/2011 09:58

I don't agree with babies having pierced ears. I think a child should be able to choose so it should be done after they are around 8.

CalamityKate · 19/01/2011 09:59

Oh you'll get quite a few biscuits for this one I reckon... Grin

Me, I hate ear piercing on babies and toddlers.

Sarsaparilllla · 19/01/2011 09:59

I hate seeing babies with their ears pierced, kit looks awful and I'd always worry about the earings coming lose and them choking on them as well.

SeaTrek · 19/01/2011 10:00

YANBU - I personally don't get it at all. I don't feel that parents have the moral right to do but they do have the legal right. It looks so horrible too but then so do frilly socks and headbands for babies to me.

OffToNarnia · 19/01/2011 10:01

Oh that must have been so upsetting to see. There are loads of little girls/ babies round here with pierced ears. It seems to be some form of 'rite of passage'. I don't understand it but have never dared ask a parent why they have done it.

LittleMissHissyFit · 19/01/2011 10:01

Erm, DON'T GO INTO CLAIRE'S? Grin

ILovedYou · 19/01/2011 10:02

YANBU - it is cruel and common YUK! What is wrong with people?

TrinityMotherOfRhinos · 19/01/2011 10:03

totally unneccessary and quite cruel

Bogeyface · 19/01/2011 10:04

Anything that involves breaking the skin on a child should not be done for anything other than medical reasons.

Its pure selfishness on the part of the parents, as you say, they are not baby dolls to play dress up with. It isnt "cute", its cruel.

kreecherlivesupstairs · 19/01/2011 10:05

Here you are, so you aren't disappointed Biscuit

coccyx · 19/01/2011 10:17

yuk, CHAVVY and ugly

Aims80 · 19/01/2011 10:20

It looks terrible on babies.. I had another piercing in my ear just after Christmas (I'm sooo rock n roll) and I'm cleaning it etc but it's got a bit itchy and swollen (as they are wont to do until they are completly healed), it's not infected as such, it's just what happens sometimes. Why would you inflict that upon a baby?

I think my mum had the right idea by making us wait until we were 12 to get ours done.. Although I disagreed with her at the time! lol

Karaishere · 19/01/2011 10:22

Admittedly I wants my DD's ears pierced when she was a baby but as my DH said it's her body so it should be her choice so we didn't get them pierced in the end and rightly so :)

my mums friends daughter had her very young baby's ear pierced and put big gold hoops in them Shock dread to think what would have happened if the baby managed to grab and pull them

dockate · 19/01/2011 10:24

YANBU. I think it is utterly scummy to get a baby's ears pierced. It is enforced mutilation if done without informed consent. If a child is old enough to WANT ears pierced, and to give informed consent, then fair enough; I had mine done at 18 (parents would never have allowed it earlier!), and would discourage DD (now 3) until she is at least in her teens.

sunndydays · 19/01/2011 10:24

There should be some kind of law against it, it is awful! Having your ears pierced hurts!! (Wuss!) It looks awful too, especially once they have swapped the studs for the gold hoops! I had to wait until I was 10, but I expect I will let dd have hers done around 8, if that is what she would like.

missmehalia · 19/01/2011 10:27

Agreed. 'Decorate your baby today by putting holes in her and dangling pieces of metal from them!!' Grand.

Seems abusive..

mutznutz · 19/01/2011 10:27

I think it looks vulgar. I'd like to see the age raised to 10 or 12 I think.

Rocky12 · 19/01/2011 10:35

So, why on earth do you see so many babies with pierced ears.... Horrible and I 100% agree that it should be the children's decision, I guess someone will come on now and talk about different cultures etc but it is a vile practise!

lucky1979 · 19/01/2011 10:44

No one should have their ears pierced at Claire's accessories regardless of age. They use a gun rather than a needle.

You cannot sterilize a gun properly, it's far more painful, it causes excess scar tissue and you are FAR more likely to get infections, from the nasty pus ones to the really serious hepititus etc.

So, gun piercings are bad and potentially damaging at any age.

LtEveDallas · 19/01/2011 10:45

I'm stressing about this at the moment.

There are only 4 girls in DD's class (incl DD). The other 3 have their ears pierced - Actually so do a couple of the boys.

DD is 5.

She has wanted her ears pierced since she started at the school (and saw these girls, incl 2 more who have since left), but I've always said no. DD is well aware that my 'rule' is that she can have them in the summer hols before secondary school and not before.

DD is now seriously p'd off with me and brings it up continuously. It wasn't helped when her friends mum commented (in front of the kids) on how I'd "left it a bit late to get her ears done - it'll hurt more now". I'm actually being criticised for not letting her Shock

It's not a cultural thing - we are all bog standard white brits - so why on earth do I feel so guilty?

Aims80 · 19/01/2011 10:52

It doesn't hurt more when you're older.. what a load of bull!

TyraG · 19/01/2011 10:53

You shouldn't feel guilty. The girls should be old enough to fully understand all the responsibility that comes along with getting their ears pierced.

I think I got mine done when I was about 8 and my mother warned me that if I didn't take care of them and they got infected she'd take the earrings out and I'd have to wait until I was old enough to pay for them myself. Needless to say I took care of them.

We're waiting to get DD's pierced. I know she'd like them because she sees mine and used to love playing with my ma's earrings (she liked to play in her jewellery box and sort them all out). Aside from her needing to be old enough we also want to wait because DH has a metal allergy and we want to be sure she doesn't have it as well.

IWantToBeAFairyWhenIGrowUp · 19/01/2011 10:58

YANBU - I don't earrings on babies either but each to their own I suppose.

Actually you could blame Claires for agreeing to do it so young.

JumpOnIt · 19/01/2011 11:00

Hate it, hate it. Why on earth would you want to do that to your baby for the sake of beauty and I use that term very loosely. :)

LouMacca · 19/01/2011 11:01

YANBU - its hideous!!

My DD has just turned 8 and a few of the girls in her class have their ears pierced and I think they also look awful. There is no way my DD is having hers done until secondary school (if she wants them done at all).

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