...to believe that piercing a baby's ears is abusive

[TheAlphaParent]

1. It causes unnecessary pain.
2. It removes choice and respect for bodily autonomy.
3. It puts the infant at risk of infection.
4. It provides no benefit to the infant.

I'd be interested in hearing from any pro-piercing parents; However if you're anti-piercing, I urge you to sign this recently approved Government petition:

epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/20646

P.S. I know this is an old school debate, but the Government are yet to act, so the piercing of babies debate is still hugely relevant.

YANBU. They can make non medical circumcision illegal while they are at it.

I was joking.

I had mine pierced at 18 months. I don't feel like I was abused.
I won't be getting my DDs ears pierced because I think it looks ridiculous on babies but that's just my opinion.

its terribly chavvy, particularly hoops LOL

I did wonder sixwidows

YANBU.

Bloody hideous.

YABU

it is the norm in some cultures. I had my ears pierced as a baby and have suffered no I'll effects from it. I will get dd daughter done when she is bit older. I think it's absurd to call it abuse, it belittles the term. By all means don't get your own child pierced but leave others to their own judgements and cultures. Hardly a government matter, surely they've got more important things to be dealing with.

It's vile, common and cruel. But I am not sure you can legislate against bad taste. Fiar play if you manage it though........it does make me shudder. Can think of loads to add to that list though - maybe they could be added to the petition :).....

I still think it's abusive

And an awful message to send out...that a parent sees their child as something that needs decorating.

If people want to decorate their babies, they surely do it with various clothes and accessories that doesn't involve punching holes in them and possibly causing the risk of infection for the sake of vanity?

You can get it done at the Doctors office round this way

My DD does not have them done.

When my son was 4, he went through a period of wanting just one , to be like a friend from nursery...

With his curly hair, he would have been a double for David Essex!

Ummm... child screaming and being pinned down in Claire's, it suits my child, it looks chavvy, it looks classy, culture...

I feel more strongly about circumcision but still wouldn't sign a petition about that.

No cother becasue you missed out tale of small child getting ear ring caught on something and having entire head ripped off as a result

Thanks Cother

Oh fuck it. I'm shit at this game.

it's a generational thing.

If we're honest about it I wonder how much of this has to do with the perception that ear piercing is chavy. Many of us will put our young DCs through some serious anxiety and upset while we wait for them to settle into 9 to 5 childcare, but we don't think thats 'abusive', because almost all of us do it. But a split second's physical discomfort is 'abusive' if its inflicted by chavs.

My mum pierced my brothers tummy with a nappy pin! No one noticed until my dad tried to calm the screaming!

Now that's abuse

Always thought it looked common (and I'm common!!) but changed my opinion recently when I saw a young couple coming out of Claire's with a toddler boy who was screaming and pulling at his ear which was bright red and clearly had just been pierced.

Felt revolted at the parents.

Why inflict unnecessary pain on a small child - for fashion??

I didn't know that councils could set a local licensing policy on the age for piercings.

Have any done it, OP?

worraliberty - the petition was just approved an hour ago. It expires in 1 year. So basically we have a year to collect 100,000 signatures in order for Parliament to consider debating this topic. It's achievable.

I personally would rather the government spent their time discussing more important issues.

It's simply due to the association with 'chavs' that have suddenly made so many people against it.

"babies don't feel pain like adults do."

Could you provide proof for that please, AtYourCervix?

It is such a non-issue.

It would be a waste of Government's time to discuss it. Plenty of children living in poverty, subjected to everyday abuse etc etc - it would be good if they could deal with that first