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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Piercing babies ears

248 replies

fifi669 · 31/12/2013 21:05

So.... AIBU to think that piercing young children's ears and esp babies is on some level abusive as it's not got any medical reason and only the vanity of the parents?

I'm not saying it's up there with beating etc. But to purposefully put your child through pain, for a cosmetic reason isn't right surely?

OP posts:
usualsuspect · 31/12/2013 21:50

our*

I can spell

Did you get the piecing done in that posh diary shop?

VampyreofTimeandMemory · 31/12/2013 21:52

just going by this thread pedlars.

picnicbasketcase · 31/12/2013 21:57

I don't like it either. It has been discussed a fair few times that I've seen but I generally just say that I don't like it either rather than posting snarky 'yawn' type comments.

olidusUrsus · 31/12/2013 21:58

I personally haven't come across a piercing your child thread -maybe it's due to my life existing outside mumsnet

Ooohh someone call the burns unit because honey you just got FLAMED.

Usual I have a tube of Jelly Tots here and I swear they've made them shorter. SHORTER. Or my hands have gotten fatter. WIBU to start a thread canvassing opinion?

usualsuspect · 31/12/2013 22:01

I will allow Jelly tot thread.

TheBigJessie · 31/12/2013 22:02

For what it's worth, I completely agree with your first post.

The problem is that the majority of people all know exactly where they stand on this issue, and so no actual discussion takes place. The people on different sides just make emotionally charged sarcastic posts at each other. So now everyone else, especially the people who don't have strong opinions one way or the other, are sick of the subject being even mentioned now

PacificDingbat · 31/12/2013 22:04

Jessie, you are oh so right.

So, which side of the debate do you think I stand on?
Does it help if I say I have only boys? Grin

TheBigJessie · 31/12/2013 22:07

Mo idea yet, where you are pacific If I do Advanced Search, will I be able to find out? Xmas Grin

meditrina · 31/12/2013 22:10

There's "done frequently" and "there have been at least three threads in the last few days". Even MN, which is very tolerant of repetitive threads, reaches saturation point from time to time.

perlona · 31/12/2013 22:10

I don't know how all these babies aren't ripping their ear lobes in two by pulling at them, do their parents tie them up? That would be abusive.

TheBigJessie · 31/12/2013 22:15

I want to know how many babies grow up to have off-centre holes. A friend of mine had her ears done very young and well, ears grow. The original holes didn't close up, so she's left with off-centre holes.

She had to have her ears re-pierced, and she has to take care to wear rather large earrings to cover up that original set of holes. Which is a pity, because she's rather a minimalist-set-of-stylish-studs and a Little Black Dress person.

IsabellaBird · 31/12/2013 23:00

DS (aged 4) pleaded for an earring yesterday.

He can bloody whistle... But I was intrigued about where the idea might have come from...

PacificDingbat · 31/12/2013 23:05

Not telling

And no, search won't help

Original poster
fifi669 · 31/12/2013 23:18

I'll personally hold off until my children are of secondary school age, though don't have issue with younger children. It's babies and toddlers that drive me crazy! DP opposed getting his DDs ears done but his ex went ahead regardless when she was 6 months old.

OP posts:
Eminybob · 01/01/2014 06:56

I don't get it either op it is for no ones benefit except the parents. Maybe they are worried that people will mistake their baby girl for a baby boy otherwise. It looks awful and is cruel and unnecessary.
I had my ears pierced age 4 as my mum says that it when I asked for it Confused if I'd asked for a tattoo then I wonder if I'd have got one too?

giraffesCantSledge · 01/01/2014 06:58

I think babies and toddlers should get their noses pierced at the same time as they get their flu spray up their noses.

DameDeepRedBetty · 01/01/2014 08:22

It's morning now... we're all meant to be sober again!

Weelady77 · 01/01/2014 16:28

I'm going to fling my tuppence in I got my dd ears pierced when she was 5mths, I don't see anything wrong with it but that's my view but I can see people's point that it's wrong!

DoYouLikeMyBaubles · 01/01/2014 16:30

In any other situation putting holes into your baby and causing them pain except for medical reasons would be seen as abuse. But it's okay for vanity reasons Confused

Weelady77 · 01/01/2014 16:34

It's happened for years and years! But I can see your point, but hers are done now and never had any trouble with them Smile

DoYouLikeMyBaubles · 01/01/2014 16:38

There's loads of things that have happened for years, it doesn't mean they're right.

Glad she hasn't had any problems

I had to laugh when my friend told me about when she was a child, the hole grew up her ear Grin

Weelady77 · 01/01/2014 16:43

I got mines done the day I got christened months old,
to me it's a family thing all the baby girls get them done as soon as!

I know it's not to everyone's liking and like I said I can see people's points as to why but it's not nice saying its chavtastic or whatever words were used!

Squitten · 01/01/2014 16:51

I've only just entered the world of girldom with newborn DD but I couldn't imagine piercing her ears. Primarily, I don't see the point beyond my own vanity. I also would be very worried about having a toddler pulling at them, getting them pulled at playgroup, etc. Definitely not for us!

Weelady77 · 01/01/2014 16:53

I totally agree it's not everyone's thing but it's not nice to slate people for doing it!

DoYouLikeMyBaubles · 01/01/2014 16:55

It depends how badly you feel against it. I think it's disgusting personally. It's not done for them, it's done for the parent's.

And this twaddle about 'saving them the pain when they're older'. You're not saving them from anything, they're going through the pain. As an older person they can decide for themselves whether they want to do it or not.

I don't usually slate people for doing it, but I made my thoughts clear to the woman who got her two week old daughter's done.