To think pierced ears on a baby look horrible.

[Tealady1983]

So on fb tonight and a old school friend had pictures of her 3month ish baby with her ears pierced am I the only one that think this looks awful and that it's a bit cruel?

Many parents do many things to their children in the name of race/religion/culture/tradition which cause unnecessary pain and suffering and have absolutely no health benefits whatsoever.

FGM, circumcision , etc. ear piercing is of course less on this heinous scale but you are still inflicting pain on a person who cannot consent to the proceedure or refuse as a bigger adult is holding them still.

You can dress it up as you like but it's a fundamental violation of another persons righ to choose an invasive proceedure for absolutely no recognisable benefits. Whatsoever..

Some of you are so very judgemental and small-minded. I like the way the when people have different opinions to some posters on mn they get called this .

How boring it would be if we all had the same opinion, eh?

I wont be sticking sharp metal through my child's ears until they are ready to make the decision themselves and look after the piercings.

Personally I think earrings make a baby look uglier but each to their own. I wouldn't say anything to someone but I'm entitled to my own opinion.

Ah. Come on every one. If "Princess" wants to her ickle bubs to look lovely, then let us smile inwardly and outwardly.
FWIW I am from a culture/religion where it's commonplace to pierce babies ears. And you can gather from my posts here what my opinion of THAT is....
(I do hope Princess' Pwincess won't sue when she's old enough to realise what a lovely thing Mummy did for her)

merry thanks for that link. Are there rules about how often we may open a discussion about this (or any other) subject. Once a year, twice? Or less? just wondering.

Another way of looking at is this; if you see a thread started about a subject you have previously posted and would not want to post again or read, don't open it. See, problem solved. Then everyone who does want to read and contribute can.

Sorry if this sounds nit-picking but I get irritated when being criticised for posting a response on a forum which is what it is for.

I'm hearing you, HappyDays.
Princess and OPs high brow chum disagree and are obvs correct.
Now. Lets hold hands in a circle...

How will straight teeth benefit her? It's a cosmetic thing.

Yes. Some cosmetic things are beneficial. If she needs braces, it'll benefit her not to have crooked teeth for the rest of her life. Unlike earrings, braces are usually more effective if they're put on when you're young.

How will religion benefit her?

What? If you don't think religion is of any benefit whatsoever to a person, then surely you won't be bringing her up in a religion?

How will going to the playground to play on equipment benefit her when she could just go on a nice safe walk?

Fun. Kids like it.

I think you're being completely disingenuous at this point. You know that none of these things are comparable to having a 4-month-old's ears pierced.

You haven't explained why it's better for you to choose a purely cosmetic, unnecessary body modification for her at 4 months, when it's just as easy to have it done when she's old enough to actively want it.

How will straight teeth benefit her? It's a cosmetic thing.

Not necessarily. Straight teeth are easier to keep clean than crowded crooked ones.

You can dress it up as you like but it's a fundamental violation of another persons right to choose an invasive procedure for absolutely no recognisable benefits. Whatsoever.

Yep.

Yes Tabby, it would.
However, I did notice that it was the anti-piercers who use such terms as 'rough' or 'uglier'.

Tabby1963 I'm just pointing out there's a lot of unnecessary and potentially damaging things people put children through. It's not detracting from the argument, it's making a point.

You want me to take out all the fluff? Fine.

I'm getting them pierced because I choose to, as I said before. I am allowed to make that choice, whether you agree with it or not. What are you going to do about it? Furiously type at me to death with a keyboard? :)

My straight teeth benefit me. I arranged my own orthodontic treatment in my late teens. I wish someone had bothered sooner.

Haha, Princess, I don't post anything important about my parenting so good luck finding stuff on me . Your arguments are weird.

Braces will straighten teeth and depending on how bad they are it might be necessary but it might not be. My DS chose not too have braces for his lower teeth right now as it would affect the instrument he plays. His choice for now. If they'd been really bad and noticeable I might have stepped in as his parent and explained the reason he needed to have them but as you say it's only cosmetic, his instrument means a lot and as it's the bottom ones it's not noticeable. Informed sensible decisions made together. Why? Because it's his body so he gets a say.

In your first post you make it sound that you'll be making her drive before her 20s as if it's your choice. I haven't a clue what the point in your last post about driving is as it's garbled. If you don't want her to drive before she's in her 20s don't let her unless she pays for learning herself and can buy herself a car. It's not hard.

The odd McDonalds or sweets aren't too bad. Parents choose to give these things as treats but ultimately have control over it until a certain age. They give some pleasure to children, unlike having your baby's ears pierced which benefit who? Not your child. You know it will hurt her too as you talk about giving her tylenol.

(I do hope Princess' Pwincess won't sue when she's old enough to realise what a lovely thing Mummy did for her)

Sue? Really?

Well, she can sue. But it would be a waste of money for her seeing as how she wouldn't win.

I don't remember seeing any previous threads on this, but there clearly have been. FWIW I think that babies are lovely as they are and don't need jewellery of any kind to enhance that and I don't think earrings on a baby are an enhancement anyway. It jars.

I would rather leave a child to decide for themself when they are older.

However, I did notice that it was the anti-piercers who use such terms as 'rough' or 'uglier'.

Well, it would be odd if the pro-piercers thought it made their baby look rougher or uglier.

Princess in the big scheme of things it doesn't matter that you've chosen to have your baby's ears pierced. She won't remember when she's older, certainly.

It is certainly a good start to the day to have a full on discussion about it though .

I haven't met a baby with pierced ears yet, but will certainly be on the look out now .

Lots of religions pierce ears very early. This is the usual MN faux horror if anyone steps out of the Boden box.

Wow, Princess.
"We'll she can sue. But it would be a waste of money for her seeing as how she wouldn't win"
Really? Inflicting unnecessary pain and suffering on a child incapable of giving informed consent just because its what you want? And you think a judge wouldn't recognise this?
"DELUDED" and "ENTITLED" KLAXON ALERT....
Can't wait to see what MNers think of this.
And I do hope that girls/women who have been forced to have FGM aren't reading...

This is the usual MN faux horror if anyone steps out of the Boden box.

No faux horror here. Just a dislike of pierced ears on small children and babies.

Talking about during now. That'll be half the Asian population in court then

YADNBU

Parents putting their baby through pain just because they want them to wear earrings? WTF. They're babies FGS. Why should they be exposed to pain and possible infection just so they can be accessorised because their parents "wants to do it".

Totally bizarre.
I'm surprised it's allowed to be honest.

Tabby1963 Yeah, it is an interesting discussion (and in my case to wind down before bed). Where I'm from it's not really a big deal either way.

This is the first place I've found that is so adamantly anti-earrings.

Go to South America, you won't find a baby girl without piercings there.

I am not keen on it either but the reactions are ott for the sake of it.

Y'know , I really don't care what anyone else does with their baby, either (within reason, obviously). I don't think Princess's baby will be mentally scarred for life or anything.

I do think it's a bit of a shame, though. Babies and little children are perfect as they are. They don't need body modifications solely aimed at 'prettifying' them. That is why many (most?) people will think it looks jarring and ugly.

Also, it's taking a rite of passage away from her. I loved going and getting my ears pierced as a girl. My sisters and I weren't allowed until we were 13 (!). It was part of becoming a teenager. I get that 13 is pretty late these days, but 'before you're old enough to want or remember it' is the other extreme.