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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand why you'd get your baby's ears pierced?

215 replies

Slh122 · 11/08/2014 12:26

On an fb group I'm on there's a post about someone wanting to get her 4 month old's ears pierced. Apparently me asking why she would want to put her baby through pain and at risk of infection makes a 'judgemental bitch'.
AIBU to really not understand piercing a baby's ears?

OP posts:
itsazoohere · 11/08/2014 20:29

Hmmm....so I could pierce my 4yr old daughters lip and nose if she asked? Or my baby son's...um...any of him?
It's legal, right, so ok?
And my dd DID ask.....

Viviennemary · 11/08/2014 20:38

None of these things take away from the fact that it is mutilation. Other kinds of mutilation of babies is certainly not acceptable and would carry a criminal conviction. Why is this acceptable. Chinese feet binding was horrific how is this different. It's not. Somebody has decided that babies look better with holes in their ears and metal bits inserted. So all the sheep follow.

itsazoohere · 11/08/2014 20:38

Or is only EAR piercing on minors legal?
If so, why?

lurkernowposter · 11/08/2014 20:39

A baby is not a fashion accessory, it may be legal to punch holes in a child's ears just because you think it looks nice but that doesn't make it morally right, besides the law is an ass, if you were to have your baby girls nipples pierced you'd be prosecuted for indecent assault and rightly so.

Because piercing is popular amongst some cultures doesn't make it right either, as has been pointed out, FGM is popular in some cultures, as is non-therapeutic circumcision. I'd like to see that made illegal too!

Andrewofgg · 11/08/2014 20:47

At the shopping centre I use Costa is close to Claire's. I was having a coffee on a quiet day when I heard a scream and looked round to see a baby, I guess six months old, sitting on her mother's lap and crying her eyes out while the mother and two of the staff looked on and smiled. Beyond horrible.

And I've mentioned before the trainee I had who had had a summer job at Claire's. The "training" involved being trusted to watch a short DVD at home, then having a go with the gun on a floppy-eared cuddly toy, then watching while someone who had already done a piercing did another - then she was let loose on the public, though fortunately she never did one.

MorphineDreams · 11/08/2014 21:19

Claire's should never be allowed to do piercings. I hate it. If you're going to do it go to a reputable place (which probably wouldn't do babies anyway) and for gods sake don't have it done with a gun.

SirChenjin · 11/08/2014 21:22

Genuine question - what is wrong with the gun? I had mine done with a gun when I was 15, 30 years ago . It was quick and not the searing pain I was expecting - for someone with a severe needle phobia like me, the idea of an needle going in. and through, and back out again, twice, and then an earring going into the newly made needle hole makes me feel physically sick. The gun just got it over with really quickly, with no obvious needle or needle feel Confused

MorphineDreams · 11/08/2014 21:56

There's a few things SirChenjin most mostly it's that they're very hard to clean properly because of the mechanism so they're an infection risk, and the force of the gun can damage soft tissues leading to further damage. A lot of professional piercers have campaigned for them to be banned.

I suppose if you've a needle phobia though you didn't have much choice!

burgatroyd · 11/08/2014 22:32

Haven't read all posts but think most are negative.

Mine were pierced as a baby. Cultural reasons. Lots of my Lindon friends had ears pierced when young.

Didn't really give much thought on it till I moved to a village. Out here people think its chavvy or child abuse. Hmm

Catsize · 11/08/2014 22:34

YANBU. I have yet to work out why it isn't prosecuted as assault.

burgatroyd · 11/08/2014 22:36

Wow! Lots of negative posts! Guys, I really think you're over thinking this!

Its a couple of little holes.

Saracarbonera · 11/08/2014 22:49

Ok I've seen lots of these threads on MN before but never posted been too afraid I took my DD to get her ears pierced at 6 weeks old. It was done quickly with a needle and yes she did cry a bit but it was all over really fast. Never had any problems with infections, discomfort etc. She is now 5 and won't leave the house without her earrings in.

Some people will say I've mutilated her but I'm sorry I don't agree, it was done first and foremost for cultural reasons but I also happen to think that earrings suit her and she looks very pretty.

SirChenjin · 11/08/2014 22:51

What are these 'cultural reasons' exactly?

MorphineDreams · 11/08/2014 22:52

Its a couple of little holes

would you say that if I came over to your baby and jabbed her with a needle? Of course you wouldn't. it would be abuse, assault or whatever.

MorphineDreams · 11/08/2014 22:55

It was done quickly with a needle and yes she did cry a bit but it was all over really fast. Never had any problems with infections, discomfort etc

Very fortunate of you, but it's not the same for everyone so why risk it just for jewellery? And she could quite easily rip it out.

This picture is of an ear keloid caused by an ear piercing. This is obviously a photo of an adult, but this can happen to anyone. Why on earth would you risk this for your baby for no reason

Saracarbonera · 11/08/2014 22:56

Sorry maybe I should have said cultural tradition. That's what it is here, a tradition.

ICanSeeTheSun · 11/08/2014 23:01

I like to think any decision I make about my children will benefit them in the long term.

My Daughter wanted her ears done at the age of 4, she had them done. when she was in pain in night i said we can take them out she said no. a few months ago she wanted to be a vegetarian, I supported that even ask on this fourm room. to this day she has not touched meat. She knows what she wants.

My daughter also loves pink, her bed is pink ( and i mean the base, head board and mattress), he walls are pink also her carpet is pink. she has a giant dolls house.

SirChenjin · 11/08/2014 23:01

So no good reason for it, other than 'we've always done it to babies and the adults think it looks nice'?

Saracarbonera · 11/08/2014 23:04

Maybe we have been fortunate but to be honest I don't know of any babys that have had problems with ear piercing and I know a lot of babys with their ears pierced.

Here, as a previous poster pointed out, lots of babys get their ears pierced at the hospital when they are born. Maybe this is one of the reasons why there aren't as many cases of infection, complications.

Saracarbonera · 11/08/2014 23:05

Exactly SirChenjin

MorphineDreams · 11/08/2014 23:06

Hospitals do it where you're from? Shock That's bad.

Saracarbonera · 11/08/2014 23:07

Spain

theQuibbler · 11/08/2014 23:08

I had my ears pierced when I was about 8 weeks old, I think. Tradition on my mother's part. I have suffered no ill effects ever; obviously can't remember it and think calling it mutilation is utterly ridiculous.

You don't have to understand or approve it, OP. It's absolutely none of your business one way or the other.

ICanSeeTheSun · 11/08/2014 23:08

Spainish hospital do, then then the doctor with the babies checkups will also check the ears

SirChenjin · 11/08/2014 23:09

That's a shame Saracarbonera - I really had hoped that there would be something more to the 'cultural' reasons for poking holes in babies and sticking bits of metal in them, but sadly not.

Yes, they do it in hospitals - my Spanish friend confirmed this to our Shock faces. Kind of puts Bounty into perspective, doesn't it?!