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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To dislike seeing young children with pierced ears.

381 replies

Singsongsungagain · 21/12/2015 19:10

Inspired by a picture on FB today of a friend's young child (6 years old) sobbing her eyes out whilst getting her ears pierced.
Why the hell would any decent parent hold their child steady to allow their ears to be pierced? What is it all about??

OP posts:
CruCru · 22/12/2015 17:12

Hmm. I'm not enormously keen on pierced ears on young kids but that is my own taste. I also don't like long hair, ballet pumps or uggs on young kids - again my own taste.

Instinctively, I think earrings look a bit out of place on a girl who is too young to wear a bra. I class earrings (and make up) as something you wear to attract a boyfriend / impress your friends which isn't something I'd like my daughter to do before puberty.

TaliZorah · 22/12/2015 17:13

Angie she wasn't bothered either way.

I don't think it's wrong. Babies it's iffy but not a child

TaliZorah · 22/12/2015 17:14

Singsong

But earrings aren't harmful. Parenting is picking your battles.

Why pick a fight over something as petty as an earring?

Headofthehive55 · 22/12/2015 17:52

Earrings will of course become more harmful. I certainly wouldn't inflict a piercing at my request on my daughters, particularly now there is such antibiotic resistance that in the uk there are some infections that are resistant to all antibiotics. This resistance is growing, so not sure why you wouldn't want a weak link in your body armour. Even when healed, as people have said infection can and does still occur.

TaliZorah · 22/12/2015 17:54

The chances of getting an infection if you have it done at a reputable salon and clean it properly is low

IceBeing · 22/12/2015 17:58

earrings are harmful.

They cause physical harm in some and psychological harm in all.

Not a lot of course...and nowhere near as much as something like FGM...but a non-zero amount.

FindoGask · 22/12/2015 17:58

"I expect you asked for lots of things at 8 that your mum said no to Tali. That's what parenting is really isn't it- making the best decisions for your children, not just saying yes to shut them up"

I can see I was wasting my time yesterday - I made an effort to see your point of view, but you haven't bothered to see anyone else's at all. Personally speaking, I didn't agree to my 8 year old child having her ears pierced to "shut her up" (what a sad idea of parenting you must have); rather, I listened to her, I weighed up the risks of piercing her ears, and made a judgement based on both those risks, and on her own ability and understanding.

But by all means, carry on with your one-note tune, it's clearly too loud for you to hear anyone else. What an apt username you have.

IceBeing · 22/12/2015 17:59

head very true...I suspect the rise of antibiotic resistance will make a lot of people think twice about their absolute need for bodily modifications....hopefully it will lead to a resurgence of self-esteem and generally not giving anywhere near so much of a crap about appearance in general.

LynetteScavo · 22/12/2015 18:05

psychological harm in all Really? [confsued]

WorraLiberty · 22/12/2015 18:05

I don't like seeing babies/toddlers with pierced ears but each to their own.

I am astounded that this woman took a photo of her child in pain, published it on the internet and all the OP is judging is the earrings...

Strange priorities you have there.

TaliZorah · 22/12/2015 18:07

Ice psychological harm in all? How?

And it's rare to get a severe infection from earrings

TaliZorah · 22/12/2015 18:08

There is nothing wrong with caring about appearances ice

DisappointedOne · 22/12/2015 18:13

Fab. I'll get DD (5) some eyelash extensions tomorrow, and maybe a fake tan. Or do you think she'd prefer hair extensions and a tattoo?

TaliZorah · 22/12/2015 18:15

Disappointed that's completely different and you know it.

anneyaramis · 22/12/2015 18:15

My ears were pierced as a child as were my cousins - Middle Eastern culture where that's what people do. It has just never been an issue and something it hadn't even entered my head to think twice about before MN. I really dislike the assumption about the parents, some vile comments here. Piercing the ears really actually tells you nothing about the parents. How ridiculous.

Headofthehive55 · 22/12/2015 18:20

It's rare at the moment to get a severe infection from an earring, we have antibiotics.

How often do you hear of someone dying from a scratch with a rose thorn? Possibly not often. However in the pre antibiotic era, which we are undoubtably heading back to one of the first patients treated with antibiotics was such a patient.

And don't be mistaken that a reputable operator will be able to prevent all infections.

TaliZorah · 22/12/2015 18:21

Most ear piercing infections clear up without the need for antibiotics.

And I didn't say all, I said the risk was low.

Headofthehive55 · 22/12/2015 18:25

But the risk will increase. And if you do it on a baby, you aren't taking the risk, the baby is.
Not sure it's ethical to inflict an unnecessary risk on someone without its consent.

TaliZorah · 22/12/2015 18:26

Lots of things are done on babies without their consent.

Anyway I'm talking about a child who wants it done not a baby

mamapants · 22/12/2015 18:28

Wow some really uptight people here.
Also it doesn't hurt.

TaliZorah · 22/12/2015 18:29

I don't think it hurts either mama. Some people must be very sensitive to if

DisappointedOne · 22/12/2015 18:35

Disappointed that's completely different and you know it.

How so? We're talking about beautifying young children and babies. How is poking holes in them okay but tanning them not?

DurhamDurham · 22/12/2015 18:35

Both my girls had their ears pierced when they showed some interest in it. My oldest was ten and the youngest was six. They loved their stud earrings and I didn't see the harm at all.
They're grown up now and I'm pleased to report no permanent damage of the physical or psychological variety Grin

I'm not so keen on babies having pierced ears but once they ask to have it done and they are aware of the need to keep them clean and look after them I think it's fine.

It's a matter of personal preference and it's awful when someone smugly claims to be a much better parent because they haven't allowed it. Well good for you Smile

lostinmiddlemarch · 22/12/2015 18:36

I have had a low grade infection in my pierced ears for over five years. Haven't worn earrings in that time. When I'm run down they ooze/bleed slightly and smell grim. Taken lots of antibiotics for other things over the years but it's never shifted it.

TaliZorah · 22/12/2015 18:50

Disappointed earrings are usually because the girl likes them. I have never met a man who has said "oh she's hot, but she doesn't wear earrings so.."