Babies and piercings

[AJ279]

I saw someone today who had an 8 month old little girl with her ears pierced. Am I alone in thinking that it's wrong to do that to a baby?

I know it's only a quick procedure but I'm a bit shocked that people still do this. AIBU?

Also I don't really like small babies in strongly gendered stuff. There's no need for all the 'this is a girl' signalling (I note there is much less 'this is a boy' stuff available, no equivalent of earrings, headbands, bows, frills etc).

I hate it. It's like playing dress up with a doll.

Well, I have triplets, so if I'm honest, I think bows will be very handy, to help tell them all apart and they have been so far! It was easier for the nurses and family too! I'm probably an awful mum now though!

No, I won't pierce their ears, not until they ask and ew, definitely never hoops, they're mank.

Cigarette haha, you wouldn't get on with my mum then. Every Sunday me and my sister were groomed to within an inch of our lives and put in frocks. She'd then make us pretend pose with our toys ( in our immaculately clean room ) and take photos of us. Complete with gold earrings and sometimes a bit of lip gloss.

My brother was left alone and allowed to wear normal clothes on a Sunday

Wow... I was clearly joking. But thanks for joining in with the rest of the judgey pants.

I'm not being judge!? I hate hoops! I never wear them, I don't care what anyone else does though... Sensitiveee!

Admittedly I'm commenting despite the fact I have two boys which doesnt negate earrings but i would think less likely to pierce at baby stagr but personally I can't quite wrap my head around causing any form of pain to a baby or child for cosmetic reasons ..... If the child is older and they have asked then you can explain the pain aspect and they are prepared

I'm looking at my 5mth old and I burst into tears when I caught him with the nail clippers so piercing wouldn't happen

If either of my boys want to when they are old enough to choose then crack on

I'm surprised it is legal tbh. I don't think it should be done until the child is old enough to decide for his or herself.

JSarah You described a very serious life threatening condition as something done for cosmetic reasons. I could have been sensitive about that, and called you out on your ignorance,but I was trying to be nice.

Like I said I was clearly joking about putting hoops in a baby's ears, so why come back with ew and mank. How is that less judgey than the chav/council/thick comments.

I already said that it must be something different, because I'm going by the doctor, not just my imagination...

Also, it's completely different to the chav and council house comments!!!

I use the words mank and ew, because I don't like them, I'm not judging anyone by using those words at all, but using the words chav and council it is then judging someone else, as they're are people under those categories.

I'm not even going here with you.

You just did

I'm going now, because I don't wish to derail the thread with a childish argument. But for future reference if someone puts a nice comment about your child and then a little joke relating to the thread to try and keep things light hearted, then don't make a snide comment if you don't want that person to respond.

FWIW I don't particularly like gold hoops either, but your hypocrisy is staggering, especially seeing as you got all defensive about little girls in headbands ( which no one but you had even mentioned but I'm sure if I'd have answered that I think headbands on babies are mank or ew you'd have been offended) so I had to point it out.

Theweebaby my mum sounds like yours

I wouldn't have been offended at all it doesn't bother me, I use them so family and friends can tell them apart! Loads of people hate them I know that!

Ew and mank are my opinions on hoops, we can have opinions, that isn't rude in any way. I'm not saying the child or the people who put their kids in them are ew or mank, I'm stating that the actual earrings are.

Oh well, I think you need to be a little less sensitive, but there we go!

Those who say it should be the child's decision, what age do we deem a child old enough to make that decision? There is no legal minimum age for tattoos although most professionals refuse to tattoo anyone under 18, or under 16 without parental consent. Should it be the same for ear piercing?

JSarah and I think I need to try and hire PavlovaPippa to come to you and sing Let It Go

Skivvywoman I will never tell her your mum exists. The only way we've managed to reign her in over the years is by convincing her that she's the only one who does mad stuff like that

You're the one who made a comment in the first place

Theweebaby when my boys were wee and she looked after them I used to come home and there hair was in a perfect side score combed to the side
And dd hair was in bunches with ribbons

We won't talk about the clothes she bought lol

See - this is why they can't know about each other

I've got an awesome picture of me, my sister and brother as kids - I'm in a big floral frock, sis is in a sailor dress ( with matching bag ) and poor, poor bro is wearing a suit with a bow tie! I'd post it but bro would kill me!

My cousin got married years ago and my mum dresses ds2 in a full on sailor suit hat the lot

And she used to visit my aunt in Spain and return with a case full of every colour imaginable Shoes and dresses for dd

MyFriends Nope, actually in the UK it is an offence to tattoo a minor (defined as under 18) as it constitutes "assault on a minor".
Piercings on the whole have no age restriction unless they are on the genitals or nipples then boys can get nipple piercings at 16 and genital piercings at 18, girls can get both at 18. All other piercings come under local by-laws, and the discretion of the piercer.

Sorry, my mistake (not in the UK any more). So what age are children deemed responsible enough to make a decision about ear piercing for themselves?

From this thread it seems that those who had their ears pierced very young (babies) don't remember or regret it whereas those who were older remember the pain. I had mine done at 11 and my dds can have theirs done when they are 10. Dd1 is nearly 12 and terrified at the thought of it.....