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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Having a newborn baby's ears pierced.

217 replies

metaphoricus · 27/09/2016 21:41

I know that millions of people do it.
But the baby has no choice. I would so like to know the explanations for the decision to put a hole through your baby's perfectly formed ears.
Why would you do that?
(I had a friend who did that, and I had to ring an ambulance because the 2 month old baby got a blood infection). Mum didn't want to call an ambulance because she was afraid of being told off for doing this to her child. She was bathing her 2 month old baby's ear in olive oil, and hoping for the best. Please let your child grow up, and then decide if they want a piercing. Babes in arms do not have a choice.

OP posts:
LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 27/09/2016 21:50

Oh FFS - there are a million threads on here about this - they always kick off

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 27/09/2016 21:50

Oh my god bloody spellcheck. Different, not whatever shit I typed.

Eatthecake · 27/09/2016 21:50

Really another one of these threads? What is the point in your post op? Are you planning to do it to your child? No then why post about it? Just after a lovely bun fight?

If somebody does it to there baby then meh, I've got my own child to worry about

PinkyOfPie · 27/09/2016 21:51

I hope she was completely bald and had a beautiful headband with a bow on too. Perfect.

Grin

And a little silver bracelet!

usual · 27/09/2016 21:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ghostyslovesheep · 27/09/2016 21:51

we aren't supposed to tattoo them? Confused

GinIsIn · 27/09/2016 21:52

And a name with a younique spelling! Grin

Please could someone pass the popcorn?

YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 27/09/2016 21:52

Your bubz, your roolz Hun

GrinGrinGrin

Pinkheart5915 · 27/09/2016 21:53

Another one of these really?

I can't get worked up over somebody else's baby ear.

I have NEVER seen a baby with ears pieced where are all these babies with massive gold hoops?

MyBreadIsEggy · 27/09/2016 21:53

YoureAll
GrinGrin

ageingrunner · 27/09/2016 21:54

When I was about 8 I used to ask my mum if I could have my ears pierced. She used to offer to do it with a needle like they apparently did to babies in Spain (not sure if this still goes on or not)
She wanted to put me off for a few years and it did work tbh.
I don't really have any strong feelings about baby ear piercing, although I would never have my own baby's ears pierced.

Laptopontable · 27/09/2016 21:54

My family come from a culture that see this as the norm.. I personally know of a 4month old baby who died after the piercing became infected. As pp said I cannot believe it is not illegal.

TwigletsMakeMeViolent · 27/09/2016 21:56

It's very, very common where I live (South America). DD is the only 5yo in her class of 12 girls without earrings. Most babies are pierced at birth (in the hospital!) and as far as I know their ears don't fall off.

When she was a baby I got asked many times when I'd get her ears pierced so that people would be able to tell she was a girl.

Can't say I'm too wound up about the practice. Prefer to save my sorrow and upset for bigger injustices done to children.

Sparklesilverglitter · 27/09/2016 21:56

I have also NEVER seen a baby with ears pierced where do these babies all hang out please??

Jellybean83 · 27/09/2016 21:56

My mum had my ears pierced when I was 4 months old, she was young and a bit of a hippy and it was 33 years ago, so I guess she wouldn't have been called a 'chav' back then. She does regret it, she has said to me a few times that she can't imaging now piercing a tiny baby, and there is no way in hell she would choose to do that now.

emodi · 27/09/2016 21:56

I do come from a culture where it is odd if a baby's ears are not pierced . My sis had hers done at 2 days old . Her ears did not fall or nor did she have rip roaring blood poisoning. I did pierce my daughter's ears at 4 months again she was fine but now at 7 she dosent wear earrings and that's ok as well . I personally don't know what the fuss is about .

Tiredqueen87 · 27/09/2016 21:59

minding my own business
I hate baby ear piercing personally. But mums don't judge......much

SandyY2K · 27/09/2016 22:01

I had both my DDs ears pierced as babies and I'm happy with that choice. It's not mutilation for crying out loud. Mine and my sister's ears were pierced as babies too. Same with my mum and generations before her.

As a parent, you often make choices for your children from the food they eat, to the school they attend and how they have their hair done. If they don't like it when they get older, they can stop wearing earrings and the hole will close up.

bananafish · 27/09/2016 22:01

Meh - fuss over nothing.
My mother's background (Spanish Caribbean) meant that I had pierced ears at 3 days old.
Can't say it's traumatised me for life. No flinching or flashbacks if I wander past Claire's Accessories...
It's just some types happily frothing because they think it's 'common' and it is a lovely excuse to sneer at working class signifiers.

Pineapplemilkshake · 27/09/2016 22:01

God forbid somebody dares to start a thread about a topic that has been previously discussed by other users Hmm

Salmotrutta · 27/09/2016 22:02

Is there an Agog Bench yet?

Darkswan · 27/09/2016 22:04

I've seen a baby get their ears pierced and it definitely hurt her! I think there should be a minimum age for it really.

NinaSimoneful · 27/09/2016 22:04

I'm not a fan personally, didn't get DDs done (she's 3) I think earrings look too 'grown up' on very young girls. Fwiw I also think fringes can look too 'grown up' and prefer to clip DDs forehead hair to the side.

GinIsIn · 27/09/2016 22:05

Just to point out to those saying "it's not mutilation" - technically speaking it is exactly, literally that. You are punching a hole through a part of the human body.

I won't be piercing my baby's ears, I don't despise people who choose to do it, but I think it's naive to say that it's not mutilation or because they are little it doesn't hurt!!

Original poster
metaphoricus · 27/09/2016 22:06

I'm just new here. 'Why this again'? doesn't apply to me because I haven't asked it before. It might be an old chestnut to most, but not to me.
However, it's obviously something that has been discussed before so I will go away and do some research. I am a mumsnet newbie and I obviously have a lot to learn. Bear with me while I catch up!!

OP posts: