Having a newborn baby's ears pierced.

[metaphoricus]

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.

Have your opinions, but calling it mutilation is bloody ridiculous. Common sense clearly isn't that common after all
Personally, I would call it mutilation, if the child was too young to consent.

You must have missed their subtle hint at sarcasm then.

Must have missed where they called the police and got my DDs taken into social services for child cruelty as well then.

Same for my nieces too.

Nobody here can state that an act of mutilation would be allowed on a defenceless baby by the child protection laws. Because, it's not mutilation.*

I had mine done as a child. I can confirm I did suffer a terrible demise

However

I didn't pierce any of my children's ears, I can't really tell you why, it just never occurred to me to put holes in my children without their consent

Many things are not considered a crime Sandy
This doesn't mean it is right to do it.
But good to know you are up on your law & order

That was meant to be "did not"

People who do this are common

You should get out more into the wider world

will be pissed off about for the rest of its life

I was talking about tattoos there. Not ear holes :)

SandyY2K I think most people would accept that one shouldn't make a choice - which entails some degree of harm - for a baby unless the benefits outweigh the costs. Obviously in the grand scheme of things, making tiny holes in a baby's ears is not the worst choice a parent could make, but it's unnecessary and involves some degree of pain.
The holes can be left to close up, but surely it's better to wait for the baby to grow up and make a (somewhat) informed decision about their own body?

I thought this was illegal to do now?

My daughter had her ears pierced at 6 months and didnt even cry as both ears were measured and then pierced at the same time by two qualified ladies in a reputable salon.
She is now 6 and loves to wear little earrings and nearly every girl in her class also has their ears pierced as well

Maybe it's just me. I just can't understand .....why?
How does having little earrings improve her life?

I'm trying to learn here.

If you don't understand culture and tradition, it can come over as being ignorant to make comments like not giving a rats ass.

Personally I do give a rats ass, not about 'tradition' or 'culture', but about a growing number of men who feel cheated and violated that a part of their genitalia was removed without their consent when they were helpless babies.

Stop using 'ignorance' as a way of condemning people who voice a negative opinion of barbaric practices carried out in the name.of 'tradition'

DigestiveMuncher,
Not in London it isnt.

I hate earrings on new borns unless it is there for a medical reason

is it just me or have you never heard of a medical reason for pierced ears on a newborn?

Stop wearing the earrings and it closes up. So no. It's not for the rest of your life. SandyY2k this is not true, I haven't worn earrings for over 20 years and they haven't closed up, they just accumulate smelly stuff in the holes which I squeeze out on occasion

I had mine done at the age of 10 and have promised my DD the same as she is desperate to have them done. Why on earth anyone would want them on their baby I do not know.

Earlobes don't even have nerves anyway

Erm, yes they do! Dare you to nip yours and find out!

I agree with ithrrd that it can wait, Why are people actually doing this to their babies? As a PP said we tend to make decision on behalf of our babies when benefits outweigh the costs. What are the benefits of a baby having their ears pierced?

And just because something is legal does not make it acceptable.

Oh FFS don't get me started on circumcision. That is also barbaric unless for urgent medical reasons under general anaesthaetic.

Oh ok.

I know round me there isn't one place that will pierce a babies ears as it has been banned.

AIBU to get my baby pierced like this?

People who do this are common

Really! How very ignorant.

The lack of cultural awareness here is unbelievable. It's no wonder that gets passed down generations.

I'm out

I wish that I could wish that I had never started this thread, but I'm glad that I did because it might make somebody think twice before paying somebody to punch holes in their innocent baby's ears. Leave those perfect little lugholes alone. Why would you try to alter something so perfect, that you grew in your belly? Lovely fresh pink earlobes.And you want to stick holes in them. I will never understand that.

So does everyone who hates it for any reason go to Spain or India or South and Central America and declare that their culture is dreadful because they pierce their babies ears?

Or is it just loathed in the UK because it makes babies look (sssshhh) "common"?

metaphoricus,
Now that in my opinion should be Banned .
And i'm not starting another thread or getting into religion etc but yes it's Barbaric.

The lack of cultural awareness here is unbelievable. It's no wonder that gets passed down generations

Just because it's your culture, doesn't make it right.
I have accepted that, and so should the people I share my world with.

Strokethefurrywall You're missing the point. Whether something is wrong or not isn't dependant on what culture you're in & where in the world you are.