For those who pierce their baby's ears...

[Username7654321]

Would you see it as okay to pierce their nose? Eyebrow? Tongue? Why is it okay to stab a needle through the ear lobe, when presumably most people would be horrified by any other piercing on a baby?!

Oh, this again

It's an interesting point. Personally I wouldn't let a child have pierced ears until about 8, but that's just because that's when I was allowed mine! However, having lived in Spain for a few years it's actually just completely normal practice for baby girls to have their ears pierced in the first few months and it doesn't seem to do them any real harm. Each to their own I guess.

Interesting question actually OP

I expect the answer is because nose/eyebrow piercings have never been fashionable for babies, whereas over the years, ear piercing has.

Not so much nowadays though.

On the face of it, it's a reasonable question.

In terms of healing time, ease of piercing etc lobes are really not comparable with other piercings

Have we got onto tattoos yet?

It hurts them momentarily, it isn't end of the world.

No, injections and similar ‘hurts them for a moment’ because they are necessary. Decorating your (usually female) child and making permanent holes in their bodies is a different matter, even if it doesn’t cause pain or long term issues, you’ve deliberately modified their body for your (plural) own wants.

What is your thinking on baby tattoos OP? I have had ‘Baby Doris’ tattooed on my DD’s left cheek. Bet you’ll hoick your judgey pants at that.

Ofgs I think there's a huge difference between tongue and ears plenty 8.9,10year olds get there's ears done and wouldn't get there tongue or eyebrow done it's a ear piercing

It hurts them momentarily, it isn't end of the world.

Actually I disagree - I had my ears pierces for a second time a couple of years ago and they were red hot for days, plus anytime after that I knocked them/leant on them etc for about 2 weeks.

It's a genuine question though - why is one okay and not the others?

I think it’s a choice a child should make for themselves.

People have been doing similar things all over the world for millennia, boys as well as girls - oh well that must make it fine then. We may aswell carry on happily with FGM in that case.

Not so much girls. My grandmother pierced her own when she was a teenager (1920s) when only 'pirates and gypsies' had them done apparently. Her evil stepmother was not amused and locked her in the coal shedagain.

Because it's normalised in many cultures/families. Stupid imo (I suffered years of complications after having my ears pierced at 7. For most people it won't be a problem but for some it will be-why take the risk?) and also quite ugly (it looks really wrong and, well, naff to be very frank).

The difference between piercing a girl's ears and her nose is the same as the difference between piercing ears and curmcision. One is normalised, widely practiced and mostly accepted while the other is seen as wrong or abnormal. There is no a rational reason for it. Parents make permanent decisions about their children's bodies every day. Some of them are necessary like immunisations and life saving amputations. Others are completely unnecessary aesthetic or cultural choices. The line between right and wrong should be drawn between necessary and unnecessary not socially acceptable and not socially acceptable.

I know, I just don't see it as a huge issue. People have been doing similar things all over the world for millennia, boys as well as girls.

So if someone made you to have jewellery forced through your skin without your input, you’d not think it was a big deal? People have been doing many a stupid thing over the millennia in the name of ‘culture’, doesn’t make it ok.

The difference is culture.

It isn't culturally appropriate to have tongue nose and eyebrow piercings for babies in the UK. They are becoming more mainstream in adults, but are still uncommon.

Whereas ear piercings are common, probably even usual for grown women in the uk. And not uncommon in adult men. There are some subcultures in the UK where it is normal to pierce a baby's ears. Not for me, but your language is a tad hyperbolic. It is a tiny hole and momentary pain. Some people prefer to do it at an age where breast feeding etc can be done to alleviate the pain rather than do it age 14 and have a mardy teenager moan on the way back from Clare's accessories

It doesn't hurt momentarily it's sore for quite a while, plus even if it did hurt momentarily why would you want them to be hurt just for some tacky earrings?
This always comes up on here and the same arguments are trotted out each time. It's not okay to hurt little people in the name of vanity. (And no, vaccines aren't comparable)

Not something I do. But then again, none of my business.

Or yours OP

My issue with piercing children's ears - for cosmetic reasons alone - is purely to do with the issue of consent. It's a permanent thing, and I don't think anyone should do that on someone else's behalf.

As parents we make decision for our kids all the time, obviously. I just think that one of them shouldn't be 'let's punch holes in your ears because I think it looks cute.'

YANBU OP. Besides, it looks tacky and awful.