This Morning - Kids having ears pierced is child abuse ?

[daffodillament]

What utter nonsense. Just tuned in as heard them mention this subject stemmed from Mumsnet ! Now the woman is saying Kids ear piercing is basicly the same as FGM !! I mean WTF ? Get a grip. No it not !

[Pinga]

female genital mutilation

[StarUtopia]

Of course it's abuse. You are putting holes in a defenceless child who has had no say. Or they've had a say, but would you tattoo a 5 yr old if they asked you to?

I have 4 holes in my ears. I hate them. With a passion. I never wear earrings. But i can only blame myself as I chose to do it as an adult.

It's not comparable to FGM but it should be banned for children IMO.

I still never understand why so many parents even want their child to be wearing earrings?! What's the point?

[SheGotBetteDavisEyes]

I'm glad of any debate on this. Despite it's place in other cultures, piercing babies ears should be absolutely outlawed here.

[Evangeline3]

It's not the same as FGM but it is abuse.

[Storm4star]

I’m not sure i’d class it as abuse but is most definitely wrong. My daughter, now in her 20s, has never wanted her ears pierced so if I had made that decision for her, that would have been very wrong. Honestly if I see a very young child with pierced ears, I do judge (silently).

[SleepingStandingUp]

My mom had mine done when I was very little because I asked, apparently I was very still and I have no memory of it. She was in no way abusive.
However I wouldn't do it to my own child, I definitely question her choice and I don't see any other time I could pin my child down, get someone to put a hole in them whilst they cry just so I can hang an ornament from it

[CindyCrawford2]

My late DM and I were once in Claire's Accesssories and a little girl aged about 2/3 was smiling happily choosing some pretty earrings - then the Assistant pierced one of her ears and the poor little thing screamed and cried and begged NOT to have the other one done - her mum and the shop assistant found it hilarious and both laughed their heads off at her, calling her soft, which only upset her even more - the poor little thing had not understood what was going to happen to her because she was, obviously, too young and had not associated the pretty earrings with having to have a hole pierced in both her ears. My DM tried to comfort her as they both stood there laughing and told them that she thought they were cruel - the mother told my mum to F-off and mind her own business. I am all for much older children having their ears pierced - when they are old enough to fully understand what will happen, are capable of looking after their ears afterwards and can make their own decisions.

[IWannaSeeHowItEnds]

I had my ears pierced at 5. I remember getting it done - I very much wanted it and understood that it would sting. I don't think I was a particularly advanced child, so for me the right time is when a child can express their own opinion coherently and understand process - ie that it will be sore a while.

[Soubriquet]

I had my ears pierced when I was about 3. My nan insisted on it as "it's easier when they are younger"

I haven't worn earrings in years. Total waste of time

[IWannaSeeHowItEnds]

Tattoes are permanent and very painful. Not at all comparable to ear piercing.

[CindyCrawford2]

by much older children I mean High School age - definitely over the age of 13.

[flumpybear]

It's not the same as FGM but when it's done for stupid religious or cultural reasons then it's the same kind of stupid, sheep following type behaviour that needs to be stamped out
It's mutilation and it should be against the law

[sausagedogsmakechipolatas]

It’s not on a par with FGM. However I don’t believe parents should be able to choose to get holes pierced in their child’s body without clear informed consent from said child, at an appropriate age (my daughter was 8.)
I would like to see tighter controls over places like Claire’s Accesories: inadequate equipment that cannot be properly sterilised, piercing methods that cause trauma to the ear lobe and badly made jewellery. Either get it done by a trained professional or don’t bother.

[1BubblebathAddict]

I have just read a post elsewhere from someone who says it's fine to pierce babies ears. She said "If they decide not to wear earrings when they are older, the holes can just close up. No big deal".
Why not bloody wait until that child is old enough then to decide for themselves? So it seems ok- regardless of whether they remember or not- to put a child through pain for your own vanity to then just say oh they can be left to close up if the person doesn't like them. Pointless really.

[Tomorrowillbeachicken]

If you stuck a hole anywhere else there would be issues.

[Soubriquet]

Yeah despite me not wearing earings for years, my holes still haven't closed up. I can easily pop earings in if I want to

[Fruitcorner123]

IWannaSeeHowItEnds i was young too about 6 or 7 I think. All my older female cousins had their ears pierced and I wanted it too I was warned it would hurt. I think times have changed and wouldnt let my daughters have theirs pierced until they were older but to call it child abuse doesnt help anyone. Let's focus on real child abuse. I think if I was a victim of FGM I would be massively offended by comparing my abuse with ear piercing.

[ICantCopeAnymore]

My DS was adamant he was having his ears pierced from the age of 3. No idea why - he's always wanted them. I'm really not a fan at all.

I gave in when he was 10 and let him - he wanted both done. He's very individual, long blue hair, bit of an emo. Now he has two black fake plug earrings.

He's great with pain. He's had surgery a few times and various medical procedures as well as a painful disability.

He shouted his head off when they pierced his ears and was very surprised at how much they hurt him, especially as most people told them they wouldn't. He said he loves them, but wouldn't ever want any more as they hurt too much.

To do that to a baby who can't consent is barbaric. They DO hurt and they can be permanent. I haven't worn earrings for 30 years and my holes are still open and visible.

[Bluelady]

Personally I think there should be an age below which it's illegal, like tattoos.

[SecretStash]

I feel like I’ve just time warped back 10 years into Bounty’s Debates forum....

[Tinkobell]

I'm not a fan of it. Have a friend of Sicilian descent and she said the older generations kind of expect to see the baby granddaughter with ear rings. She didn't do it though.

[ICantCopeAnymore]

Most reputable tattoo places won't do it for children under 16. We tried lots. It's usually hairdressers and jewellers that do young children.

[Wisdens]

If I got my dogs ears pierced I would expect to get a visit from the RSPCA......

[FelicityMorange]

I think pierced ears on a baby/toddler looks chavvy.

[BamBamIsALittleShit]

I think it's abuse. You wouldn't stab holes into their other body parts.