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 !

She said "If they decide not to wear earrings when they are older, the holes can just close up. No big deal".

Also they might not. I got my first ear piercings age 10 (when I was allowed to) and never wear earrings in one of them and it is still there.

I can't say that I would do it to my baby/toddler because it seems unnecessary to me to risk infection, etc. But, I would let my child have it done, if they had been asking for a while and were old enough to understand the aftercare.

That woman was mental, comparing it to FGM!

I've always disagreed with ear piercings for babies and toddlers on principle, but since I had kids, I have been appalled at the size of the earrings people put on their children. Frankly, I'd ban it for the under-tens, just to cut that out.

A busy active morning at playgroup, Tumble Tots, and so on is not the time to put Bet Lynch hoops on your toddler. Keep it to sleepers or studs.

People who work with young children should not be having to spend time taping up earrings or having to have polite words with parents to minimise the risk of a little girl having an earlobe ripped!

It's hurting a child for cosmetic reasons.

It's abuse.

Tattoes are permanent and very painful. Not at all comparable to ear piercing. Too right Iwannasee ! Totally agree that the child has to make the decision when old enough. Not too keen on seeing babies with earrings (or headbands for that matter)

*It's hurting a child for cosmetic reasons.

It's abuse.*

Umm No it is NOT abuse.

It is mostly girls, isn’t it? Or do many young boys have their ears pierced now?
Why do people do it to their daughters not their sons?

Akin to FGM? No.

I do wish piercing wasn't allowed until the child can give consent though.

Posted too soon.
It is not abuse. But it is very unnecessary and inappropriate.

If you hurt a child it's abuse.

I wasn't allowed them before high school. When I got to that stage I'd been put of the idea.
I certainly disagree with them before the age of 11.

Boys are involved too. Not just girls.

I do t like seeing babies with pierced ears. But there are religious reasons often. So not my place to judge.

My dd was begging to have her ears pierced at 7/8. I’d also seen or heard about kids having it done at 7/8 and there were issues, one girl refused to have the second ear done. Another cried when they got infected. Both times they were left to heal up. By the time dd was 9 she was mature enough to be ok with the pain and ok with the consequences. I’m sure that’s not the case for all 9 yos and I think the sensible age is when children are prepared for whatever may come.

To me it’s an abuse of power as you are causing pain and harm to a minor. I also think the same about circumcision when it is for sultry all reasons and not medical need.

*cultural

It's not as bad as FGM but I think it should be illegal until kids are old enough to ask for themselves and understand what they're asking. Seven?

A PP poster saying the holes close up, errrm they don’t. I had mine done as a teenager, in fact I ended up with piercings all over the place and they haven’t closed up at all. I haven’t worn earrings for over 20 years and yet the holes are very much evident in my ears. I’m sure if I offered up and earring I could get it through with not much effort. Same with my belly button piercing. I generally don’t wear anything there now as it rubs on my jeans, but I know I could get a ring through there without too much trouble.

A few boys at primary school had theirs pierced-looks awful! Don't think it's abuse but think should wait until at least 13.Years ago kids used to have them at 2/3 years and was done at home using ice needle and a cork!!

Compatible to FGM - no.

But....

Forcing a painful procedure on a vulnerable person for your own gratification? What’s your definition of abuse?

Also, putting aside issues of consent/awareness, people who have their ears pierced as babies often end up with the holes very off Centre in their ears as they grow.

It looks far better if you wait until the child is at least 10/11.

For the record I had mine done at about 12 and totally love my earrings..the more dangly the better. My own kids have never been interested..they are boys but all the same, they've never been interested.

Comparible not compatible

It's not comparable to fgm, but I don't agree with getting it done until the child is old enough to consent to it. I absolutely hate seeing earrings on babies and toddlers and don't even get me started on Claire's Accessories.

@daffodillament

Why are you so adamant it's not abuse? You do realise that you don't define abuse for everyone?

For many people, making holes in a baby is most definitely abuse.

was 10 and given the option
went to doctor who numbed it and used sterile equipment
didnt hurt no infection.had tiny piercing studs of all colors
random people should not be doing this to anyone
if a bod mod shop(tatto/subcutaneous inserts,piercing )they have age rules here.under 18 must have parent with them to give consent
anyone can use a staple gun doesn't mean they should

It is not abuse

Well what else would you call causing your child pain and the risk of infection because you want to?

It’s not comparable to FGM at all.

But it is questionable, and I would question the ethics of any parent who caused their child pain because they wanted something. Surely that goes against every instinct as a parent?