to think piercing of childrens ears should be banned

[lucyellensmum]

why why why would anyone want to do this to a three year old????? I went to a childrens party at the weekend, there was a lovely little girl there with the most awful blingy "diamond" earings pulling her ears down - ear piercing hurts, it is tantamount to child abuse IMO.

I dont think it's child abuse but that's only because that belittles what real child abuse is but I do think it is wrong as is circumcision.

My mum had mine pierced when I was 5 and my sister when she was 3. I never wear earings and the holes have partly closed, but not so much that I don't get infections from time to time. The holes are still visable.

Don't do this to children!!

I wouldn't do it and I personally don't think it is sensible on a small child for H&S reasons, plus attitudes are changing and what was once de rigeur, is now considered tacky.

I think it looks so tacky, wouldn't dream of letting my DTDs get their done until they are at least 11

My daughters (age 4 and 5) both had theirs done on their 4th birthdays. I always said I would let them have them done when they were old enough to ask, and to not fidget with them. They asked, and they are very good about not fiddling with them, and letting me clean them. And they look lovely!

I would never let a child that age have it done. I really do wish it was banned for children under secondary school age...just my opinion.

Fair enough, as I tell my girls- 'different mummies have different ideas about these things'- a great answer to any question about why someone has/does something when someone else doesn't.

At least with having a little boy I wont have this to worry about. I dont agree with piercing childrens ears, wouldnt have a problem in high school when they are older and more responsible but certainly not before. Personally think it looks tacky on small children.

Think it looks vile on tinies - agree there should be an age limit as it's not just a question of taste.

I'm going to rock the boat!!!!!

Go on then

Please do!

I haven't read the whole thread, but I agree completely with the OP.

There is a woman who was pregnant at the same time as me at DS1's school, she had her dd's ear pierced when she was less than 2 weeks old.

How could you do that to a newborn baby?

I'm going to get my DD's ears pierced. She's 11mths.
In our "culture" little girls have thier ears pierced at a VERY young age.
Mine were done when I was six mths old. I cannot remember having it done, and has never caused me any problems.
To those of you I have offended.... I'm sorry. but that is MHO.

i was thinking about this subject last week when i overheard a mum in the playground saying she was nervous as she was taking her 2 year old to get her ears pierced!i really had to bite my tongue.this other mum,who had her baby's ears pierced at about 5/6 months old was saying 'oh,it will be fine,dont worry',as though it was something compulsary

i think it shouldnt be allowed untill the child is old enough to understand that it will hurt,and for it to be the child's choice.my dd1 had her ears pierced at 5 after begging me for ages,but as she wasnt allowed to wear earings in school,the holes closed up pretty quickly,and ive told her she may as well wait till shes at seniors now.

Good point about cultural differences! It is too easy sometimes to have Western ideals used as a yardstick against which all parenting methods are judged. Hurrah for rocking the boat.

I'm half Spanish - had my ears pierced at home with a pin when I was a baby! It's pretty much the norm in Spain. I like wearing earrings now, but I think it's disgusting to do that to a child.

Now there's something I would not do... Have DD's ears pierced at home with a pin!
I will have DD's ears done properly at a salon where they can do it properly.

Ofcourse it's a cultural thing. I really wanted to have my ears pierced, but wasn't alowed until I was 16. I was really cross with my parents about it, but now I don't think I'll let DD have hers pierced until she's 13.

If piercing for children is banned in this country, it will become the thing to have done while on holiday in Spain.

My DDs were done at Claires. They were in the window, happy as anything. Didn't scream. The people who stopped to look in the window were a bit much I thought. There should be an optinal blind. They do both ears at once, and you get cleaning stuff and after care in the price. If you are getting it done, I say get it done properly and professionally.

So what professional qualifications do you need to work in Claires?

LOL- I mean in a controlled environment where there are standards of cleanliness etc. I would also only have a senior staff member do the piercing myself.

Skay, still dont understand why?

They have insurance, lol.

What's wrong with children having their ears pierced? I had mine done one i was 2! It's ears for crying out loud, it's not like parents are getting their kids lips/eyebrows and other bits and bobs pierced is it!