Having a baby's ears pierced?

[MumOfOne92]

AIBU to think it's absolutely ridiculous to get a baby's ears pierced?

Each to their own but...

All the women on my dad's side if the family had them done as babies and we're all really happy w it. Not so much common as foreign (although to you I guess it might be the same thing).

It seems to have really fallen out of fashion where we live to pierce babies ears- I can’t remember the last time I saw a really small child with noticeable earrings.

There is something that leaves me a bit uncomfortable about inflicting it on a baby for vanity reasons- like their parents think they aren’t cute enough themselves so need some kind of adornment?

Is it also not hard to get the placement right on such a tiny earlobe in order to guarantee they look right when the dc is fully grown?

‘Comparing it to FGM trivialises FGM in a way that is really very dangerous wrt perceptions of FGM.’

Absolutely.

I know people like to prove, in the strongest terms possible, how appalled they are by ear piercing but anyone who compares it to FGM needs to get in the bin. It makes you look utterly idiotic.

@Februarybluesbkhols Get a grip! You are seriously comparing an ear piecing to FGM?! I sure hope no victims of FGM ever saw that post because that would be massively offensive to them. Oh and don't even get me started on your other ignorant culture assumptions...

Its a personal choice, simple as. If you don't like, simply don't do it but also don't judge people who do.

And those saying "I don't care about someone's culture because I don't like it" how very typical English middle class of you or and very ignorant

My Nigerian friend will do her Baby, at three days old. It's done so the baby is recognised as a girl.

Her son was circumcised. Again that's cultural.

Her children are UK citizens and she will never go back.

My Granddaughter wanted hers done when she was four. We all wear earrings in the family. They don't get in the way of her playing, so there wasn't a reason not to allow it.

Dd was 6 , she asked for it herself for her birthday and knew it would hurt and she loves them.
Most of the girls in her class have them pierced and they’re small studs, not whacking great gold hoops.
In babies I think it’s unnecessary but some of the comments on here are so over the top , do you not have any middle ground ?
You all go from 0-100 in mere seconds . How do you deal with life ??

"And those saying "I don't care about someone's culture because I don't like it" how very typical English middle class of you or and very ignorant "

Well its got rid of some of the bullfighting, hunting with dogs, dog eating festivals and ritual killings.

So that isn't a bad attitude to have.

Was it ignorance to want to end bullfighting? Why can't babies have the same protection?

I don't understand why you'd put your three day old through pain and possible infection.

If I decided to stick pins in my three day old for anyother readon, SS would be on my case.

YANBU, I get that they forget about it quickly, but personally I see it as cruel.

Also, I'd much rather my (not yet existing!) daughter have hers done when SHE asks to do it as it can be something to get excited about and an experience to have together!

Also babies with earrings look tacky/chavvy IMO.

@Birdsgottafly again with the trivialising. Fgs pierced ears are not in the same category as sports that involve animal abuse!!

@anxiousbundle so any other non english culture that choose to do this is tacky and chavvy? Bit of a racist sterotype. Heres a great idea, lets stop making harsh judgments on people's choices

I pierce ears- my training and insurance (Caflon gun system) stated no children under 7. This is to prevent the potential to nick or potentially (rarely) shatter cartilage that may extend into the lobe.
Needle method is still superior, as it is a cleaner pierce.
That's just my take. Most 7+ children as very good, and can look after it with supervision.
Infection risks such as cellulitis in smaller children would worry me also

@PengAly I've honestly never seen someone of a different ethnic background holding a baby with its ears pierced.
(Not that I'm usually looking tbh!)

In my area, it's always chavs/young mothers that do it. (17/18/19year old mothers)

Hardly racist

Aside from that, the main issue- like many other have said, it's that the baby can't advocate for itself, is being put through unnecessary pain and it's quite frankly, cruel.

Just no.

I think it’s horrible to inflict that sort of pain on a child, dangerous because they can get them caught so easily and it looks disgusting and chavvy.

You're suggesting that English middle class people, you omit white, support FGM and 'honour killings?

When did I ever say that I suggest the supporting of horrible cruelty and mutilation? I actually am disgusted by the posters on here who are trivialising such things as FGM, honour killings and other serious abuse. Imagine how the victims of these acts must feel. Some PPs need to get a grip and think before they casually mention such practices on an internet forum.

Thank god some of those posts are being removed by MNHQ. I'd have hoped people on Mumsnet would have better sense than to speak of horrible, abusive practices so casually and trivialise them. What a disgusting mind set some PPs on here have to compare ear piercing to child abuse that causes someone life long & crippling damage. Let alone of racist assumptions being made about certain cultures.

It’s not something I would do but I don’t think it’s abuse. My DM got mine done when I was a baby and she’s the loveliest mum ever so I can’t ever equate it to abuse. Not sure she would do it if she had her time over, it was more acceptable back in the early 80s where she came from I think.

Who's being racist Peng? It's cruel to inflict pain on a child for vanity.

My family is mixed heritage by the way. I'd never pierce my baby's ears.

Also something being cultural isn't an excuse to continue a harmful practise.

YANBU, it’s tacky as fuck for starters. Most importantly though, we don’t own our children just because we fornicated and created them. Their bodies are not ours to mutilate and yes, sticking unnecessary holes in them for ‘vanity’ is mutilation. It looks really shit too.

@MumOfOne92
If you’re on here regularly you’ll know it’s been to death.
I’ll sum it up:
It’s common
It’s cruel
It’s vanity
It’s other cultures
It's as bad as FGM
I disagree with all of the above and think people should do what’s in best interest of their children as long as it’s legal and not detrimental to physical or mental wellbeing.

YANBU. I think it should be made illegal. It's disgusting.

I struggle to understand why any loving parent would want to inflect unnecessary pain on their child.