To think there should be a minimum age limit on ear piercing

[Forthepurposesofthetape]

Was in a well known accessories shop yesterday and witnesses a mum getting her child's ears pierced. The child could have only have been about a year old and screamed the place down. She was so distressed. I really don't understand why it's necessary to do it at that age, it seems so unnecessarily cruel!

[GetTheStartyParted]

I saw this on Facebook. The person saying their daughter will be having theirs done for their first birthday is my brother in law my poor little niece but I daren't say anything. I really cannot understand why you'd do it. I was only 5 when I had mine done but I asked and also knew it would hurt. I think 5 is probably too young but definitely better than 1!

[MissBax]

Totally agree, it actually sickens me that anyone would torture there child for it to be "cute" or whatever else they think it is. In what other situation would it be acceptable to drive a needle or piercing gun through a person's skin without consent? Can I take my Nana who lives with end stage dementia who can't consent? Pretty sure they'd laugh me out of the shop if I suggested it.

[DoneLikeAKipper]

I also agree, I think it should be a choice made by someone who absolutely understands the decision they’re making.

I remember being about 6, my younger sister had apparently ‘decided’ she wanted hers pierced. I was practically forced into the chair to show her how absolutely fine it was to get it done, even though I didn’t want the bloody things. I still remember how much that bloody gun stung over 25 years later. Can’t believe people do that to babies.

[MonkeyToesOfDoom]

FuriousCheekyFucker

Yeh, tag the little buggers like cattle..

[HowlsMovingBungalow]

I don't think piercing should be allowed under age 16.

But then I have witnessed some awful shit with regards to piercing.

[SallyWD]

Ever since my daughter was born I've been under pressure to get her ears pierced (my in laws are Asian). She's now 8 and still doesn't have pierced ears. It gets mentioned every time I see them. If SHE wants them done at 9 or 10 that's fine with me. That's the age I had them done so it feels acceptable to me.

[HavelockVetinari]

Yes, definitely. It's completely unacceptable. But you'll inevitably get eejits along in a minute who go on about it apparently not hurting babies (bollocks) and them not getting infected (newsflash - unpierced ears don't get infected) and them not remembering the pain (och aye, that's fine to hurt someone then, as long as they don't remember it, let's all best up Alzheimer's sufferers then).

Anyone with half a brain can understand that hurting a child just so they look "pretty" is a shitty thing to do.

[BurrSir]

I think they look lovely but would never get DD’s done out of fear of judgement.

[ginghamtablecloths]

I thought there was an age limit but perhaps that's if a child goes into a shop without a parent.
A relative had her child's ears pierced when she was small, saying "then she won't have to bother when she's older" as if it was compulsory, for heaven's sake. Fast forward a little, the forgetful child forgets to put earrings in for a while (not allowed at school anyway) and the piercings heal up. If she wants them she's going to have to repeat the procedure so that was a waste of time wasn't it?

[parttimeateverything]

I hate it as an infant school teacher because it can mean girls , and it's girls in the vast majority of cases, missing physical exercise . We have an outside agency taking two PE slots a week who refuse to let them join in with earrings. Some girls miss both lessons because an adult forgot to take their earrings out.(This is year 1 and many can't do it themselves and no one else is allowed to do it for them.) It makes me so angry to see them sitting by the side while others develop coordination/ ball skills etc and have fun.

[FuriousCheekyFucker]

I think the real issue here is what size flesh tunnels would you make your toddlers have? I think anything bigger than their wrist is overdoing it a bit.

[Peachesandcream14]

It's so disgusting to pierce a child's ears who cannot express a desire for it themselves, or consent to being pierced. Plus it's horrendously tacky. I do think there should be an age limit jut like there is for any other piercings, what's next belly piercing to show that your toddler is female? And surely earrings are a huge choking hazard for little ones? I can't sleep if I have earrings in as I find it so uncomfortable, and having had a non sleeping baby there is no way I'd be doing anything which could potentially disrupt sleep any more than usual!

[lazyarse123]

I was in a make-up/chemist shop with my daughter and a little boy about 7 was having his done, he was terrified but his mum and dad just kept saying "it won't hurt for long" as soon as it was done he was literally screaming for it to be taken out. I realise he had probably nattered for weeks but parents need to say no. I did judge because I found it very upsetting. I would say about 12 is plenty young enough.

[PlatypusLeague]

YANBU. I don't like pierced ears at all, let alone on a small child.

[KneelJustKneel]

My daughter has wanted hers done for years but I said she had to wait until 10 (initially i said 12!).
So that time is this summer - ive since read so much about not getting it done at Clares but where else do you go.

Apparently the hairdressers do it but surely theyll be even less used to it than clares as less footfall?

There is a scary looking tattooist in the highstreet...?

[BiggFactHunt]

I took DD, who is 8, the other week to get hers done and went to the tattoo shop where I get my piercings. She has been asking for over a year and was very keen but tattooist said if she shows any sign of resistance they will refuse to do them and she has to 100% consent which is how it should be.
I hate seeing babies with their ears pierced too, it’s bad enough taking them and putting them through pain for vaccinations and pre-school boosters and they’re vital. Ear piercing because it looks nice is not life saving.

[BiggFactHunt]

kneekjustkneel I think sometimes tattoo shops can look intimidating from the outside but I have never been in one that isn’t friendly and welcoming and they are so much more knowledgeable than Claire’s, etc.

[PinaColadaPlease]

The lady that does piercings at the tattooists near us has a sign in the window saying that she will not pierce the ears of a child under the age of 8. I think that is about right.

[Beargrin]

There are a few people I know who would look cuter with a black eye. I might just punch em then

[ThisIsMeOrIsIt]

As a teacher I think if the child is too young to remove their earrings and look after them then they're too young to have them pierced. Over the years I must have spent hours faffing with either tape to cover earrings during PE or looking for lost earrings or keeping earrings safe until the end of the day or talking to parents about why their 4-year-old can't wear hooped earrings in school.

I had mine done aged 12 and I had to keep my room spotless for a month before that to prove I was grown up enough to look after little studs and not lose them!

[KneelJustKneel]

Ooh Ive found a few tattooists and a body piercing specialist place. Do i just assume they're all okay as regulated etc?

[KneelJustKneel]

Thanks Bigg. Im definitely going to avoid Clares now!

[Pinkyyy]

I think the younger the better. People who go on about how dare parents mutilate their children's bodies are just being ridiculous. It's a pair of earrings not a full body tattoo.

[HowlsMovingBungalow]

Kneel - They should have a council certificate to say they are registered to pierce plus a training certificate.

[WatchingTheWheels85]

My daughter year 4 is the only girl in her class who doesn't have her ears pierced.