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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Poor wee screaming baby forced to get her ears pierced!

208 replies

Rumpel · 09/11/2007 20:26

I heard a wee baby screaming today and passed by Claire's shitey accessories to see a LO of about 12 months, bright red and hysterical having her ears pierced whilst her Mother just stood like a doughball watching. It made me red and and very, very sad.

I think piercing babies ears should be outlawed in this country. No freedom of choice for baby is there?

Not because I think it is chavy (which I do) but because it is not the child's choice, they have more chance of infection, scarring, tearing, hole closing up etc.

The more times you get your ears pierced = the more scar tissue= more complications. I had a client once whose lobes were split into 3 different pieces because of this - please I implore you - let it be your child's choice.

OP posts:
looneytune · 09/11/2007 20:30

I'm completely with you there!!! and

3andnomore · 09/11/2007 20:30

shudder...I agree, it should not be allowed to have little ones ears pierced...however, not sure if it is possible, because ear piercing can be a cultural thing...

80sMum · 09/11/2007 20:31

Yes, piercing babies' ears is totally unnecesssary. Pierced ears on babies look awful too, imo.

80sMum · 09/11/2007 20:31

Female circumcision is a 'cultural thing' and we don't allow that.

LadyOfTheFlowers · 09/11/2007 20:32

Totally minging in my opinion.

Nemo2007 · 09/11/2007 20:34

also agree, my mum had my ears pierced when I was 6mths old by an auntie..now I would hate anyone to do that to my girls.

LuckyUnderpants · 09/11/2007 20:35

There should be an age limit like there is for tattoos, no child that age should be allowed to be pierced.

worzsel · 09/11/2007 20:36

anyone who pays someone to ram metal rods through their beautiful childs ears is a bad parent imo. Its abuse, plain and simple !

3andnomore · 09/11/2007 20:39

OH, I know that 80's...however, I would think it would be difficult to proof that ear piercing is as abusive as femal circumcision, also, male circumcision is still legal , another thing that should be illegal, imo...(well, other than for medical reasons, off course....)

Original poster
Rumpel · 09/11/2007 20:40

When I had my own business I refused to do anyone under the age of 6 at all, anyone under the age of 15 had to have a parent with them to consent and give after care advice too. I know it can be a cultural thing but bloody hell, the circumcision comment is right.

It is very unethical and unprofessional and if all the salons got together they could make it happen but people are too unethical and greedy. Crappy places like that too - I bet the holes are squint and too low down.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rumpel · 09/11/2007 20:41

to - not too.

OP posts:
katpotat · 09/11/2007 21:00

I totally agree with you, it is horrible, and must so painfull...i had mine done when I was 20 and i thought it was agony!
These Mothers are doing this for themselves not their children.

Willowwisp · 09/11/2007 21:01

My friend made her baby girl of less than six months old have her ears pierced and asked if I liked them ........... I told her no I thought it was cruel and she couldn't see the problem even though she admitted she screamed the place down!, she is now two and also wears a thick gold chain round her kneck .... classy!!!

When my daughter is old enough to make her own choice then she can have them done if she wants to, she is beautiful without them!

3andnomore · 09/11/2007 21:24

shudder Willow...sounds just "lurvely"
Must say, I believe that ear rings and studs actually are a hapharzard (sp?) to a Baby anyway...i.e. if they pull on them and rip their lopes and there is the issue of swallowing and possibly choking on a stud or the "screw"...

Had a key experience with ms...I was wearing studs and lost the screw and completely panicked that he possibly had swallowed it and the harm it could do to the gut. Found it in the end, but now only wear earings/studs on special occasions...

bookofthedeadmum · 09/11/2007 21:29

I hate seeing babies with pierced ears. What's the point? Babies spend so much time lying down, surely the studs are hazardous to their heads!!

About 12/13 is probably young enough.

snowleopard · 09/11/2007 21:38

Claire's accessories do this???! I'm really shocked. I assumed a place like that would have a policy that you have to be a certain age, 12 or whatever.

Think I will boycott them now. (of course being 38 I don't go in there every day but they do have nice knee socks...)

vixma · 09/11/2007 22:21

I totally agree, it is horrid. If the child wants their ears pierced and can choose this cool....but there should be age restrictions.

starfish2 · 09/11/2007 22:23

Once I was told that it is ok, because 'babies don't feel pain'. That was the most stupid thing I heard in a very very long time, and I told the woman so...

3andnomore · 09/11/2007 22:50

starfish, recently read a very upsetting book, called somebody elses children, wehere it became far to clear that not so far in the past they thought that people with learning disabilities didn't feel pain as such, hence where treated without anaesthesia when being stitched up, etc...made me feel so sich when reading it
people have got to be stupid as well as ignorant to believe that pain does not effect baby's...bloody idiots!

LelsandZaffy · 09/11/2007 23:03

Ha, how appropriate, had a friend today with her 11 month old eyes pierced- she had them done at 6 months- the reason?-- Because she didn't want her daughter to look like an old woman without them!!! What a twat!

LuckyUnderpants · 09/11/2007 23:06

i hope she didnt have her eyes pierced the evil ho! im sure you ment ears?

3andnomore · 09/11/2007 23:14

omg,,,eyes, indeed,,,,ouch!

Skribble · 09/11/2007 23:15

When working in nurseries and schools I saw too many earings caught on jumpers etc. When I am working we are discouraged from wearing earings due to the risk of catching them so seems strange to let kids have it done.

My DD willhave to be a lot older before I let her get them pierced.

bookofthedeadmum · 10/11/2007 10:54

Children are banned from wearing jewellery (apart from religious jewellery) at my dd's school. When they have PE, there is no exception - even the religious jewellery has to be left at home that day.

mossycow · 10/11/2007 11:04

Iused to work for Claires was 3 months old.... Though our manager used to get told off as she often refused kids.

Was hard facing babies ears however - I had one chap who brought his baby girl in and I refused to peirce her as she was not settled and too young. His response was " I know what's best for myn child. I'm a surgeon so I know about these things....." I refused and was supported by the company.

Chap came in about three days later to buy some earrings. He had pierced her himself with a needle, ice and a potato...... and wanted to put hoops in three days later.

So. I completely agree with you guys HOWEVER.... Claires have a thorough trainig program, many health and safety regulations and in my opinion are as safe as it is possible to pierce.

Sorry but no parents are forced by Claires to pierce their kids,....