to think that piercing the ears of a teething baby is unreasonable?

[wolveschick]

Overheard in a jewellers, mother saying 'I know I should have got them done earlier and now she's teething she's already a nightmare so she will be even more grumpy now when I have her 'done'. Led to discussion with jeweller about the fact that babies ears should be pierced as soon as possible but mother had left it so was getting it done now. AIBU to think that this could have waited until the baby was feeling a bit better? Its not as if its an essential procedure that couldnt have waited. I'm all for freedom of choice but making an already suffering baby more miserable to make a fashion statement is unreasonable IMHO.

barbarian, absolutely barbarian. A cultural tradition is no excuse whatsoever - cruelty is cruelty

I had mine done when I was about 6, and it hurt so much, that I refused to let them do the other one.

I had to go around with one earring in until my mum talked me into having the other one done a few days later.

Although I remember asking I was only 6, and far too young to make that sort of decision imo.

Message withdrawn

Ugh dont talk to me about hoops!
dd was taken to have hers done when she was only small by her nan and auntie she has never played with them and does like to wear earrings for special occasions but I wont allow her to wear them to school or every day etc, she's had them done so long they dont close up, plus I think now she is old enough to decide if she wants them in or not.
But every xmas and birthday her nan buys her big fucking hoops! I mean she is 7 when and why would she wear them? She wears studs if we're going somewhere and asks me but hoops?!?!?!?
And by hoops I don't mean sleepers I mean ones like this needless to say they've all got 'lost'.

Tacky, common and vulgar. My DDs will have to be at least 10.

YANBU. Hate it, hate it, hate it. Tacky and trashy.

YANBU! I totally agree, infact I don't think it should be allowed until secondary school age. All it takes is for the back to come off and the baby could pick it up and swallow it. Also, with rough play in the playground it could get snagged and shred the ear lobe.

Is there NO minimum age for this? At xmas I was in Claires getting some stocking fillers and a woman had her baby girl there for ears piercing - the babe couldnt sit up alone, she was that young and a group of the mother's friends were all outside the window watching. These were not teenage mums either but woman who should really have known better IMO! I had to leave (it was making me feel sick seeing what they were going to do, no way could i stick around for it!). All the spectators outside were like "Bet she screams blue murder but she'll soon forget... I'm getting xxx done as soon as shes had her 6 week jabs"

WTF!!!

VS I can completely understand why your dd's hoops keep getting lost.

I don't know why but there are loads of tiny babies in Spain with their ears pierced it must be a cultural thing. It looks tacky and must have been very painful. I can't believe a MN thread where everyone seems to be in agreement - surely not???

No youre right NicMac - they should have everything pierced when still in hospital so they can have co-ordinated bling for their first photos!

very unlike the thread a few months ago on this subject!

the overheard conversation in the op would have been ok if it had been in the doctors and was about immunistions or something,but ear piecrcing?

i heard a similar one in the nursery playground last year,the child in question was 2.its awful,it should only be done when/if the child asks for it themself,and is old enough to understand it will hurt.

Here in Spain I reckon 90% of baby girls have it done. I think they virtually do it in the hospital.I think they believe it's better to do it when they can't remember any pain and I think they like the fact that you can tell the babe is a girl.

I find it odd but am so used seeing it now that it doesn't look so tacky or shocking to me now. Would never do it to mine though..I enjoyed asking my Mum at 13 if I could get it done and remember feeling v excited!!

to me, seeing a child (boy or girl) with ear(s) pierced is the most un natural thoughtlessness act a parent could put their child through.obviously these parents dont pause for a moment to think does the child want mutating at such a young age, all they want is "mini mes". please dont think i sound like mary whitehouse, i am a young mum of 4 and this is probably the only subject that really irritates the hell out of me.many nurseries i know of will not allow children if they have any piercings, purely as h&s issues.any way, have a nice day!!

Maureen - the exact same thing happened to me. Got mine done when I was 16 and ended up having to go to hospital to have them yanked out. Never again.

Never mind the freedom of choice or pain element its totally chav!!!

This is one of those things I really will never understand. It's dangerous for children to be running round wearing earrings, even studs. It looks tacky and cheap. And it's causing a child unnecessary pain. I really don't see any other point of view on this, which is rare, I usually try and see the other side to everything.

I think its abuse for parent to get young babies and young children's ears pierced and it looks awful.