AIBU to feel uneasy seeing a baby having his ear pierced?

[JoannaVictoria]

My 11 year old daughter has been asking for a long time about getting her ears pierced and I have given in.

Went into a chain store to have them done and there were two women and the piercing lady who was very young holding down a baby boy (he must have been about one) ready to pierce his ear.

AIBU Im thinking this isn’t right?

I know it’s legal etc and Im not a judgemental person but it just felt so wrong. Needless to say we left as I didn’t want to witness it. He was already screaming and thrashing around.

It just seems so unnecessary at that age. Other people in the store didn’t seem to have an issue with it.

being able to be comforted is not the same as forgetting.

When children above 7 or 8 (or anyone) gets their ears pierced in a proper location, they are asked several times and the staff make sure they are happy to go ahead and also check that they are happy with the exact location of the piercing.

I know of several people pierced very young where the piercing is in a bit of an odd, off-centre or otherwise position, whether this is how their lobes grew as a baby / toddler I don't know, but they wish their parent didn't do it.

There is no good reason to do so before the child can choose and consent properly.

It says in the article it’s an independant jewellers called lovisa

YANBU. It should be illegal under a certain age (maybe under 6/7/8? I'm not sure.) there's just no need for it. For those saying they don't believe OP - it happens. I know someone who recently got their almost 2 year old daughters ears pierced. Apparently, she was very brave but what is the rush? That age cannot properly consent and I find it hard to believe it was their idea. Let small children be small children.

I saw a baby have its ears pierced in the chain store you’re probably referencing. It was under a year old. Went from being a smiley happy baby on its mother’s lap to crying profusely as you can imagine. Was horrible to see.

I said I don’t believe a chain store employee held the baby down.

obviously I am aware that babies and toddlers get their ears pierced

Chain stores do not pierce babies' ears.

@Backedoffhackedoff I hope you are right and it didn't happen.

It was at a Lovisa store and the baby was on a woman’s lap ( I assume his mother) with another lady of similar age holding him still on her lap whilst the mother held his head for the piercing lady who was marking the ear with a pen.

I was just shocked at other people in the store looking like this was normal and just wanted to know the general opinion on this.

I have just had a look at the piercing policy for Lovisa and they pierce from 6 months old with the parents permission 😔

I stand corrected, just googled lovisa.

Oh would you look at that! You just happened to be in the same jewellers a PP linked to a story about.
Amazing they’d risk it again after they got into the national news and widespread condemnation last time. They’re like the child catchers aren’t they? 🤨

You shouldn’t have gone to a chain store, always always use a proper piercing shop.

That aside, it is more common in some cultures. My mum had mine pierced at 2 and my dad was outraged so removed the earrings to let the holes close up over the weekend. I got them redone at 10 when I explicitly asked. My DD got hers done at 13.

I wasn't sure it was Claires.

Can't believe we haven't outlawed this nonsense yet.

And yes, same with non-medical circumcision.

Claire’s doesn’t exist anymore anyway so it wasn’t there

Claire's pierce from three months.

Lovisa is a chain, they are everywhere.

Smacking hasn't gone away. It's still legal in England and Northern Ireland.

As long as you are careful* to not leave a mark.. This seems at odds with piercing actually!

My daughter just had hers pierced (she’s 6) and it didn’t hurt, she barely noticed it go in.

babies are dramatic, my 10 month old screams blue murder during nappy changed or when I’m strapping him in his car seat.

not to my taste baby boys with ear piercings but I don’t think it’s massively cruel or anything

I think it's child abuse

YABU what's it to you if another parent gets their kids ears pierced?

They take some effort to keep clean and they don’t look attractive unless there is an earring in them, especially as you get older.

The child should have autonomy over his or her own body.

I agree op.

I've pinned my son down, to a bed, in a chair, sat him on my lap and locked him in so he can't move, all medically imperative.

how people can do it for a little aesthetic pleasure is beyond me