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.

how do you know?

And that makes it ok?

It's also a health and safety risk when the kids are old enough for school.
All the schools I've worked in have insisted that earrings are covered with plasters for P.E.lessons.
This is not always effective and of course no coverings at playtimes.
Hoops in particular can accidentally be ripped out when kids are playing /rolling around.

Idk why people think a kid would forget about it the day after. Ear piercings take 6 months + to heal, and actually can be pretty sore for weeks after. Even with proper jewelry and flatback studs.

Idk why people think the pain stops the moments the needles through?

You're also not supposed to sleep on a piercing for a few weeks, try telling a 8 month old they have to suddenly sleep on their back or be in pain. Nah.

My daughters 6 and has just started asking, it's a good age to explain all the ins and outs and care and the fact it's a forever thing. But we will stick with stick ons for another year at least.

My kids school have to have the kids be able to remove them themselves, or they don't get to do PE at all.

They have to sit out and watch, plasters aren't enough. They sent an email out around easter asking parents to not take their kids for piercings over the easter holiday.

I don’t think that’s actually legal. Children have to do PE

I would hate to see an 11yo having their ears pierced too.

It’s awful and should be illegal until a child can consent. Hate seeing babies and toddlers with pierced ears, it’s hideous!

I’m sorry but that’s weird as fuck 🤣

Should be 16 in my view. A baby - words fail me. A parenting low and the shop should not do it.

Yeah? Interesting. I didn't know it was illegal actually, but not my battle to fight anyway.

They've sent a few reminders out since about it too so it's 100% correct that they can't do PE if they can't take earrings out. I haven't misread or anything because I told my daughter it would be a summer holiday thing if we ever did it, although ear rings shouldn't be remove before 3 months.

But much, much more abusive.

Putting a child through unnecessary pain to conform to adults' totally random social norms is fucking disgusting.

No, it was a facetious remark

Child abuse if the poor kid was screaming etc for an entirely unnecessary procedure.

My daughter had hers pierced when she was 10 after asking for a long time. There was absolutely no drama and she got to make the decision for herself about her own body

Same. I think body modification should be 18+.

I say that as someone with tattoos and piercings.

I agree, that's dreadful.

It means somebody is too stupid to use actual words.

My daughter kept begging for her ears pierced on her 9th birthday. I said yes providing she understood the process/aftercare & we went to a properly trained/hygiene certified body piercer. I have multiple piercings & 3 children but I don’t like baby/toddler ear piercings.

I don’t like seeing babies with earrings, but in some cultures it’s normal to do it when they’re tiny. Only yesterday on the bus I saw a baby, no more than about 15 months, with little pearl studs in her ears.

I asked mum and I was a good sleeper apparently.
I still sleep in my standard earrings. I don't take them off unless cleaning or swap for special occasion ones. Always did. I always had either small round or flat back. Wouldn't sleep on butterfly back though.
We also never had to take them off for PE unless they were massive. I remember only one classmate had imjury in all that years. I guess it's different if you are really so used to them? I don't know

in some cultures its normal to circumcise boys. In some cultures its normal to circumcise girls.

Hardly the same level of pain and harm, though? I don’t see how those are in any way comparable.
For the record, my DDs weren’t allowed to get their ears pierced until they were 13.

my point is that because something is done in some cultures doesn't make it right or desireable

I thimk there should be ban on bringing in circumcision into earrings discussion. It's absolutely ridiculous comparison and it really makes - 1) light of circumcision especially fgm, 2)people sound bit dim if they think these are comparable in any way