Babies & Toddlers With Pierced Ears

[StarlightLady]

AIBU to suggest that there should be a minimum age for ear piercings on young children, in particular those who are unable to consent?

For the record, I am not anti piercing. I have 3 ear piercings and 3 others. In particular I had my ears pierced when l asked and was old enough to fully understand.

Its ridiculous diculous, to compare ear piercing to DV or child abuse.

So many things that used to be 'none of people's business'

Marital rape, domestic abuse, beating children black and blue, all ignored by teachers, police and other people because of this.

We have to say that anything that hurt or harms children is societies business and get rid of some of the other harmful practices - ear piercing and smacking for a start as well as ALL genital mutilations

No it's not - it hurts children. It is painful and totally unnecessary - it's purely cosmetic - like scarification or tatooing - would you let people do that to children, because they are also traditions

It also leads to inflammation and infection , which could be potentially serious - any wound is and it creates two wounds.

We are moving into an age with antibiotic resistant infections - how would you feel if your child died because you uneccsarily pierced their ears and the infection went septic?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-12743471

Death from a piercing - which whilst rare, are NOT unknown.

Why risk it?

Because it hurts children. When l chose to have my piercings, l knew it would hurt and l knew about the healing process and infection risk.

Yes, there are far bigger issues than this concerning children, but if we start small it is one tiny step forward.

You make it sound as though it will ALWAYS lead to inflammation and infection which is a load of bollocks

I don't think it should be done until the child is able to choose. I think 18 is a bit much though. My strict dad said we had to wait until 18 but by then it was more "rebellious" not to have it done so I never have (might still one day).

From a more shallow and judgy point of view I think it looks a bit "trailer park". I've never said that out loud though.

It’s completely savage, I can’t take anyone seriously who argues for it.
Total child abuse.
Places shouldn’t be allowed to do it.

It always leads to inflammation and it always causes pain.

Infections are pretty common, mostly dealt with by antibiotics - would you still do it if there were few effective antibiotics?

Are you suggesting most people are fine with the former?

I have 6 piercings in total. 2 in early teens, 1 in later teens and 3 on separate occasions as an adult. My choice. In most cases it will lead to inflammation; Google it.

But why should a child not understanding what is going on be subject that and the hurt.

I get your point, but ear piercing is hardly the same as rape. I think you're stretching a point there!

It's cultural sometimes. This is NOT saying it's OK, just that it's normal in some societies. DD's friend, born in the Middle East, was taken from her mum at a few hours old to have it done in the hospital! I wish I knew what significance or importance it has. IMO it should be something that the child can do if they want to once they're old enough to keep it clean.

What age do you suggest?

Most independent piercers won't so under 5 anyway so you might be better lobbying ahem larger businesses that do pierce little ones rather than lobbying for a law that will in all likelihood, not happen for years.

I am always puzzled why people need to say this has been discussed before. So what? Many people are new here every day and want to discuss it.

Anyway, I let my daughter decide when she wanted to do it. I didn’t want her to do it under the age of 10. She eventually asked to do it at 14 and I was absolutely fine with that. I think waiting till 18 is a bit silly as kids have capacity to decide on this, younger than that. I reckon 13 and over is fine.

I have a question. Does anyone here who had it done as a baby or toddler resent their parents for doing it? I have never met anyone who is angry about this, but I presume there must be some?

😮well that's disturbing

I don't know. I don't personally agree with it but making laws about things like that while there are some much much worse situations with child welfare going on seems a bit OTT.

Would it not be odd to criminalise a woman for piercing their baby's ears when that's what's been happening for generations to everyone they know. It isn't an indication of neglect or child abuse.

Would childcare providers, social workers, the police or members of the public be compelled into inspecting strange infants earlobes in a 'stop and search' style capacity? And then what, they're arrested? The child is removed?

No, and I’ve never met anyone else who has either.

It’s classic MN outrage.

Or maybe I have Stockholm syndrome and I should consider myself equivalent to victims of FGM, which is always used as the trump card.

Pretty much all the girls have theirs done after y6 where we live. Are you really going to hold out for 18?

Yanbu it’s utterly pointless and cruel. Why subject your baby to pain, potential infection and the risk of ripping them out purely for vanity reasons? Just wait until they are old enough to choose and be responsible for looking after them. I think I had mine done when I was about 10 and that seemed like a sensible age.

Yes. When I have asked a few women, they have always said they were grateful as they didn’t remember the pain.

I did mine at 12 and my daughter did hers at 14. So I have no skin in this game. But I do wonder if this is a huge issue if the people who are actually experiencing it are okay with it.

Who cares? My parents pierced my ears when I was a baby. I don’t remember it obviously. Makes no material difference to my life but, I quite like earrings so it did save me the hassle of doing it as an adult. There are far far worse things going on in the world to get worked up about.

My aunt took me to get my ears pierced at 6 months. I think it’s tacky as fuck, big fat baby with a bottle in its mouth and gold studs.