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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to hate ear piercings on toddlers

98 replies

SunisShinin · 17/06/2009 18:47

Every time i see them it makes my blood boil. Its a visual message that says -'I didn't love you enough just the way you were so I've caused you physical pain and risked future infection and / or injury to stick this lump of metal in your ear and now you meet my aesthetic standards' - aaaaaaahhhhhhhhh. How could they do it to them.

OP posts:
piscesmoon · 17/06/2009 19:32

Saying that the parents don't love them as they are is ridiculous. I don't like it at all and think they should be at least 12 yrs-but that is just my personal opinion. There are lots of things that I don't like on toddlers but differences make life more interesting.

Morloth · 17/06/2009 19:33

oooohh I have a Judgy McJudgerson story!

At the park the other day there was a BABY easily under a year who had GIANT HOOP EARRINGS. Like the size of a 50p piece, they were pierced as well - cause I did a double take and had a closer look.

I judged. I think her parents are feckin' idiots who need their heads slammed together, it is only a matter of time until she grabs one and yanks.

SarfEast · 17/06/2009 19:49

I personally don't think it's suitable for tiddlers, but then I do know it is the done thing in many cultures so wouldn't vote against it on those grounds.
Vive la difference!

LightShinesInTheDarkness · 17/06/2009 19:50

Thunderduck - I am really interested in what you have said about the gun/needle methods. I was not aware that anyone still did the needles - is it safer/less painful?

Ronaldinhio · 17/06/2009 19:51

yabvu they are lovely on a baby or toddler

Ronaldinhio · 17/06/2009 19:54

like this?

Thunderduck · 17/06/2009 19:55

Yes it is much safer and less painful. The gun crushes the tissue and one is much more likely to have problems with it. And the gun cannot be effectively sterilised.

The professional piercer knows far more about anatomy than any Claire's Accesories worker, and can adjust the positioning of the needle to avoid damage to other parts of the ear, as there can be considerable variation in ears. That isn't possible with a gun.

Someone here once posted an excellent link explaining the differences. I'll try to find it.

LightShinesInTheDarkness · 17/06/2009 19:57

rofl Ronaldinhio!

Thanks, TDuck. Wish I had known that before I let DD have hers done.

GeckoLovingHornedThing · 17/06/2009 19:59

I dont care what the norm is
I thin its bloody horrid
so unneccessary
how the hell do you know that your kids want holes in their ears until they are older

I hate it, it shouldn't be allowed for the under 12's

sweetnitanitro · 17/06/2009 19:59

Ronaldinhio- that looks lovely I'll definitely be getting that done for 8 mo dd next week.

I don't really get ear piercing for young kids, surely it's impractical when they're still playfighting and climbing trees and such? It would be so easy for the piercing to get ripped out. DD will have to wait until she's 16 I'm afraid, I think it's far too adult for little kids to get it done.

toddlerama · 17/06/2009 20:06

It's definitely cultural, and whilst I don't like it, that's because in my little bubble, it's unusual for a baby to have it done. Got nuffink to do with how loved the child is! In Brazil, little girls routinely have their ears pierced on the maternity ward by the doctor because 'it will be safer' and 'they can't feel pain at this age!'.

PinkTulips · 17/06/2009 20:08

I had mine done at five and was one of the last in my class in germany.

DD had hers done (by me, i can't stand the guns) at 3 and was certainly not the youngest in her peer group.

Britain is the only place i've ever heard this snobbery about ear piercing tbh.

As for not loving her

DD had hers done to cheer her up as she was miserable with chronic recurrant nosebleeds, having little ladybug earrings made her happy. It didn't hurt her, i have a pic of her less than 30secs after the second one went in grinning like a loon she was so pleased and she's never had any infection at all as i keep a close eye on them.

Having them done young has the added advantage of meaning they heal completely within a few years meaning when she's of an age to play sports she can take them out without risking infection and resealing.

LadyAga · 17/06/2009 20:08

I was thinking about this today when I saw a beautiful little baby, clearly no older than 3mths max with studs in her ears.

Poor little thing, it seems like such a cruel thing to do to a baby regardless off the culture.

I think it's disgraceful.

Thunderduck · 17/06/2009 20:12

It certainly isn't snobbery on my part. I believe that it's wrong to pierce a child's age when they are too young to make an informed decision. It should be their choice.

Thunderduck · 17/06/2009 20:13

Pierce a child's ears! Though you probably should avoid piercing their age too.

Lotster · 17/06/2009 20:17

Thunder - agree with informed decision.

If it's wrong to tattoo a toddler which it obviously is, why on earth would it be ok to shoot a bolt through a baby's ear?!

I had mine done at 13, I wanted it done, I knew it was coming - I still found it feckin painful and it made me cry! I couldn't do it to my little baby, her jabs upset her so ear piercing definately would.

SarahL2 · 17/06/2009 20:18

Personally, I think it looks tacky on small children. I was 18 when I had mine done

wb · 17/06/2009 20:20

I like it and I think it looks pretty.

But then I'm half-Spanish - a country where many people don't love their girl children.

PinkTulips · 17/06/2009 20:27

i explained to dd what it was, showed her my own piercings so she'd understand it goes right through, told her about the pain, gave her months to think it over and decide and only did it when she came to me knowing all that and asked.

once the first ear was done i asked her if she still wanted it done, told her we could take that one out if she didn't want it but she insisted on having the second done too.

at no point was she forced or any of the details glossed over, it was totally her choice

when i had mine done it was because i had begged for over a year and my mother finally gave in... totally my decision as well.

lotster, a tattoo is permanent and unchanging. pierced ears can have a wide variety of earrings or no earrings at all, depending on taste and situation. i have both and certainly don't think of them as being in any way similar.

Lotster · 17/06/2009 20:36

Well that's not really true because you can remove a tattoo. I don't think you can remove a hole but I may be wrong.

But anyway, my bugbear with this is babies, who it must hurt and shock, not kids who ask for it, then I just think it looks a bit tacky (sorry but my opinion).

TheNatty · 17/06/2009 20:37

i think they are adorable on little girls, nothing wrong with little studs in a toddlers ears.
i dont agree with doing it before they are a year old, or big hoop earings either for that matter.

i think as with all things, if you do these things tastefully they can look pretty.
my 2 year old has hers done, she loves them and tells me she is a "princess" all the time.

i wasnt allowed mine done till i was 16, i was teased at school about it, and when i did have them done i had to take them out at work so they got infected as i couldnt leave them in constantly for the recommended month.

so its not always good to delay them either!

Firawla · 17/06/2009 20:45

Yabu there is nothing wrong with it. If you don't like it don't have it done for your own dds, no need to make comments about others that they dont love them enough without pierced ears which is just ridiculous.
ear peircing has been done for hundreds and hundreds of years, get it done by a professional person and its not exactly dangerous

scottishmummy · 17/06/2009 20:59

saw a baby @1 year old with nail polish and earrings.gallus

imo,wait until girl is in her teens and has semblance of choice

peirced ears on babies and toddlers looks
really rough

hey go the whole hog get baby a tattoo really look rough as a badgers arse

TheNatty · 17/06/2009 21:03

sorry scottishmummy but if you check my profile i think you will see my daughter looks anything other then rough!!
what a stupid comment!

scottishmummy · 17/06/2009 21:04

well you would say that wouldnt you?

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