to think it should be illegal to get your childrens ears pierced...

[CklarahAndMarbellasMum]

...before they're of an age where they can soundly make their own sensible decision?

Babies in earrings look vile

I really don't like seeing babies/toddlers with earrings or any 'bling' for that matter. I had mine pierced at 10 or 11 yo. They hurt and got infected but I was old enough to clean them. Dd is not allowed ear-rings at school so the subject is null and void . If she wants them done at secondary school I'm happy to agree. I try really hard not to judge those who do pierce their babies and toddlers ears. Despite my efforts my opinion of those who do goes down slightly but I'm sure they couldn't give a flying fig about that . I've heard all the cultural arguments and still I think 'wrong'. In Ibiza even the baby dolls have pierced plastic ears .

What I don't get is the 'it's a cultural thing' so those who object are being ignorant. It's a cultural practice for woman to be treated as second class citizens, forced in marriage or denied an education in some parts of the world so is that OK or am I being ignorant again?

I'm not a fan of piercing, but fgs, there are much worse things. And if a parent wants to pierce their kids ears it's no worse a pain than watching them get injected.

Yes, I know that injections are necessary and if we could get away without having them done most of us would BUT some parents want to pierce their kids ears.

It's not hurting you and the child recovers quite quickly from it (as they do with an injection) so why be so judgey?

I do wonder whether it's the perceived chavviness that people object to as much as the pain argument.

hmm maybe 10 then

I dunno its just so not neccessary

and why do you know that they are going to want their ears pierced when they are older so you may as well do it now

doesn't make sense

Fran - I agree. Just because things are "cultural" doesn't make them legitimate or right. Female circumcision is cultural in some areas - is that OK then?

Yes of course there are much worse things - but I think that piercing babies ears is symptomatic of a society which treats kids as possessions with no rights.

You simply can't compare a piercing with an injection (which I'd assume was needed for medical reasons?).

Argh. Stop feeding the troll......

I don't like earings (especially hoops etc) on babies/toddlers, IMO it looks abit tacky. i always thought I would let my girls when they really want it done and are at least 9/10. i hate it on boys.

Why would anyone want to cut holes in children? Perhaps as a man I'm not getting the whole 'decorative' aspect.

Oh, this one is ALWAYS popping up on MN

No idea TR I picked 8 out of the air as I feel that's the age at which children can have thought through opinions about something like this. Although it has just occurred to me that that may mean 8yos were having their ears pierced that don't want to - how do the people who agree with piercing babies' ears feel about that?

Oh, are you a MAN, Onagar? I'd never realised.

snap LGP

I am yes. Don't tell anyone though as we are not so popular right now

Your secret is safe with me.

I don't mind it at all on kids over the age of 5 or so (they are old enough to want earrings and appreciate them) but if you do it to babies and toddlers you're a fucking moron. And bollocks to 'culture and tradition', funny how it's always cultural and traditional to do painful unecessary and dangerous things to people who happen to be smaller or weaker or less powerful...

DS1 (5) desperately wants studs or 'bullet earrings' as he calls them. The inner snob in me recoiled in horror when he asked. I don't know why but I just don't want my dc's to have pierced ears. Anything that draws attention to the ears is freaky - ears make me shudder.

I have never ever heard someone who had their ears pierced prior to the age of consent, say that in reflection they wish they'd never had it done. As far as I'm concerned it's a non issue.

This old chestnut. I had my DD's ears pierced at 3 weeks old. My dd is Spanish and it is the norm to pierce the ears of young girls. It is a cultural thing. My Nigerian neighbour told me that in her culture one is expected to pierce your dd's ears within one month of birth and she finds it strange that English people have a problem with this.

but having it done young is just teaching them that its the norm

why would you want to do that
I KNOW it IS the norm but cant they decide for themselves

I dont wear earrings

I used to
I used to have 3 holes in one ear and 2 in the other
all filled
but I have now decided I dont want to

if you shove crap in their ears at a young age they just think thats what they shoudl do

forehead - why, what for?

3 weeks old? now that is seriously wrong!

why would you cause pain like that to their little ears for cultural reasons.

what kind of cultural reasons, why why why?

sorry i am very ignorant so i am trying to understand?

What is wrong with discussing the subject? Without debate we merrily go along accepting 'tradition' and 'cultural practices' which perhaps with wisdom are unneccessary or indeed harmful in some cases.

Don't get your logic TrinityRhino.

I had ears pierced at 3 months and never got any more holes added - I didn't feel that I must due to the fact that had no say in the original piercings.

Really don't think there's a link TBH.

as and when a child wants ear rings - ideally not below age of 8

They ask at the maternity hospital here if you want your daughter's ears pierced. I had 2 boys so this was never an issue for me. However, I would have said no had I of had a daughter. I had my ears pierced when I was 14. It was my birthday present from my Mum, I had asked her before then but she refused.

Earrings are dangerous on small children and my DD is far too pretty to need vile tat in her ears.

It is not culture it is class IMO!