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Original poster

Ear Piercing

48 replies

jenny2998 · 09/07/2002 23:49

I was out in town today when we walked past a shop where a baby (aged around a year?) was being held down in the window and having her ears pierced while she screamed the place down.

It really upset me and I just wondered how other people felt about young children having piercings.

I have quite a lot of piercings myself, but I would never, ever inflict them on anyone else - it is a matter of personal choice and expression, not something that someone should choose for anyone else.

Anyone have any thoughts?

OP posts:

Monnie · 14/07/2002 19:03

I hate this baby ear-piercing thing.

Defo parents 'of a certain type'.

But I also hate baby girls with headbands when they have no hair! Arrggghhh!!

XAusted · 14/07/2002 21:23

I agree! I really hate to see toddler girls dressed up like Barbie dolls or Spice Girls, teetering about in high heels, crop tops, etc. Yuck! And earrings for babies? Hideous and (sorry to sound snobby) vulgar. Should definitely be outlawed on safety grounds if nothing else. It's really painful when an earring gets caught on something.

Another thing that annoys me is shops that stock "sexy" underwear for very young girls. Yuck again.

bon · 14/07/2002 21:55

In many european countries it is considered the norm to have your baby's ears pierced - just after birth. I was living with some spanish girls who were baffled that I hadn't had mine done - they said that it's the only way of identifying whether a baby is a girl or boy and couldn't believe that it wasn't the same in this country.

Original poster

jenny2998 · 14/07/2002 21:58

There's a woman we see out round here quite regularly with a little girl of around 2. She sits on a gold coloured 'thing' in her buggy, wears gold shoes, and is covered with gold jewellery - necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings. It is so obvious that mummy uses her as her own little barbie doll. Like a fashion accessory. I find it quite offensive.

It frightens me the amount of young children you see dressed as mini adults. In short skirts, tight t-shirts, slogan t-shirts....and the 'sexy' underwear....surely children grow up quick enough without any encouragment?

OP posts:

SueDonim · 15/07/2002 07:44

I wouldn't have thought it essential to know whether a baby is a boy or girl, except for cleansing purposes and then it becomes pretty obvious!!!

As for 'Junior Tart Wear' as we call it - yuk. Unfortunately my 6yr old dd has a predeliction for it, although I have only succumbed to the length of permitting a tshirt with 'Sugar' on it. She doesn't wear it anymore as it's too hot here.

Tissy · 15/07/2002 08:52

Queenie and Chinchilla-

there is a lower incidence of penile cancers in countries where it is the norm to circumcise boys. I think this is due to the fact that it is easier to keep the bits clean, and free of viruses which can cause the cancer (same as viruses which cause cervical cancer in women).

I'm not advocating circumcision in boys- I would imagine that the same cancer- preventing effect could be achieved by"clean living"- but at least it may have some positive aspects medically, as well as culturally. On the downside, I have seen at least one baby boy almost die from an inexpertly carried out ritual circumcision.

MoominsMum · 15/07/2002 12:17

I agree that it just isn't right for babies to have their ears pierced - it's so dangerous for a start, they could pull them out so easily. I remember a 15 or so year old friend of mine managed to tear her ear just with her own hair becoming tangled around an earring, so God knows what a small child could end up doing.

I had mine done at 7 years old, because I really wanted it done (though looking back, I think my mother must have been mad!) and I remember having it done on my 7th birthday. I also remember that the shop would not pierce children under 7 - though this was now 20 years ago. I have no idea what I'll be doing if my daughter asks for it to be done.....

bundle · 15/07/2002 17:54

I'm very anti ear piercing for young children..and saw a tiny girl (?18 mths) by the swings over the weekend and I said to my dh "Look, that little girl has so much jewellery on, she looks like a gypsy.." before realising that she WAS..(and had more gold on her than her mother!)

XAusted · 15/07/2002 20:23

Just a thought, if you've seen babies getting their ears pierced (like jenny2998 and leese have), what about writing to the manager of the offending shop and telling him or her what you think of the practice? If enough people did it, they might take notice.

susanmt · 15/07/2002 20:42

The main reason for medical circumcision is when a wee boy has preoblems peeing because his foreskin is too tight. I know this because my bil has had it done (my mil told me on a very confiding sort of a day, dont know what bil would think if he knew I knew!!!!)

Original poster

jenny2998 · 15/07/2002 21:47

Just to add...I've had a number of piercings in my ears. I have always found them very painful for a couple of days and been unable to sleep on them for about a week. How must this be for a small child who doesn't know why it hurts? And apart from that, how do you keep little fingers away? And infections...they get infected very easily...particularly with those little fingers....It's mutilation. It's just wrong. No one should inflict this on someone else. It makes me so angry...

OP posts:

chinchilla · 15/07/2002 22:57

Tissy - Thanks for the info - interesting, but not enough to make me have it done to my ds!

You would have to weigh up the instances of penile cancer against the incidences of 'bad' operations, and I don't know how they would compare.

threeangels · 18/07/2002 19:03

I had a child age 3 and was in my daycare room and he had terrible infections. He was not circumsised but finally had it done at 3. I thought it was strange at this age but they had no choice because of the problems he was having. He was a little sore but healed eventually.

robinw · 18/07/2002 22:19

message withdrawn

babygirl05 · 20/07/2006 15:41

Id just like to say that i have my little girls ears pierced, she had them done at 3 months old, i had them done at this age rather than a later date when she would notice them, she cried for all of 2 mins(if that), and has never had no problems at all. I think personally there are some very small minded people out there, and to judge a parent on having there childrens ears pierced is bang out of order. I know im a good mum and would do anything for my daughter.

babygirl05 · 20/07/2006 15:45

I have just been reading the rest of the messages on this page, and would also like to add, my daughter doesnt even touch her earrings, shes 9 months now and seriously hasnt bothered. I clean them all the time with a special solution i bought for peirced ears. She also has a gold bracelet, and no way at all does she look like a gypsy. I was very unaware there where so many small minded people on here and judgemental!!!

heiferjamese · 20/07/2006 23:36

babygirl05 - you must be very new on her not to realise how judgemental people are on here.....

I am sure it is the same in real life too. Everytime you walk down the street with your DD I can guarentee that someone will be looking at your DD ears and thinking exactly the same thing as people on here.

The only difference is that you get to hear/read about it on here, and people like you give us sooo much ammo.....

Adorabelle · 21/07/2006 00:23

I was 27 when I had my dd, if she had been born
10 years before that I would probably have had
her ears pierced.

I would have thought it 'cool' Now when I see a
little one with it done I think YUK.

Would never get my dd's ears pierced, she's 2.1
if she wants them done when she's 9/10 i'll
consider it, but not till then.

sleepinbeauty · 11/09/2006 20:34

babygirl05. you are brave posting on here admitting that you actually CHOSE to get your babys ears pierced... do you really think it looks nice then? does your daughter think she looks attractive at 9mths old??!

superwomanStitch · 11/09/2006 20:38

a lot of traditional societies use the argument babygirl is using to justify ear piercings in young babies.

kattykins · 17/09/2006 16:39

i got my daughters ears pierced when she was ten months old and i am NOT of a certain type. why are you all being so mind numbingly boring discussing this in such detail? its personal choice and as long as you keep the childs ears clean with a solution specifically for the purpose then they do not have any problems oohh look i can spell and write too!! you really need to get out more and look at more important issues

VeniVidiVickiQV · 17/09/2006 16:47

Yes, but its YOUR personal choice. Not your DD's. Its hardly for her benefit either, is it? Its because you think it looks good/cute/whatever.

I think perhaps thats why people feel quite strongly about it.

Can't say that I do really......

sleepinbeauty · 17/09/2006 19:10

exactly. its what the parents (stupidly?) think looks good on their baby. not for the best interests of the baby at all. selfish i think, but hey!

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