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Original poster

Baby Ear Piercing

69 replies

kelnsoph · 04/03/2011 12:59

After watching a baby no more than 6 months old screaming in agony whilst having her ears pierced in a Claire's Accesories shop window I was distressed and disgusted that this was allowed to happen to an innocent baby for the simple sake of the mothers vanity. I spoke to the NSPCC, who are following this up and they and I were shocked to discover there is in fact no legal age restrictions on this happening. I was also told by the shop assistant that it is "no different than a child having thier jabs", as many I'm sure will agree there is a world of difference between a potentially life saving vaccination and mutilating a baby for superficial reasons. Babies have the right to grow up and CHOOSE whether or not they wish to have their ears pieced when they are at an age to make an informed decision. The pain and potential infections they are subjected to must be prevented, this is an area that has been terribly neglected by the law. Please help this move forward so the children who have no voice to stop this can be heard. Thank you.

To sign the petition please follow this link

www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/stopbabypiercings

OP posts:
MsHighwater · 11/03/2011 23:23

kelnsoph, I don't mean to be antagonistic. I simply dislike what seemed to be implicit in your post (and other people's, on similiar topics) that to bring a child up to believe in the same things that the parents believe, if that belief is in God, is akin to indoctrination.

I'm pretty sure that you do believe yourself to be morally superior to people who choose to pierce their baby's ears, you know. I'm damn sure that I do. But I also know that I'm not the moral authority on the issue and I don't believe there is any justification for making it illegal for a parent or legal guardian to have a small child's ears pierced provided that it is done in a way that does not breach other laws.

confuddledDOTcom · 11/03/2011 23:44

The religion comments were in response to someone who said that ear piercing has less lasting damage than religion.

I don't see myself as morally superior to someone who pierces their child's ears, the one thing I have spoken out against several times on this thread is the use of guns.

Original poster
kelnsoph · 12/03/2011 01:01

MsHighwater
Ok, the point of putting up this petition (be that right or wrong) was to campaign against ear peircing, in very young babies not in general, before that is jumped on, in a 'friendly' non aggressive way. This has NOTHING to do with religion. (You will have to excuse my post as it is very late, it may well be not best presented)I am NOT getting involved in a debate about what is morally right or wrong regarding bringing up children with religion. To be perfectly honest though it is a bad comparison (late at night, too tired)it concerns me about as much as whether she likes, i don't know, rock music when she is older. If she does so be it if she doesn't it bothers me not. I belive, as anyone can clearly see from my petition in CHOICE. The only thing I can think of that we WILL be "imposing" on her, is good manners, good education, a loving family, a strong sense of right and wrong, be kind to others and to be respectful. I can't see out of those things what you, or any one else may object to about that. Though very sadly I fear I may be proved wrong.

You say you dont mean to be antagonisitic but you then contradict yourself by saying "I'm pretty sure that you do believe yourself to be morally superior to people who choose to pierce their baby's ears, you know" That in itself is antagonistic as I've already told you I dont.

I've had some very positive responses to the petition and for that I'm most grateful. This has been the most negative as it has become personal, not to mention off the actual subject which is entirely unecissry (excuse my spelling) This is not why I posted, but it is why I will not be responding to yourself any more. Let sleeping dogs lie and all that.
I do wish you the very best, genuinely.
I'm done.

OP posts:
spirelass1981 · 12/03/2011 01:20

My DD had her ears pierced at 18mths old... at Claires and she had them both done at the same time...

She is now 9yrs old .. I believe having them done at an early age is better as when older they fiddle with the earrings and can cause infections etc . .

my daughters ears healed fine and were never any bother...

Now i do understand the point of the petition and I would never have a baby ears pierced but I believe once past the age of one from 18mths onwards I think its fine provided it is done correctly and safely ...

confuddledDOTcom · 12/03/2011 09:45

I was 5 never fiddled or got infections. It's making assumptions about the child that you'll never be able to prove.

Do it when you like, it's legal, but there isn't an argument for it that doesn't have holes.

And for the whateverth time, whilst it's not something I'd do the only objection I have is the use of guns.

confuddledDOTcom · 12/03/2011 09:47

Oh dear holes I didn't intend to make a pun...

PrivetDancer · 12/03/2011 09:55

I think it looks grim on small children (under about 10) to have their ears pierced, but each to their own. I silently judge.

I am mystified though as to why claire's accessories need to know if a baby has had their vaccinations before they will pierce them?! Any ideas? Are they saying that their hygiene standards are so low there is a risk of them catching something from them?

PrivetDancer · 12/03/2011 09:56

:o at holes in the argument!

catwhiskers10 · 12/03/2011 10:17

I got mine pierced at a year old. I certainly dont feel like i was abused because of it i wouldn't get my DDs ears pierced as I think it's unnecessary to get a babys ears pierced but if she decides when she's older she wants them pierced I will allow it.
catdoctor I hardly think you can compare piercing skin on a babys ears to cutting through vertebrae on a puppies tail.
I also think that religion has a far more lasting impact on a Childs life than ear piercing. Earrings can be removed, religion imposes beliefs on the mind that are not so easily erased.
There are far worse mutilations done to babies in this world than ear piercing.

mamaLou13 · 12/03/2011 14:53

earrings should be BANNED in babies it is absolutley disgusting! there should be an age limit like there is with certain other piercings!

MsHighwater · 12/03/2011 22:43

Keep your hair on, kelnsoph. It was you that brought religion into it in the first place, remember? I only picked up on it because I get irritated by the implication (repeated by catwhiskers10) that there is something to be particularly proud of in bringing a child up to have no religion. I was merely pointing out that we all bring our children up to believe what we ourselves believe in, whatever that might be.

I'm sorry if I spoiled your thread by posting an opinion that is in opposition to yours (though we disagree only on the issue of compulsion, not on the matter of baby ear piercing). I meant nothing personal by it and it's unfortunate if you interpreted it that way.

"I belive, as anyone can clearly see from my petition in CHOICE"

But is your petition not aimed at denying people the choice to pierce their babies' ears? Now who is being contradictory?

sugarbea · 13/03/2011 19:54

I wonder, for good measure, if there should be some sort of research done on the long term psychological and physical effects of people having their ears pierced so young.
I'll start you off.

I appear to be fine but have an unexplained fear of accessories. :o

I assume there has been medical and social research done to support your petition kelnsoph. I would be genuinely interested in reading it.

confuddledDOTcom · 13/03/2011 21:31

Actually, itshappenedagain brought up the issue of religion and both kelnsoph and I responded to that so I think you owe kelnsoph an apology.

How is it choice to have your ears pierced for you? I guess it comes down to who's choice is more important, the child or the parent. (Still standing by my previous statements though)

MsHighwater · 13/03/2011 23:00

A child's choice in many things is constrained, confuddled. Many important choices are made for use by our parents when we are children. Parenting means making choices for our children until they are old enough to make them for themselves. Many of those choices are irreversible.

kelnsoph would have it that parents are prevented from exercising their (currently legal) choice to have their child's ears pierced despite the fact that it is possible to do it safely, hygienically and with the minimum of pain.

kelnsoph, I apologise for accusing you of introducing the topic of religion to this thread. Everything else stands.

confuddledDOTcom · 13/03/2011 23:04

What's irreversible though? I've never yet heard of any truly irreversible decisions that parents make for their children.

I just want to point out again that I have never said that parents shouldn't have their baby's ears piercied, only that guns are the wrong way to do it especially with a baby. I would not do it to my child, I think it looks horrible but other than doing it safely I don't really have any opinion on it.

mathanxiety · 14/03/2011 05:03

I wouldn't sign as I think it's important to some parents as a cultural marker and seems to do no harm to most children or even babies. Crying aside, it's quite benign.

I agree with the jab analogy. Children don't get a say in that experience at all. In some countries even parents don't -- you have to have all the shots required by law or you can't go to school in some places

I let my DCs have theirs pierced when they asked -- youngest to have hers done was 7.

monkeyslut · 14/03/2011 05:57

I'm not signing even though personally I can't stand earrings on babies/young children.

I would happily sign a petition for the banning of piercing guns however. They are a bigger problem.

savoycabbage · 14/03/2011 06:36

My dh had his ears pierced when he was an infant. The holes closed up decades ago but you can definitely tell that they were there. Easily.

He says that he feels like a twat if anybody notices them. He is embarrassed by them as it is not him at all. He's got a tattoo but it's on his arm, people can't see it when he is at work.

confuddledDOTcom · 14/03/2011 09:49

Monkey at least there's an actual benefit to jabs. I know people debate the subject but it's not done for cosmetic reasons.

monkeyslut · 14/03/2011 10:46

confuddled Didn't mention jabs Confused (am all for them though Wink)

samoa · 14/03/2011 13:20

OMG! Not this again! It is not torture or child abuse, get off your high horse! I had mine done when I was 6 weeks old, I am no worse for it. In fact I love my earrings. I had the same done to my daughter when she was 6months. She has had no infections, she doesn't even notice that they are there. I did it because it is part of my culture and I am proud to do it.

As a parent you will be almost always imposing your own ideas etc on your children, that is just the way it is.

Also I am the one that has chosen to do it, we are not forcing you to do it on your own child, so please just get over it!

confuddledDOTcom · 14/03/2011 17:13

Sorry monkey it was maths, what you get for too much mobile browsing!

MsHighwater · 14/03/2011 22:16

"I've never yet heard of any truly irreversible decisions that parents make for their children" Are you for real, confuddled?

There are people posting all over the relationships section who will surely testify that parental decisions have an effect on their children.

girliefriend · 14/03/2011 22:32

I cringe whenever I see babies with their ears pierced and if I see a young child at a soft play area I really worry about them pulling the earrings on something. How a parent could inflict unnecessary pain on their baby is really beyond me. IMO your baby should perfect in your eyes and why anyone would want to shove a piece of metal through their babies ears Shock

I think personally its assault and should def be banned in under 5s at least Sad

samoa · 15/03/2011 08:03

Cringe all you want, there are worse things happening to children then having earrings. My dd cried like a banshi when having her vaccines, but nothing when having her ears pierced. This is ridiculous. And MsHighwater you think some of these people are having relationship problems because their parents decided to pierce their ears when they were kids?! haha please don't make me laugh!