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Original poster

Piercing babies ears

27 replies

shirleybanister · 02/12/2018 18:41

I saw a baby/toddler, around 18 months old, having her ears pierced today in Claire's, West Quay, Southampton store.
One minute she was sitting on her mum's knee smiling as a friend distracted her with a fluffy toy, the next minute she was screaming her head off!
What happens if the earring comes out while she is in her cot and she swallows it?
Is okay for shops and mum's to pierce babies ears?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

WhatFreshHellisCis · 02/12/2018 18:43

People will come on here and call you a judgemental snob.

You’re not.

There’s no need to pierce a child’s ears and cause them pain, particularly when they are too young to even want a piercing.

There’s also great harm in teaching a girl from a young age that her purpose is adornment.

It’s vile and there’s no excuse.

OldBrownShoe · 02/12/2018 18:51

Not something I did. Dd asked when she was about 7 or 8 so I took her at the beginning of the 6 weeks holidays. But it’s not something I get judgy about.

My sisters Dds ears were pierced a few hours after she was born in hospital by the nurse (they live in Spain)

Cosmoa · 02/12/2018 19:49

I personally find it absolutely unacceptable! There is absolutely no need. People can bang on all they want about how 'they won't remember it' and 'they're fine 5 mins after'. But I just can't see how you can justify inflicting pain on a child for a 'beauty' statement. Just no no no.

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1 year olds Beauty Families General parenting

Sinead100 · 02/12/2018 19:52

Millions of babies have had their ears pierced early as it's the cultural norm.

Cosmoa · 02/12/2018 20:01

Millions of babies have had their ears pierced early as it's the cultural norm.

This is the reason I'd never openly voice my opinion to anyone. But there are lots of cultural norms that inflict pain on the young and I can't help think they're awful!

YerAuntFanny · 02/12/2018 20:02

Not for me but I don't think it's a massively abusive thing to do either.

I don't see the point myself as it's purely for aesthetic reasons, I've never heard a genuine reason for needing it done or what purpose it actually serves in these cultures where it's the norm.

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 02/12/2018 20:11

Millions of babies have had their ears pierced early as it's the cultural norm. millions of baby boys are circumcised too, doesn't make it necessary.

Original poster

shirleybanister · 02/12/2018 21:36

So if something is a cultural norm does that make it okay to inflict pain, and in the case of circumcision suffering for days on a young baby?

It is now known that babies feel pain more intensely than adults. In the case of circumcision why not wait until adulthood, so that the individual can make an informed choice?
As for the earrings; why would a mother want to inflict unnecessary pain on a baby and should the shop be offering that service?

OP posts:

TigerQuoll · 02/12/2018 22:49

"In the case of circumcision why not wait until adulthood, so that the individual can make an informed choice?"

There's health reasons for circumcision

BlueUggs · 02/12/2018 22:53

@Sinead100 Millions of babies have had their ears pierced early as it's the cultural norm.
No, no, no, no, no.
Not in my culture.
I say bollocks to that.
I'll go one step further - get your young child's ears pierced and I will judge you...MASSIVELY.
It's child abuse.

BlueUggs · 02/12/2018 22:54

@TigerQuoll - in some cases yes. In many cases, there is only cultural or religious reasons. Again, child abuse.

MadameJosephine · 02/12/2018 23:05

I once witnessed a baby having its ears pierced in Claire’s accessories and I’ve boycotted them ever since. The poor child’s screams were just awful, I will never ever understand how anybody could condone doing such a thing to a defenceless baby and for what gain?

sue51 · 02/12/2018 23:10

Its body modification and should be illegal without consent from the person being pierced. Difficult to obtain permission from a baby.

ItWentInMyEye · 02/12/2018 23:12

I judge parents who do this too, not just the mum.

Bigonesmallone3 · 02/12/2018 23:15

I hate it.. my DD will be 2 in Feb and wouldn't dream of putting her through it at any age..
DS is 9 and he asked to have an ear pierced when he was about 7 so then I allowed it..
I would do the same for her..

TulipsInbloom1 · 02/12/2018 23:18

Its a huge amount of pain, with absoloutley no justification. Why on earth would a baby need earrings? Its fucking stupid. And abusive.

Cultural norms can get to shit. In some cultures it acceptable to rape your wife. Or to marry a 12yo girl. Doesnt mean it should be happening.

MonicaGellerHyphenBing · 02/12/2018 23:29

I personally think it's awful, and would never inflict such a thing on my daughter's body without her permission. One of my close friends pierced her baby's ears recently (purely for vanity reasons) and I really judged her for it

If parents insist on doing it I wish they would at least go to a proper piercer who will use a sterile needle and not those disgusting guns.

Newsername · 02/12/2018 23:31

I can’t get worked up about this. I got my dd1’s ears pierced when she was 7. Dd2 wants them done to be like her big sister and she’s only 5. I got mine done when I was 4 after asking my mum all the time she gave in.

Mrskeats · 02/12/2018 23:32

Slavery used to be a cultural norm. Didn’t make it right.

Tailfeather · 02/12/2018 23:33

I agree with most of your comments. I think it's abusive. Not only that but I think it looks awful! In fact I think all young boys and girls with an ear/both ears look ridiculous.

Didsomeonesaybunny · 02/12/2018 23:34

I have really strong views on this and think it’s unacceptable to inflict pain unnecessarily on your child for aesthetics. What’s wrong with waiting until your child can form the words to ask to have their ears pierced?

Ohyesiam · 02/12/2018 23:40

I’ve told this story before on an ear piercings thread, but here goes.

I lived in Brazil when my daughter was born. the paediatrician wanted to pierce her ears when she was 12 hours old which is the cultural norm for Brazil.
We refused.
They acted as if we were doing her a huge disservice, we were actually asked how we could expect her to get on in life! Plus all our Brazilian friends laughed and called her a heaphrodite because she was the only baby girl in Brazil without pierced ears! They all felt terribly sorry for her.

Nanalisa60 · 02/12/2018 23:50

I grew up in the eastend of London I had my ears done when I was about a week old. When I was little I remember that my Nan and her gang of old girls all had long slits in there ears because they had such heavy big earrings in all there lives. The problem of getting them done when u are that young is that your lobes are to small because of this my holes are to low down on my lobes. I now only wear a pearl stud. So I think that age 10 is a good age to get them done as then the child can decide if they want them done and the lobe is a bit bigger.

BlueUggs · 03/12/2018 07:01

@Newsername but your children were able to verbalise that they wanted it done....fair enough.
But babies and toddlers who can't speak? No.

SnuggyBuggy · 03/12/2018 07:05

I think it's cruel, plenty of time to pierce a child's ears when they are older.

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