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Original poster

Ear piercing of babies, what do you think?

412 replies

mamadadawahwah · 01/04/2005 21:56

Sometimes i think i live in a romany gypsy camp the number of babies i see with pierced ears and jewellery dangling from their little wrists. Having never adopted the courage to get my own ears pierced, i cant imagine piercing a little baby's ears. Its brutal and so common! What gives with this practice? In my opinion, its mutilation. The dangling bracelets are a health hazard to little ones, and i fear they could break their arms if they got them tangled in their sweaters.

What gives with this?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

nutcracker · 02/04/2005 23:43

and you know what percentage of the population ???

Original poster

mamadadawahwah · 02/04/2005 23:43

Yeah, he just said something about that!

OP posts:

Pruni · 02/04/2005 23:45

Message withdrawn

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Beauty Families General parenting

BadHair · 02/04/2005 23:52

Please can a pro-piercer justify why they punched holes in their baby's ears, other than for cosmetic or so-called cultural reasons. I'm genuinely interested, as it revolts me (as you can tell from my earlier comments), and I really am struggling to understand why its done. I'm not winding you up - just want to know.

sorrel · 03/04/2005 00:07

mamadadawahwah-vile, utterly vile.

Tortington · 03/04/2005 02:19

i think wtf is the issue? is all the fuss becuse a baby could get an infection from the piercing?

mdww - i think i am correct in thinking you are making more of a statement about the fashion of certain elements of society. i know many have screamed THE BRUTALITY please how melodramatic - but mdww - you said you havent had your ears pierced - i do not suggest therefore you shouldnt have an opinion am just saying that maybe its an ill informed one with regards to the BRUTAILTY OH! THE BRUTALITY of it all. if you dont like the fashion thats quite different.

i think you are making more of a social point am i correct?

am off to research the mutilation of babies by baby bangles!!!!!!not

snafu · 03/04/2005 07:38

'My husband is a statistician. If I knew all of your economic/cultural backgrounds (those of you who pierce) i could get him to do up a graph.'

That is absolutely priceless

misdee · 03/04/2005 08:24

is this still going on?

JoolsToo · 03/04/2005 10:16

I had my ears pierced at 36 (under pressure! ) I only wear stud or very small ear-rings but I simply cannot sleep in any of them because its so uncomfortable.

How could a baby tell you it was uncomfortable? It may cry but I'll bet you'd never consider its ear-rings were hurting!

aloha · 03/04/2005 10:38

I think the snobbery argument is not very convincing - I've admitted to feeling snobby about it myself (just as some people are snobby about dummies, or logo t-shirts, or all sorts of things) - but I don't think that just because you personally don't like the look of something that's a reason to stop other people doing it. And clearly you cannot label someone a bad parent just because of one issue like this. It's not child abuse or mutilation.
However, I am (at risk of causing more offence) with Jools on the pain/discomfort argument, I'm afraid. And that's from my experience. My ears really, really hurt. And I also find they are painful/uncomfortable to sleep in. Personally I think the argument that they won't remember isn't a very convincing one either - they won't remember ANYTHING - but that doesn't mean that anything goes, surely?
Anyhow, it's not the biggest issue in the world. I'm not comfortable with it personally, but in a world full of suffering children, well-loved, cared for children with pierced ears are hardly the greatest victims.

emmatom · 03/04/2005 11:16

I didn't have anything to add to this discussion until one of the ladies mentioned the pain she has at night with her own earrings.

I then thought, yes, I have to take mine out at night as it hurts if I lie on them, even small studs, so what do those mums of babies with earrings do at night or when the child naps. Do you take them out every time?

SeaShells · 03/04/2005 11:49

Agree 100% with Aloha on this.

I personally wouldn't get my childrens ears pierced as I feel this has to be a decision they make themselves for their own reasons when they are ready.

cod · 03/04/2005 11:58

Message withdrawn

geranium · 03/04/2005 12:04

How come so many people found ear piercing painful? I had my ears pierced at 16 and it didn't hurt a bit - in fact, quite a pleasant sensation (or is that just me ) and didn't hurt afterwards. Sleeping in small studs was fine too. I don't think it is supposed to hurt when you get your ears pierced. Maybe you were unlucky with the places you went to? or had an allergic reaction?

ZolaPola · 03/04/2005 12:06

for babies? Yuck!

serenity · 03/04/2005 12:06

I think people have different levels of sensitivity. Mine hurt when they were done, but I've never had any problems sleeping in them, didn't realise until this thread that any one did!

lilsmum · 03/04/2005 12:08

cod you got me again with that effing picture grrr!!! pmsl

Pinotmum · 03/04/2005 12:08

Mine didn't hurt and I sleep in earrings, shower, swim, infact don't know I've got them in at all. This thread has given me more to think about should dd ever ask for her ears to be pierced. I was going to relent when she's 10 now it will be 16 BTW my dd is in the minority in her class being un-pierced so I've decided to sell up and move to a better area

suedonim · 03/04/2005 13:46

Haven't read all this thread but getting my ears pierced (at the age of 22) was bloomin' agony. They felt like they had swollen up to about 100 times their normal size and throbbed unendingly for ages, plus the pus that had to be cleaned away at regular intervals. I can sleep in my sleepers but not in studs, which jag into my skull. I wouldn't pierce my child's ears, they don't need any adornments as they're beautiful as they are.

whatsername · 03/04/2005 21:13

I haven't posted up until now, but I've been thinking about this all day.

I have 12 piercings altogether, 10 in ears (although I have had them pierced 13 times altogether) and 2 in my nose.

Would anyone condone piercing a baby's nose? I ask because for me, my nose piercings were far less painful than any in my ears. Each time I have had my ears pierced they have hurt like hell. The last one I did last week, admittedly in the top of my ear, and addmittedly I did it myself (although generally the ones I have done myself have been (slightly) less painful), but it swelled up hugely, and despite rarely taking pills of any description I took painkillers for 2 days because I was in constant and severe pain. I still can't sleep on it. I am an adult and chose to do this (first had ears pierced at 14).

I would never, ever inflict that on my children. Just because it didn't hurt you doesn't mean it won't hurt them, most people I know have experienced some degree of pain. Should you shoot holes through your baby as a form of discipline then there would be cries of child abuse, what's the difference? My job as a parent is to protect my child, why would I deliberately inflict unnecessary pain on them????

Who says they will even want their ears pierced when they are older. I think it's unjustifiable, and should not be allowed.

Caligula · 03/04/2005 21:44

PMSL that this thread is still going and has caused such a strong reaction.

Just bumping it up to cause trouble.

snafu · 03/04/2005 21:47

Caligula, you scamp

morocco · 03/04/2005 21:49

hi there caligula just beat me to it
it could be a regular night time thread
lets move it on some

paolosgirl · 03/04/2005 21:51

Holy Moly - I've missed a good one here!! A good heated debate to get the adrenalin flowing on a Sunday night

shalom · 04/04/2005 10:49

You think girls have pain when thier ears are pierced what would you say to a baby boy being circumcised. Basically at that age they do not feel painas much as adults....so i am told

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