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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Baby girls- ears piercing

63 replies

Zahrah5 · 05/12/2014 12:16

what is the usual practice of ears piercing for newborn girls in UK? (Im new to UK).

Do you guys mostly pierce their ears as newborns or later? Is this available in the hospital right after birth? Or where do you get it done?

My mom is planning to buy her earrings and told me that, I myself would have never even tought of that.

I am not sure if I am even liking the idea and look of newborn with earrings but before I decide would like to know what the options and opinions are.

OP posts:

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AlpacaYourThings · 05/12/2014 20:21

A friend of mine gave birth in Egypt, when she woke up after a nap she realised the nurses had pierced her DD's ears, without even asking her.

Funkytown · 05/12/2014 23:01

alpaca oh my that is truly disgusting i would be livid

sunflower49 · 05/12/2014 23:03

What funky said!How awful :(

lostinegypt · 06/12/2014 06:34

it is the norm in Egypt for all baby girls to have their ears pierced in Egypt. The do it at the hospital which is why the op may have asked if it is an option in the uk. If a baby doesn't have their ears pierced everyone assumes it is a boy. I don't agree with it but I don't think anything of it now as it is so common in Egypt.

AlpacaYourThings · 06/12/2014 08:29

Yes, she was livid. She is from the UK not Egypt so for her it wasn't a 'normal' thing for someone to do to her new born baby, especially without her consent.

Monstamio · 06/12/2014 08:38

I'm 34 and have never had my ears pierced. It's not a source of regret and nor have I ever felt any the less of a woman for it (throughout most of my teens and twenties I had waist length ringlet curly hair so I'm not exactly a tomboy either).

But if I ever did feel I was somehow missing out I could get it done pretty much there and then aged 40, 60 or 80. Why don't you leave it to your daughter to decide when she's old enough.

Rustyzilla · 06/12/2014 11:59

My nan had hers done in her 70s, prior to that she wore clip on earrings. I begged my mum to let me have mine done at 10, and she gave in just before I started secondary school. It was great, a real 'I'm a grown up' moment!

I'm in my mid-30s and can never recall a time that it was accepted in the UK for small children and babies to have their ears pierced.

I do however remember those stick on plastic gem earrings worn for discos etc! Maybe get baby some of those?

patienceisvirtuous · 06/12/2014 12:20

Just no. Why inflict unnecessary pain on your baby for no reason? Let her decide if/when she wants them piercing.

I daresay the majority of people in the UK would deem a baby's pierced ears to look unattractive, not girly.

patienceisvirtuous · 06/12/2014 12:22

Ps yes to the keepsake idea so therefore still giving a nod to your family traditions.

sunflower49 · 06/12/2014 13:12

I'm in my thirties with no ear piercings either. I don't think I'll ever want them done. Along with what Rusty and Patience say, I don't think It's the thing in the UK.

I remember now, my Mum and me being in the supermarket and I was about 7 and I was playing with a baby in a trolley seat in the queue in front of us. When she'd gone, my Mum said something unsavoury about the fact that her ears were pierced and the checkout girl agreed with her. Why I still remember that I've no idea!

Yes those plastic sticky ones! I loved them when I was little.

sunflower49 · 06/12/2014 13:13

What I said above I mean I don't think BABY ear piercings are the thing in the UK, not ear piercings on females generally.

SaraRC · 14/06/2019 17:22

Hi Zahrah5,
I do not think here you are going to find the answer you are looking for. I know there are countries where newborn ears are pierced because is a strong part of their culture, where the midwife herself or the GP would do it on the mother's request very early on. In places like Italy, Spain, (no need to go very far) it's common practice, and to be honest, I think it's safer to have a baby's ears pierced by a healthcare professional than by someone non-medically trained. As far as I know there is no law or guideline in the UK regarding this, but I recommend you asking your midwife or healthcare provider about it, they would give you objective information. I have to say I am very disappointed over the judgemental comments on this thread, I will never understand why someone feels the urge to attack/judge a person that genuinely is asking for advice. And those comparing piercing ears with mutilation... wow, they are only showing how little they know about both.

codemonkey · 14/06/2019 18:01

I think zahrah probably sorted this out five years ago...

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