Ear piercing on babies

Jane Thank you for the link, I have signed the petition!

I had mine pierced when I was in my mid 40s and I do wear earings.

I was 21 when I had my ears pierced - I had been married for 3 years and Alf paid for me to have them done as a birthday present. My Mum was appalled - she thought it was 'common'. My daughter asked to have her ears pierced but I made her wait until she was 12 and able to look after them properly. She has just allowed my granddaughters to have their ears pierced, the eldest is almost 9 and the youngest 6. We have had issues with their ears getting infected but they have healed nicely now. I don't like to see babies with pierced ears and I did say to my daughter that I thought my granddaughters were too young to look after their ears properly but, at the end of the day, they are her children and not mine.

My ears are still intact at 73. My mother had pierced ears , then let them heal up. Then she asked me to poke around and make the hole again. I refused as I can't bear the little floppy bits of ears. Many hears ago I used to have a dream about ear piercing being done with the old fashioned bus conductor's ticket punch. All the bits were collected in the bit where bits from the tickets went! Our daughter begged for hers done when she was 16.

Years ago!! Hearing clinic tomorrow

I wouldn't be able to bite my tongue over this, I'd have to show my disapproval although it wouldn't do any good, it's the mother's choice.
After it's done I'd shudder and turn away and say, "Oh, her poor little ears! I can't bear to see them spoiled"
I think most schools don't allow earrings.

They have to allow studs, apricot.

I have never understood the need to have ears pierced at all - even in adults.

lefthanded if you do want to wear earrings, the clip on type can be painful, whereas with pierced ears the pain disappears after a couple of weeks (in theory)

I don't approve of babies or young children having their ears pierced, for some of the reasons already mentioned. However, in some cultures it is a very common practice for young children to have their ears pierced and it doesn't seem to have done them much harm. It is not in the same realm as FGM or circumcision. FGM is illegal but circumcision is not. That, to my mind, deserves more attention than ear piercing.

I would probably say I thought it was not a good idea because of the risk of an ear being infected or torn but at the end of the day it is not illegal and I don't think it's worth causing a family rift.

My mum thought, and still thinks, pierced ears are "common", a view once typical of the aspiring middle classes. It wasn't until I went abroad in 1986 and my husband's aunt bought me some lovely - and very expensive - stud pearl earrings that I got my ears pierced and have never regretted it.

Oh dear! I don't envy you. It's so very difficult when we have such conflicting views with the DC's regards to their own DC. I agree with Rosesarered It's not child abuse, albeit common and unnecessary, however, unfortunately you don't have a say so what can you do other than express an opinion if asked.

Why would anyone want to spoil their baby's delicate little ears? Why would anyone wish to cause unnecessary pain to their baby?

I know someone who has been on several hospital visits with her 13 year daughter because of problems following ear piercing when she was younger. I'm not sure how common this problem is, but the 13 year old is soon to be admitted for corrective surgery and splinting for both ears. As her hormones have started to flood in, this has had an effect on the cartilage in her ears and there has been a spurt of uneven and lumpy growth so that the ears have started to curl and become painful. She is to have the lumpy, deformed parts cut off and will need to wear splints on her ears for some time to stop the same thing happening again.

I once spoke to someone who had had a problem with her ear-piercing and her ears looked as though a rabbit had been nibbling at them - gross!

When my daughters requested ear piercing, hair dyeing or any other such thing I told them that when they were 18 and an adult they could do whatever they liked to their own bodies as it would be their decision and not mine. It's called taking responsibility for your own actions. Also, let's you off the hook when it all goes pear-shaped.

I like my earings I don't wear much other jewellery. As I said a bit back I was in my 40's before I had them done. They were done at a local beauty salon and I never had any trouble infections etc at all with them. I seem to have been very lucky.

I don't think many daughters or sons would accept your response without a fight these days, Devorgilla

Sometimes a compromise is best, e.g. 'wait until you're 14 or whatever and then we'll go to a reputable establishment.' You wouldn't want to risk them having a friend pierce their ears with a sewing needle sterilised by an open flame, would you?

Teenagers having pierced ears is not the first step on the road to Hell, neither is hair dye.Compromise is the name of the game.

I let my enthusiastic 9 year old have hers done when mine were. Mine healed fairly soon, hers wept for months. I certainly think I made a mistake although we both still wear earrings many years later.

I mentioned in an earlier post that I didn't approve of babies having their ears pierced.

However, I must admit that once 18 I had my own ears pierced and have never regretted doing so I've worn earrings daily for nigh on 50 years, love earrings and each day choose which earrings go with what I'm wearing even if I'm not leaving the house that day.. Anything from simple pearl studs or gold sleepers...to gorgeous long drops.

At 18 I also started colouring my hair...

I too think it looks common on babies. Ex-DH told DD she might as well put a ring through her nose like a bull! She eventually persuaded him when she was 13. In our local adult netball league even stud earrings have to be removed when playing due to the risk of injury.

I hate the thought of it and would raise hell if my DD were to consider it for DGD.

Some arguments are worth it so that they can be old enough to weigh up for themselves whether it is what they want or not and take personal responsibility for their actions. It can teach them to think carefully about even more important issues before following the trend. You do, of course, have to explain why you prefer them to wait rather than issue a blanket 'no'. None of my daughters went on to have their ears pierced and that was their choice as an adult which I respect.
I wasn't aware I had implied getting your ears pierced by whatever means or hair dyed was the first step on the road to hell. Interesting interpretation.

When DGD was about 10, she persuaded her mum to take her to have her ears pierced. However, some months later, she decided she didn't like it after all and allowed the holes to close. This year, aged 12 (13 next week) she has had it done again and has very good taste in earrings - nothing too flashy.

Many years ago my teenage daughter nagged to get her ears pierced, and threatened to go ahead without my permission. I hate the practice and told her that if she did so I would lead an assembly at her school on self abuse! It worked, but in her twenties we were in a department store and she decided to get it done in the beauty salon. I waited outside; ten minutes later my ashen-faced daughter staggered out almost fainting, and collapsed onto a bed conveniently placed in the linen department. A kindly assistant ushered us to the stairwell and opened a window, which revived her. Later, I had no sympathy when she complained about her sore ears, as she adjusted to the " sleepers". Now I feel faintly envious when I see women wearing stylish earrings, but I am too cowardly and ungroomed to have my ears pierced. I still think it is child abuse to pierce a baby's ears.

are nurseries happy to accept little ones with pierced ears? #justasking