Ear Piercing in Babies

[plowter]

If parents get their babies ears pierced is this child abuse?

[B00]

I personally think so yes- I think it's revolting. Why would anyone want to inflict pain on their babies, albeit only for a few seconds.

[Abdulmajid]

Can the same not be said of circumcision?

On the level of assault, an ear piercing would be ABH but a circumcision would be GBH with intent.

But to answer your question, no. It is just a statement from the poorer classes re how beautiful Chardonay-Chelsea is.

[toby99]

This is something I feel strongly about and YES I believe it is abuse, but it is a difficult area as in some cases it is to do with religion/culture.

[~max~]

I think it's absolutely horrible and tacky! Where I live you see loads of poor babies with big gold dangling earrings..Yuk, poor things! First, it's not healthy (risk of infection, pain, allergies, they can get caught while playing....) and second it looks absolutely awful. But then, it usually goes with the outfits these poor mites are made to wear...:O(
As for calling it child abuse, yes I think it can be a form of it. Although it would have to be coupled with actual everyday mistreating of the child to be considered a criminal offence. In my opinion anyway!

[~max~]

Just to add to my post..One of my good friends works as a social worker, specialised in children. And believe me, if ear piercings were the worst things he had to see, he'd be a happy man!

[cruella]

Parents ought to wait until children are adults and be able to choose for themselves

[Loosehead]

yep, disgusting, some people are just too dam stupid to have kids.

[funnygirl]

I must say I don't agree.

My friend did her baby girl and the ear turned septic, the baby was in a lot of pain and a violently red ear!! she was only 3 months.

My mum never did my ears and I was 16 when I finally got them pierced.

[tracymort]

I can't stand pierced ears in babies. It shouldn't be allowed to be done at all.
As for circumcision that is clearly abuse, it's disgusting and risking a child's health for no reason.

[unrulyjulie]

I don't like to see it and think it is an unnecessary risk in little children.
I saw a kid today in a buggy, must have been less than one and the earring were fairly big, thick hoops. How dangerous could that potentially be? For one, she could rip em out, for another she could rip em out and swallow the bloomin things. Apart from all that, i just think it makes children look "grown up" Ultimately, earrings are for adults and should remain that way.

[Poison-Ivy]

I had my daughters ears pierced when she was six months old and she only wears little studs not huge great danglys. She is know 10 and most of her friends now seem to be getting theirs done, so whats the difference really.

I was informed the younger they are the better as they don;t fiddle around with them and therefore not prone to getting infected.

Absolute rubbish that this is child abuse! and an insult I would say to any one that has had - unfortunately- to suffer abuse in their life!

[helliebobs]

I don't know if I'd go so far as to call it child abuse but I do hate seeing it on baby girls, I think it looks horrendous I don't see the point in it.

[toby99]

Sorry, shooting a needle through the ear of a baby/child without their informed consent is abuse, let alone all the known risks, what about the pain - why would anyone want to inflict pain on a baby for vanity purposes - I remember being beside myself when I had to take my daughter fof her baby vaccines.

[tiggerblue10]

My ears were pierced when I was a baby so I don't remember a thing. This was in Cyprus in 1971. Most baby girls had them pierced and it was the norm.

Personally, I would leave it up to the child to decide when they are old enough.

[EngTeach]

My niece has her ears pierced. Her stupid, idiotic, now absent father, took her to get them done without telling my sister. She was livid. She was not so annoyed about the piercing per se, but that he did not consult her AND took her to some ghetto piercing place and not the doctor. I too think it seems be a lower class thing. Never thought about it as abuse though. I can't stand the ones who put a string through the ear because they can't afford an earring!!!

[Panic Button]

The piercer should be charged with assault.

The child is too young to make an informed decision or give consent before their body is defiled.

[Ice.Maiden]

Oh LOL ET - I've never seen anyone with string through their ears!!! REALLY????
And no - it's a horrible thing to do. If the child wishes to have it done when he or she is older, then fair enough, but I think it looks "chavvy" on little ones. In fact, any adornment on a very young child looks nasty, unless it's for cultural or religious reasons.

[EngTeach]

YES, Ice, I have seen this numerous times. It skeeves me out!!! Blech!! (And I want to know who you snogged!)

[tiggerblue10]

Some of my Asian friends at school had bits of thread through their ears. Not quite sure of the reasoning behind it though. Who were you snogging Icey??? Pray tell!!!

[Goodsoulette]

I hate it and those who know me, know that I love piercings. It's disgusting behaviour.

My piercer does it on young babies. He doesn't like doing it but he is an extraordinarily good piercer, he does both ears at once and only does it because he knows they will go somewhere else (eg some kid working in Clares). Guidelines for piercings need to be looked at. I think any body piercing shouldn't be allowed until you are 16, genital piercings at 18. Basic ear piercing could maybe allowed at 10.

How do these mum's know that their children will want pierced ears when they grow up? I have friends that have no holes in their ears.