Piercing your baby's ears.

[LouBerry]

So, today whilst I was walking around in WalMart, I happened to pass the jewelry department, where an employee was holding down a screaming four or five month old baby so that she could pierce it's ears.

She had already done one ear and the baby was going nuts. The poor thing was screaming and crying and flailing it's arms trying to get away from the woman.

It made me absolutely sick. So, what do you guys think? Should there be an age restriction on piercings, or should the parents be able to make the decision themselves?

[Zenos]

So, today whilst I was walking around in WalMart, I happened to pass the jewelry department, where an employee was holding down a screaming four or five month old baby so that she could pierce it's ears.

She had already done one ear and the baby was going nuts. The poor thing was screaming and crying and flailing it's arms trying to get away from the woman.

It made me absolutely sick. So, what do you guys think? Should there be an age restriction on piercings, or should the parents be able to make the decision themselves?

ummm no that should wait until the child is old enough to understand whats happening and thus can make the decision themself

[Ocelot]

i didn't get my ears pierced until i was 15, and before then i'd always wished my mom had just done it to me as a baby. i wanted them pierced ever since i was little, but was way to scared to sit through someone basically stapling my ears. when i finally worked up the courage, it wasnt that painful at all. i'll always remember how unnecessarily scared i was though, and regret that, whereas a baby would never be that scared, or be able to remember the slight pain. so i actually think its a lot smarter to pierce a child's ears as a baby, knowing that they aren't being too hurt, its all very safe for them, and that they could be much happier later.

[LouBerry]

i didn't get my ears pierced until i was 15, and before then i'd always wished my mom had just done it to me as a baby. i wanted them pierced ever since i was little, but was way to scared to sit through someone basically stapling my ears. when i finally worked up the courage, it wasnt that painful at all. i'll always remember how unnecessarily scared i was though, and regret that, whereas a baby would never be that scared, or be able to remember the slight pain. so i actually think its a lot smarter to pierce a child's ears as a baby, knowing that they aren't being too hurt, its all very safe for them, and that they could be much happier later.

I think you are completely wrong, because A) It does hurt some people, and B) I can tell you that the poor baby was terrified.

But, besides all that, what if the child grows up and didn't want their ears pierced? Sure, they could just take them out, but what right do parents have to take away their children's decisions over their own bodies? I have never gotten my ears pierced, because I don't really think it's right, and if my parents had done it for me, it would have deeply upset my growing up.

[Luminous]

Personally I always wished my parents would have pierced my ears as a baby since I wanted them from a very young age, HOWEVER I think as a parent the better decision to make is wait until the child is old enough to take care of the piercings herself. And piercings at unprofessional places such as Claire's, Walmart, etc should be illegal because it is not safe, however that is another discussion. I got my ears pierced when I was 10 (at Claire's..) and my ears were infected for 6 months and they are still sensitive, I cannot wear earrings for several days in a row without bright red ears and a lot of pain.. it's bad enough on a 10 year old, do you really want your baby to have pierced ears?

[conniption]

My parents pierced my ears when I was a baby because it's part of our culture. I wished my parents would've given me another ear piercing, as I'm a total sissy now and I tremble whenever a needle comes near me. I'm not sure I'll pierce my children's ears so young because I just can't imagine a baby with earrings (it's an awkward picture), but I don't think it's really a big deal.

[LouBerry]

My parents pierced my ears when I was a baby because it's part of our culture. I wished my parents would've given me another ear piercing, as I'm a total sissy now and I tremble whenever a needle comes near me. I'm not sure I'll pierce my children's ears so young because I just can't imagine a baby with earrings (it's an awkward picture), but I don't think it's really a big deal.

Well, here it's not a culture thing. It's something that parents do so their kids will be stylish or whatever. I don't know, maybe I'm overthinking it, but to me, it all leads back to this sick idea that children are accessories, that you can do what you wish too. But they aren't. They are people. People that deserve to be able to make those kinds of decisions themselves.

[Southside]

This is just like the circumcision debate....

Parent should be able to make a decision for themselves.

[CharlieHorse]

that's just fucked up.
But I'm not surprised that it was at a WalMart.

[conniption]

Well, here it's not a culture thing. It's something that parents do so their kids will be stylish or whatever. I don't know, maybe I'm overthinking it, but to me, it all leads back to this sick idea that children are accessories, that you can do what you wish too. But they aren't. They are people. People that deserve to be able to make those kinds of decisions themselves.

I don't think it really matters where 'here' is because ultimately it's the parents' decision. It's like that thread I had a while ago on whether it's alright to hit your children, whether you hit them or not, or pierce them or not, it's all about the parents' beliefs and the majority of the time the children turn out alright.

[LouBerry]

I don't think it really matters where 'here' is because ultimately it's the parents' decision. It's like that thread I had a while ago on whether it's alright to hit your children, whether you hit them or not, or pierce them or not, it's all about the parents' beliefs and the majority of the time the children turn out alright.

I can see that. I just don't think that it is the parents decision. I think they should wait and let the kid decide that for themselves.

[Ocelot]

I think you are completely wrong, because A) It does hurt some people, and B) I can tell you that the poor baby was terrified.

But, besides all that, what if the child grows up and didn't want their ears pierced? Sure, they could just take them out, but what right do parents have to take away their children's decisions over their own bodies? I have never gotten my ears pierced, because I don't really think it's right, and if my parents had done it for me, it would have deeply upset my growing up.

i completely respect your views on ear piercings, but if you had had your ears pierced ever since you could remember, you probably wouldn't have the same opinion on it (which then becomes a discussion of what shapes one's views, which is an entirely different topic), and like you said, if you did, you could take the earrings out and the holes would close up naturally, just like any normal wound healing.

second of all, babies are terrified of a lot of things, even if they are simple things, like loud noises, or seeing someone they don't know. babies are difficult to tell a lot about about based on fear or sadness, hell, they even cry if they've pooped themselves. generally though, a baby will have no difference in the amount of fear they have anywhere from such harmless simple things, or something like an ear piercing, because they have no understanding of the drastic differences and meanings of these situations.

i agree with others saying that it's the parent's choice in the end, which goes to say that i also think it should be absolutely allowed if desired.

[Cygnus]

Wether or not to get your ears pierced is your decision and should be treated that way.

[Jess]

It's up to the parents.

[britishboy]

I think it looks really bad

[CosmicNoodle]

Parents should not be able to do anything that could affect a child when they are older, that goes for this and circumcision. Anything body altering should be YOUR choice, not someone else's.

[Sandra Main]

I can see that. I just don't think that it is the parents decision. I think they should wait and let the kid decide that for themselves.

To me that is the same as s parent deciding
to cicuumsizeing a baby boy. The child should be able to decide
for himself in his later years.

[Stronk Serb]

It should be a child's decision when they get older.

[Twilly F. Sniper]

No, it is the child's right to pierce their ears (when they get older.)

[Cygnus]

I think it looks really bad

This thread isn't about what it looks like, it is about who's decision it should be.

[britishboy]

This thread isn't about what it looks like, it is about who's decision it should be.

well I think they seal up if left so its no problem, if circumcision is legal so can ear piercings

[LouBerry]

To me that is the same as s parent deciding
to cicuumsizeing a baby boy. The child should be able to decide
for himself in his later years.

I don't think that's right either. But that gets into religion and all kinds of other things.

[Fanta_Lover44]

I think body changing choice should be up to the person who is getting that changed, I also believe there should be a certain age, that way you have got time to think it though.

[Name1ess]

This should never happen. I'd say put an age restriction of say, 13, on it. To me this is claiming ownership of another life in a painful and rather pointless way. The argument from the parent would probably be "it looks cute" and "it's my child". Both of these are abhorrent reasons. I think the reasoning behind why those are terrible is apparent. I think this can make a curious connection to male circumcision. Before a baby is even allowed to decide a part of him is cut off and tossed away rather painfully. That part of him had tons of nerve endings to make sex more enjoyable. I chose the age of 13 for ear piercing because it is at that age that your mind really starts to mature.

[Seemyheart]

I had my ears pierced as a baby, it as natural in my birth country. but my adoptive parents took them out so my ears closed up, and now I get faint when I see blood, let alone a needle of any sort. I couldn't imagine doing that to my baby, I wouldn't have the heart for that. especially if they were crying and screaming.

[whatsgoinon53]

So, today whilst I was walking around in WalMart, I happened to pass the jewelry department, where an employee was holding down a screaming four or five month old baby so that she could pierce it's ears.

She had already done one ear and the baby was going nuts. The poor thing was screaming and crying and flailing it's arms trying to get away from the woman.

It made me absolutely sick. So, what do you guys think? Should there be an age restriction on piercings, or should the parents be able to make the decision themselves?

Personally, I wouldn't let my daughter - if I had one - to get her ears pierced until she's at least 10 years old.

I honestly think that employee should be sued. A five month old does not need their ears pierced! That could even create problems for their ears as they grow up! Insane!

[britishboy]

it's fine but really wierd

[Pseudogeek]

I didn't even WANT my ears pierced until I was 12 or 13, so I would have hated having my ears pierced without my consent.

[sqishy]

So, today whilst I was walking around in WalMart, I happened to pass the jewelry department, where an employee was holding down a screaming four or five month old baby so that she could pierce it's ears.

She had already done one ear and the baby was going nuts. The poor thing was screaming and crying and flailing it's arms trying to get away from the woman.

It made me absolutely sick. So, what do you guys think? Should there be an age restriction on piercings, or should the parents be able to make the decision themselves?

I think the person should have a choice in whether they want to get piercings or not.

[darthearth]

So, today whilst I was walking around in WalMart, I happened to pass the jewelry department, where an employee was holding down a screaming four or five month old baby so that she could pierce it's ears.

She had already done one ear and the baby was going nuts. The poor thing was screaming and crying and flailing it's arms trying to get away from the woman.

It made me absolutely sick. So, what do you guys think? Should there be an age restriction on piercings, or should the parents be able to make the decision themselves?

I don't think the parent should be allowed to pierce a baby's ears. But I also don't understand, doesn't the piercing go away unless you put something in it? If so, what's the point unless you are actually putting earrings in your child? Age restriction? No, I don't think there should be an age restriction. As long as the child is cognizant and requests it themselves I see no problem. Contrary to what I hear from many about children not able to make decisions, I feel like I could make decisions when I was younger.

[Tarannosaurus]

So, today whilst I was walking around in WalMart, I happened to pass the jewelry department, where an employee was holding down a screaming four or five month old baby so that she could pierce it's ears.

She had already done one ear and the baby was going nuts. The poor thing was screaming and crying and flailing it's arms trying to get away from the woman.

It made me absolutely sick. So, what do you guys think? Should there be an age restriction on piercings, or should the parents be able to make the decision themselves?

I know someone whose grandmother recently pierced her baby sister's ears by herself at her Christening. The poor child was bawling but the grandmother was just like "it's our culture" (she's a traveler). It makes me so angry that someone would cause a baby pain for no purpose other than aesthetics.

[Quick_Sylver]

If I recall correctly, Walmart uses piercing guns. NONONONONONONO. Even as an older individual, AVOID PIERCING GUNS. Piercing guns not only -pierce- the tissue, it -crushes- the surrounding area, causing bruising, and often extreme scar tissue around the earlobe. I don't care how old you are. Do not get piercings done with a gun.

Ahem...

Back to the actual topic at hand.. Do not pierce baby's ears. Not your right. You know when a good time to start asking your kid that? 6-7. If they don't want to then, that's their choice, but you let them know they can later in life too. Be open and discuss things with kids. But really? a baby? For fuck sakes.