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Should ear-piercing be banned for babies?

There is a petition which has already been signed by over 36,000 people, asking the Children’s Minister, Edward Timpson, to set a minimum age requirement for the ear piercing of babies and toddlers.


The view is that ear piercing in babies and toddlers is a form of child cruelty and the severe pain inflicted upon infants is unnecessary. “It serves no purpose other than to satisfy the parent’s vanity. Other forms of physically harming children are illegal – this should be no different.”


Supporters have left comments calling childhood ear piercing abusive, vain and unnecessary.


What are your views? How would you feel if your baby grand-daughter had her ears pierced? Is it cute or cruel? Do you think there should be a minimum age? Should exceptions be made for different cultural beliefs?


https://www.silversurfers.com/speakers-corner/ear-piercing-banned-babies/


Created By on 23/06/2015

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Yogafan
2nd Feb 2019 19:49:39
1
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Your babies body does not belong to you.Its not up to you (The parent)what you do with it.Its up to your child.Your child can and should decide for themselves what they do with their bodies when they are old enough.
Christiana
30th Jul 2018 13:07:28 (Last activity: 31st Jul 2018 14:05:10)
-1
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Are these the same people that moan about tattoos -
Response from jeanmark made on 31st Jul 2018 14:05:10
No Christiana, it is more likely the same people that believe a baby should not be put through the distress of a cosmetic procedure they have no control over.
Christiana
28th Jul 2018 08:21:26 (Last activity: 30th Jul 2018 12:53:06)
0
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No I've got 7 piercings ....?
Response from jeanmark made on 28th Jul 2018 15:39:02
Did you have all seven piercings whilst a baby.....?
Response from jeanmark made on 30th Jul 2018 12:53:06
Christiana, I'm afraid I still believe they should not be performed on a baby. At that young age they serve no purpose other than possibly for the mothers benefit. Once a child is old enough to understand, then I have no problem but only if they truly understand why they are having it done.
ecarg
28th Jul 2018 18:12:07
0
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Definately not under five thereafter a joint division if and when the child requests having pierced ears.

Personally I was sixty having been given a beautifull pair of earings as part of a set of jewellery set .I 'm glad I did but as with most things personal choice is paramount and informed decision making abilities will vary from child to child.
Christiana
28th Jul 2018 16:21:23
0
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Fruitcake13
19th Aug 2016 19:30:38
3
Thanks for voting!
Yes, it should be banned for babies and toddlers, as they have no choice in the matter. There should definitely be a minimum age, I would suggest maybe 14, and it should be the teenager's decision, not their parent's.
Pussk2
25th Feb 2016 13:32:27 (Last activity: 19th Aug 2016 17:38:17)
4
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I thank it should not be permitted for children under 16. I made my girls wait despite pleading with me. I told them they could decide for themselves once they were 16 and pay for the piercing themselves. My son also chose a piercing but I notice that these days it has gone.
Response from Pussk2 made on 19th Aug 2016 17:38:17
Totally agree.
elkiton
16th Oct 2015 15:04:28 (Last activity: 19th Aug 2016 14:45:41)
-7
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No, it certainly should not be banned....All 4 of my girls had their ears pierced as babies and all of them now thank me for this...I mean, who in this day and age wears clip on earrings ? As usual it's a fuss about nothing by people with too much time on their hands...better they direct the words "abuse / Mutilation" to the barbaric practices of FGM carried out in the UK by certain ethnic minorities, but then they would probably think this is being racist !.
Response from jeanmark made on 19th Aug 2016 14:45:41
No, they wouldn't think banning FGM was racist as it is against the law in this country and a doctor performing such mutilation can face prosecution. I don't support ear pricing for babies but I would never compared it to FGM, have you ever seen the result of such a barbaric practice?
Kookaburra
19th Aug 2016 13:23:46
1
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Interesting reading the comments here. Personally I think children should wait until they are old enough to decide for themselves. Age depends on the maturity of the child. I think our daughter was about 14 when she had her ears pierced. Now in her 40s I think the holes have healed over and their is no sign of her children having their ears done.
patsyann
15th Apr 2016 00:02:41
3
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I think ear piercing for babies is cruel. The parent obviously thinks more of how they think the baby would look "cute" rather than how painful it would be for them. How can a loving parent inflict any sort of pain on a young child?
ambergirl
16th Mar 2016 23:48:53
1
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Ear piercing is a personal choice and babies and very young children are being given no choice maybe it is better to wait until the child is older and requests for it as not everyone wants this done.
zim
14th Jan 2016 01:55:17
2
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Definatly should be banned it is child abuse and they don't have a choice, it also looks chavy in my opinion
celtwitch
20th Nov 2015 14:37:07
1
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Ear piercing should not be allowed for babies or under 5's.
Dullahan78
28th Oct 2015 21:16:24
0
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These people that cover themselves with studs in their eyebrows and lips should receive psychiatric treatment. Why not go the whole hog and have a bolt through their necks
cwtchy grandma
14th Aug 2015 09:45:40
5
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Definitely think it should be banned . It's a form if child abuse !
The child has no say in the matter , why inflict unnecessary pain and discomfort on them and it could be dangerous if they swallowed one .

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