Ear piercing can be a contentious subject among families. While sometimes it’s the kids begging to get their ears pierced, other times it’s the parents who decide to get the piercing done while their child is still an infant.
Mum Rebekah Musson has defended the choice of a parent to get their child’s ears pierced at a young age, after a video of a baby crying while getting their ears pierced circulated online.
The alarming video shows the baby wailing loudly in distress after having the piercing done, as her mum attempts to soothe her with a dummy.
Concerned parents criticised the mother for getting a cosmetic procedure done at such a young age. “She’s obviously more bothered about her child being a fashion accessory,” one wrote.
Rebekah said that after hearing comments comparing ear piercing to “child abuse”, she wanted to share her experience. She had daughter Maddison’s ears pierced at just four months old.
The 23-year-old mum-of-two says her daughter Maddison, who is now two, loves her earrings, and she doesn’t regret having her ears pierced.
Rebekah from Hull, told The Hull Daily Mail: "Did she cry? Yes, for a split second. Do I regret it? No. She didn't cry like the baby in the video. That was a bit extreme."
She claims it’s less traumatic for a child to get their ears pierced at a young age: "My daughter loves her earrings and she sees herself as Batman with pretty ears. It's much easier to get them done as a baby than when they're older. Fact.
"She looks beautiful in her earrings, and she loves to change her earrings when Mummy does and wears all different ones.
"She's now two and has her own little jewellery box like Mummy with lots of earrings in."
She points out that some parents opt to have more painful cosmetic procedures carried out on their children.
"How many parents force children to go through painful cosmetic surgery on the NHS for vanity reasons? Is that child abuse too?" she said.
"Port wine birthmarks mostly cause no problems, but parents choose to put children through painful laser surgery for vanity reasons.
"Ears pinned back, another unneeded surgery for vanity. If you declare vanity as child abuse, at least roll it across the board."
However, not all parents were convinced. One woman wrote on Facebook: “I am qualified to pierce ears, but I would never pierce a child under five. The lobes are more delicate and prone to tearing. I have had mothers bring babies in for piercing and I always turn them away. The laws need changing,” she concluded.
What do you think, mums? We would love to hear your opinions.
