St. Petersburg, FL - Should it be illegal to pierce your baby's ears? A petition is circulating in the United Kingdom demanding it be banned as child cruelty and that a minimum legal age be set.
Ear-piercing, even on infants, is common and a tradition in many cultures. Valentina Benoit says her mother pierced her ears when she was 3-months-old and she plans to get her 2-month-old daughter's ears pierced next month. "It's like a normal thing from for where I come from and natural thing make her look girly. It's a girl thing."
According to the online petition now circulating ear-piercing should be considered child cruelty in the United Kingdom. The new mom says it is not. "It's not child abuse. It doesn't. It just hurts a little bit. It's like a little pinch, like a vaccine," she said.
Mikey Wells agrees. He is with Atomic Tattoos in Ybor City and he should know. He pierces children as young as 4-months-old. "Got a lot of moms and dads bringing their children and for it so I think it's fine. Literally everyone that sits in this chair is worried about the pain factor but if you've ever stubbed your toe that's worse than any piercing you're going to get in this chair," said Wells.
Dr. Rachel Dawkins is a pediatrician at All Children's Hospital. She says while infants do feel pain, the purely cosmetic procedure is common. She says if it's done by a professional and the ears are kept clean then it's generally safe. "The risks are infection or sometimes a keloid or a small nodule forming where the ear was pierced," said Dawkins.
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She says use alcohol to keep the ear lobes clean and use quality jewelry with 14 or 24 karat posts.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents wait until a child can care for their own ears.
