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Ear piercing: Parents defend choice to have children pierced as infants

(Photo via Thinkstock)
(Photo via Thinkstock)

The topic of piercing babies’ ears has always been a controversial one. While some believe it’s a form of child cruelty, others simply like the look and don’t see the harm. So, how young is too young when it comes to ear piercing?

The debate has flared up recently in light of a petition quickly gaining traction in the U.K. Currently at over 41,000 signatures, the goal of the petition on 38 Degrees is to ban ear piercing for babies and toddlers and introduce a minimum legal age requirement. It suggests that “severe pain and fear is inflicted upon infants” during the piercing process.

Ashley Gorr, mother of one-year-old Brooklyn, had her daughter’s ears pierced at five months old.

“I knew for sure I wanted to get hers done when she was young. I had mine done young and it’s what I’ve always known,” said Gorr.

Even though parents and piercers alike claim that the pain is momentary for little ones, Gorr used freezing patches to numb her daughter’s earlobes before piercings. “She didn’t even flinch while getting pierced,” said Gorr.

There are two main avenues when looking into getting a piercing: stores that offer the service in malls, like, Claire's, and piercing and tattoo parlours.

Claire’s stores in Canada will pierce babies’ ears after their two-month vaccinations, but babies must have proof of vaccinations and be accompanied by their parents with photo identification. They use automatic piercing guns and pre-sterilized, single-use ear piercing earrings that are packaged in sealed containers.

Typically, though, tattoo and piercing parlours will not pierce babies. Malefic Tattoos in Mississauga, Ont., for example, has an age minimum of 14 for ear lobe piercings while many other shops will only pierce people 16 to 19 years of age, minimum.

No federal or provincial law on age

Much like in the U.K. currently, Canada does not have federal laws in place when it comes to age limits for piercings. Provincial guidelines under the Ministry of Health offer information on infection prevention and best practices but the age minimum is left up to the individual operator’s judgment.

In the Ontario Infection Prevention and Control Best Practices for Personal Services Settings, for example, the focus is on the sterilization and proper handling of ear lobe piercing equipment. The British Columbia Guidelines for Body Modification recommend that operators ensure that for minors, they receive “an in-person signature from a parent or guardian verifying that the parent/guardian is aware that the minor will be undergoing the procedure” – but no hard limit in regards to age.

Based on the absence of age specifications in provincial guidelines (not to mention an overall lack of adults claiming to have been traumatized by their babyhood piercings), one could argue that the pain is not worthy of being called “child abuse”.

Gorr says if ear piercing is being deemd child cruelty, it shouldn't be the only act on trial.

“If piercings are considered cruel because they’re without the child’s consent, circumcision should also be looked at,” Gorr said. “My daughter can take out her earrings when she is older if she chooses against them but you’re not going to reverse a circumcision.”

Deanne Campbell-Schell had a different experience when she let her daughter decide for herself, at three years of age, that she wanted pierced ears.

After the first piercing she screamed and didn't want the second one done,” said Campbell-Schell. She further explains that eventually her daughter calmed down enough for ear number two, but waited another three years before removing the earrings because she was so scared it would hurt all over again.

She now says she doesn't remember it actually being painful, just the fear of it being painful,” said Campbell-Schell. “So I guess if we'd done it when she was a baby she wouldn't even have that memory.”

But pain is only a small piece of the puzzle. The concern for some is that the child should be able to make his or her own decisions later in life when it comes to body modification.

Despite her daughter’s negative memory, Campbell-Schell says she wouldn’t change a thing about letting her daughter choose to get pierced at three years old.

“I never wanted to make decisions for my children or push them to fit a mould,” she said. “It’s much more important to me that they discover who they are in their own way and never be afraid to be different.”

Jessica Lyon, mother of three girls who all were pierced before the age of one, adds that parents have the right to make choices for their babies, one way or another.

“It’s like baptism,” said Lyon. “Some people want to get their babies baptized and others leave the choice up to the child for when they’re older and understand it more. It’s just preference.”

As long as infants are unable to speak for themselves in the matter, it’s clear that the debate will carry on – as will the accessorized babies.