The controversy surrounding piercing baby’s ears was reignited with a recent TikTok clip.
UK-based Adhum Price, who works as a cosmetic body piercer in Birmingham, posted the video earlier this month, recreating an exchange he had with a father, who asked him to pierce his daughter’s ears, according to the Independent.
“An actual conversation I’ve had with a customer just this week,” he wrote over the TikTok clip,
After Price inquired about the baby’s age, the customer replied that their baby is 2 weeks old.
Writing on his TikTok video that he had to focus “heavily on not letting my inside voice pop off, exuding expletives I never realized I knew,” Price told the dad sorry, he doesn’t pierce the ears of children that young.
The father then asked what was the minimum age. Price told him that it was usually around 8 years old, but they like to wait until the child can give consent.
“You kind of have to have a conversation with your kid and find out whether it’s something they want to go through with — whether they’re comfortable with them having them pierced and whether, you know, they’re alright with us using needles for this procedure,” the piercer explained.
Although the dad insisted his baby was “fine” with needles, Price maintained the infant was too young and he’d have to bring her back when she was older.
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Many commenters applauded Price for how he handled to situation.
“Drives me crazy that some parents feel they have ownership of their child’s body. Thanks for being a voice of reason!” a user commented.
“Thank you soooooo much for not agreeing to this,” another person wrote.
Although many were appalled by the idea of piercing a baby’s ears — some expressing worry over the health risks — others pointed out it can be cultural.
“For me it’s a cultural thing. And when you’re older you can decide to get more piercings or let the hole close,” one user wrote.
“I see both sides. I know families who do it in their culture (I’m a nanny) but I can totally understand where you’re coming from,” another pointed out.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says there’s little risk to the baby’s health if the piercing is done carefully, and aftercare is vital. The AAP does recommend waiting until a child is old enough to take care of the piercing themselves and to watch out for any complications, like infection.
