Woman Complains That Relatives Pierced Her Daughter’s Ears without Permission

A Reddit mother banned her entire family from seeing her children after she discovered that her relatives had pierced her infant daughter's ears behind her back.

To pierce or not to pierce a toddler’s ears? No matter who you ask, it seems like almost everyone has a strong opinion on the matter. One Reddit parent wasn't sure whether to go through with it, so she decided to wait until her daughter was old enough to decide for herself. However, things changed one day when she left her in the care of her relatives.

Some people find it common. Others say it’s inhuman, while in some cultures, it’s the typical norm. Whether you are for or against getting your baby’s ears pierced, it’s certainly a divisive issue. When one Redditor saw what her in-laws had done to her baby without her consent, she banned them from seeing her family again.

RELATIVES PIERCE INFANT'S EARS BEHIND HER MOTHER'S BACK.

The mom of three was expecting her fourth baby. Though everything seemed fine, she always had a rocky relationship with her in-laws. Thankfully, she married her partner and endured so much friction from them. She trusted her in-laws would take care of her kids while she went shopping with her husband. But then things took an unexpected turn.

Baby ear piercing has been a tradition across several cultures. Still, various organizations recommend that parents wait until their kids are old enough to decide for themselves.

On their way back, the mom called her in-laws to let them know they were arriving. She felt uneasy when they told her they’d gone shopping with the kids. Moments later, she heard her 17-months-old daughter bawl in the background. However, her mother-in-law calmed the Redditor saying it was because they refused to get her ice cream.

The biggest shock awaited the mother when she reached home. The in-laws arrived a bit late, and the Redditor couldn’t figure out why her daughter’s eyes were red. The Redditor was infuriated. In her post, she wrote:

“I got really mad and yelled at my in-laws. They didn’t apologize or anything like that. My husband tried to diffuse the situation, and eventually, he convinced me it’s better to drive home and cool off.”

The Redditor explained that everyone she had talked had their own opinions about her situation, and she wasn't sure what to do. Several people from the online community assured the mother that she had done the right thing by banning her family. One person left a comment saying:

“You made it clear that you didn’t want her ears pierced, and they did it anyway behind your back. You are well within your right to break off contact from these people.”

The next day, she called her in-laws to apologize and told them what they did was still intolerable. Her in-laws stood their ground and believed what they did was right. They blamed the Redditor for being so irrational and enraged her. Unable to take it further, she demanded that they never reach out for her kids and hung up.

A PAINFUL PROCESS WITH UNEXPECTED CONSEQUENCES

Although no one has the right to judge another parent’s choice, it’s hard to keep the shaming away with so many opinions out there. And that brings us to the painful problem of ear pulling. Aren’t parents afraid that their infants are going to reach up to itch the fresh little wounds on their earlobes, only to pull out the earrings and hurt themselves accidentally?

Maybe one dad felt it wasn’t the right time to pierce his daughter’s ears. But his wife badly wanted to get it done. The couple had a two-month-old daughter who seemed perfect in every way. When he returned home from work, his wife suggested getting their daughter’s ears pierced. However, the dad dismissed the idea.

He recalled how his baby sister got her ears pierced when he was a kid. He couldn’t imagine his little girl go through the painful procedure. His wife insisted that their baby girl look good in earrings, which was also based on her cultural norms. He explained on Reddit:

“I would rather see her get it done at the age of 7 or 10 where she can make the choice and understand the risks for herself.”

Though he wasn’t totally against his daughter getting her ears pierced, the Redditor wanted things done at the right time and age. Several people from the online community advised him, supporting his decision. One person then suggested that there's no risk if she waited and pierced them later, but there is one if she does it now and something goes wrong.

IT'S STRICTLY TRADITION

Baby ear piercing has been a tradition across several cultures. Still, various organizations recommend that parents wait until their kids are old enough to decide for themselves. However, when cultural values brush with professional consent, it can be pretty hard to navigate.

Is there a right time to have your baby’s ears pierced? To be frank, it depends. Some physicians recommend until your infant has received two tetanus shots, which is around four months old. However, some organizations recommend waiting until the kid is old enough to manage piercing aftercare independently.

So, should you pierce your baby’s ears? Though there’s no specific answer here, the decision is often influenced by the cultural norms and traditions of the family.

For instance, the Redditor’s in-laws assumed that their granddaughter was the right age to pierce her ears. In the other person’s case, his wife was tied to cultural formalities regarding their baby’s ear piercing while he opposed the idea.

Honestly, the decision is pretty tricky to navigate as different people come up with unique perspectives. Do you think children should get their ears pierced at a very young age so that they don’t have to go through the painful process in the later years? Let us know what you think. Your comments are much appreciated! Thanks for reading!