Should piercing kids' ears be banned?
Thousands of UK parents have signed a petition to ban piercing the ears of babies and children – and to put into law a minimum age restriction for piercings.
The petition, created by mother Susan Ingram on activist site 38 Degrees, has had close on 40 000 signatures so far.
Susan writes:
“It is a form of child cruelty. Severe pain and fear is inflicted upon infants unnecessarily. It serves no purpose other than to satisfy the parent's vanity. Other forms of physically harming children are illegal - this should be no different.”
A small person with pierced ears is not my best, but I get that it is a personal choice – and that it is sometimes done for cultural reasons.
I only had my ears pierced when I was 16.
I can still remember the smell of the surgical spirits and that sharp quick pain.
Going as far as saying it is child cruelty is a tad melodramatic though, wouldn't you say?
What are your thoughts on children with pierced ears - and would you sign a petition to ban it?
Watch a video clip of baby Halle getting her ears pierced below.