A petition to ban ear piercing for babies has called for a legal age limit on the practice to protect young children from “severe pain and fear”.
The petition, launched by UK woman Susan Ingram, blasts “vain” parents who choose to pierce their children’s ears and urges people to pledge their support to stamping out underage ear piercing entirely.
“It is a form of child cruelty,” Ms Ingram writes. “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.
Since its launch last week, the petition has gained more than 25,000 signatures.
Baby ear piercing is common practice in many cultures. Most Latino, Indian, Middle Eastern and African American babies have their ears pierced before they are 12 weeks old.
Despite the practice’s international popularity, some celebrities, including Gisele Bundchen and Kim Kardashian, have been criticised in recent months for piercing their baby daughters’ ears.
