Hilary Duff has found herself at the centre of fierce debate after making the decision to pierce her baby daughter’s ears.
The US actress, 31, posted a ‘story’ on Instagram showing little Banks, eight months, with tiny studs. The post had the caption: “She has enough hair for a pony. Oh, and yes we pierced her ears.”
But it was met with a barrage of criticism, with some commenters comparing the move to “child abuse”.
“Causing unnecessary pain that isn’t for medical reasons done by a fully qualified medical professional is child abuse,” one person wrote.
“The risks are unreal and that throbbing pain in her ears no matter how happy and looked after your child is just isn’t justified in my eyes,” someone else added.
But Duff’s supporters hit back at the suggestion the star had done anything wrong.
“Baby is fine and ear piercing is so far from abuse,” one commenter said. “But hey, let’s promote mom-shaming and online bullying from all the keyboard warriors. Go find something else to do. It does not affect your life, MOVE ON!”
Others pointed out that ear-piercing can be a cultural choice. “I had my daughter’s ears pierced at five months,” one mum said. “I’m Italian, that’s how we roll.”
Another said: “Indians culturally do this as well. Karnavedha is the practice of the piercing of the ears and it is one of the important Hindu Samskaras or spiritual ceremony performed for a child.”
Some said they had experienced the same when they were young – and had no regrets. “I am 51-years-old and my sister and I had our ears pierced when we were babies as well and done with a needle,” a Duff supporter wrote. “I’m not traumatised and I don’t remember it because I was a baby. People need to stop judging what other people do, and look at what goes on in their own home.”
And one mother pointed out that if Banks doesn’t like them when she’s older, she can simply take them out.
“Got my bub’s ears pierced at three-months-old,” she wrote. “She didn’t even wake from her sleep – not one single problem with them. She’s now older and has never had an issue. She can always take them out if she hates them.”
It’s not the first time Duff has been attacked for her parenting decisions. Like David Beckham, she has received criticism over photos of herself kissing her son, Luca, six, on the lips. But, like the football star, she defended her actions, telling InStyle magazine: “First of all, he was three. Kiss your kids, and anyone who doesn’t like it can hit unfollow. Not interested in what you have to say.”