Piercing Ears

[mina'smomma]

Ok I'm putting this here because I'm afraid it might be contreversal. Lee Roy and I are talking about having Cadience's ears pierced when she is about 10 months old. Reason being is that is when mine were done, she won't remember the pain and she is young enough that she won't constantly play with them. I would be taking her to a pediatrician to do it so I know its done right and with sterile products. (sorry just don't trust those jewlery places)

[ramanth]

I was 8 when I got my first set of piercings. 16 when she offered to pay for my second set.

I guess if you don't mind taking the time to make sure they are clean and such, then I have no problems with it.

Personally, I'd wait until my child actually asks for them.

[AdoreMyDogs]

It's truly a parents decision. I personally would never do it to a baby, and I don't like seeing babies with pierced ears, but it's my own opinion and I don't fault parents who have it done, I just wouldn't do it.

I will wait until Quinn is old enough to want it done and old enough to be able to take care of them. My hubby and I decided that probablly no earlier then 6 would we let Quinn have her ears pierced. I had mine done when I was 13. I'd prefer waiting until Quinn was 8-10 years old, but if she REALLY wants it done earlier we'll have an open mind.

[moosmom]

First off, I cannot believe that Quinn has gotten so big!!

I had Amy's ears pierced done when she was three and do NOT recommend it. I had it done at one of those ear piercing places. She's now 32 and has 2 holes in each ear AND a tattoo that she got about 6 months ago.

If I had to do it over, I would've had it done when she was an infant. But you know hindsight.

[jackie]

It is common in S. America and here to pierce the ears when the baby is 3 days old. I don't see anything wrong with it.

[Uabassoon]

Mine were pierced at the hospital before I even came home! It's common practice in many hispanic cultures. I personally see nothing wrong with it. It hurts only for a moment, no more than a shot.

[Sirrahsim]

I personally don't agree with it. In my opinion, getting a baby's ears pierced is pointless. It doesn't help their growth and development in any way and they won't even be old enough to enjoy having earrings for years. Why not wait until your child is old enough to ask for them The whole practice seems silly to me and it makes me sad to see a little bitty baby with holes in her ears.
I guess it is the parent's decision but it is her little body and I don't agree with poking unnecessary holes in it.

[sirrahved]

I think it's something that changes your body forever. IMHO, a person should be able to decide whether they have holes added to their body or not. I don't see it as any huge abuse to pierce a baby's ears, but I'd never do it.

btw, some of us LIKE the pain of piercing

[sparks19]

I am not having Hannahs ears pierced until she is older and asks for it and is willing and able to learn how to take care of them. But I dont' see anything wrong with it.

I got mine done when I was about 11 and I was terrified lol but I wanted them. I had them done and really got over my fear lol. it wasn't as bad as i thought it would have been. Now I have 4 in one ear and 3 in the other.

[Karen]

I worked at an Earring Tree, and did a few babies even younger. The youngest was 1 week old, her mom held her facing forward, she was sound asleep, I did one ear, she made a little squeak noise and flopped her head to the side so I could do the other.

As long as you will be careful about keeping them clean and rotating them, etc., I see no harm in it. As Laura said, it's quite common in some cultures.

Usually, the youngest we would do a child old enough to squirm was 4 years old if there was only one employee in the shop. For a two-year-old, it was best to have two people, one for each ear, to get it done all in one shot. The funniest incident regarding people being afraid was one evening, I was working by myself, and a little girl approached the counter, Mom following. "My name is Rachel, and I am 4 now," she proudly stated, "and ready to get my ears pierced." Mom consented, they picked the studs, and Miss Confidence hopped up on the stool. I marked her ears with the marker, showed her in the mirror, "Yup!" she said. So I did one ear, then the other, she barely even moved. She was so excited to see her earrings in that she practically was skipping when she left.

Well, unnoticed by Rachel, lurking outside the corner of the booth were three guys, all over 6 feet tall, and one turned to other - the one most obviously 'drunk for courage' and said "Man, now you GOTTA do it! That little girl just shamed you into it!" He had apparently been wanting to get an earring for so long that his friends said they were sick of him talking about it, and it was time to do it!

[Husky_mom]

it´s very common here to do a babies ears pretty much as soon as born....

I rather have it that way.... more tolerance to pain... and they heal faster...

and in the case they don´t want earrings just take them off and they´ll close again...

I´m happy with mine but I would be such a wuss getting them done now when your nervous system is more sensitive .... OUCH!!.... (IMO)

besides a baby earring is way too small so "they" don´t have to worry about them.... I mean I wore the same earrings till I was like 5 then another pair till like 18 and until now I can change my earrings according to what I wear

[cassiesmom]

I can see both sides. My mom and my older sister don't have pierced ears, but my sister-in-law does. I had mine pierced at the jewelry store my freshman year of college, but that was 25 years ago. All three of my nieces have pierced ears. We have a family friend who is a nurse at a plastic surgeon's office- so that's where my brother's girls went when they were in grade school. My sister's daughter also had hers done sterilely, I think at a doctor's office also. She had hers done in eighth grade. They each were in charge of keeping their ears and the earrings clean till the piercings healed over, and they did a good job. They had them done younger because just about all the girls have pierced ears around here.

If you want to do it, I don't see what the issue is. Or if you want to wait and let her decide when she's a little older.

[carole]

I personally would never pierce my babies ear, i will tell you why, one they have no choice in the matter,and yes they will forget the pain, but still she will feel it just the same, i never had mine done until i was 18 and my daughter when she was about ten, either way you feel the pain and forget it, so i don't really see the reasoning in what you are saying, however i do know that certain cultures do it at a young age, but to me that is slightly different, have you asked why you wish to really do it, because it looks pretty you think.

I just think everyone should have the right to make a choice when they are old enough to,as to whether they want piercings in their ears, of course she can always let them grow over the holes if she does not like them when she is older,but i just think you would be better waiting, also i can only imagine what a hassle it would be to take care of at such a young age, however it is of course your'e personal choice, she is your child, and you make the decisions for her.

[kuhio98]

I don't really see anything wrong with it. But, it's not very painful. So, I wouldn't do it now for that reason (sparing her pain). Instead, I'd wait until she asked for it when she's older.

Instead of making all the decisions for kids, it's great for them to learn decision making skills. When she asks about it, you can tell her the decision is up to her. And that all you insist upon is that it be done by a qualified person and that you be there when it's done. Then, it could be a lovely memory of the 2 of you going together, getting it done and picking out earings.

[carole]

with all due respect Lisa, i found it extremely painful, i guess i must have sensitive ears or something, they throbbed for hour's afterwards, i think my tolerance of pain is pretty ok too, after all i have had two children, so i think it just depends on how sensitive your ear's are maybe.