Piercing Ears

[wolf_Q]

I think that it should be up to the child whether they want their ears pierced or not. Mine are pierced, twice, but I didn't make that decision until I was around 18. I just never wanted it done until then. It was a lot more painful than I expected, both times my earlobes swoll up huge and I had infections for months after. They still get sore and infected sometimes. I know that's not how it is for everyone, I'm just lucky I guess.

[chocolatepuppy]

But even so, if the holes do close, you can still see them.

I didn't have my ears pierced until I was 26, only to find out I can't wear earrings of any kind. Many times I attempted yet another try. The last time was 9 years ago. Although the holes are closed, you can still see them and it looks like I have pierced ears. People often ask me why I don't wear earrings since my ears are pierced.
As for babies with pierced ears, I think they should be old enough to make that decision.

[lizbud]

I was wondering if they charge full price when you only need one ear
re-pierced?

[Andie]

I think if it was my child I would wait. Let the child decide. (Just my opinion) I've already said (to Dustin) that if daughter wants her ears pierced I would try to have her wait until she's at least 8-10 so she can make the decision herself. If our son wants the same thing I would try to have him wait until he was at least 13. (Yes, I'm sexist)

I was 5 when I got my first set of holes. I asked Mom and had to work to get them. When I was 13 I got my second set (Mom paid for) and a cartilage piercing in my right ear (I had to pay for) for a school dance. Mom had been talking with me about the second set for a while before that. Mainly because she wanted a second set herself but she ended up chickening out. I got my third set on my 19th birthday. For the finale to my piercing fascination I got my navel done for my 25th birthday. (Now onto Tattoos - they take longer to plan out and save up for)

I've flip-floped on the pain issue. I remember the first ones hurting so bad that I wanted to go home and do the other ear later. My second ones and the cartilage didn't hurt at all. My third set though, . I thought my frickin' ears were going to fall off. The lady that pierced them told me that my lobes were to thick for a third set (Mom likes to tease me for having fat earlobes now) but I just had to have them. Guess I learned my lesson.

[IRescue452]

Forget the sense of choice. What about infections, which are much worse in infants? Cleaning and caring for earrings on a baby when you could just as well wait? What about baby laying on a blanket or learning to roll over on the carpet and getting the earring caught? I'd wait until after baby learns to walk at least. What about keloid issues and baby learning to tug on its ears to alleviate irritation? What about earring falling out and toddler swallowing it? There's a lot to consider. Honestly, piercing a child less than 5 years old is completely pointless in my mind. In my mind, you can choose vanity OR you can choose better care for your child, there's no "and".

[JenBKR]

I got my ears pierced when I was about 3, after begging my mom. Unfortunately, neither of us realized how difficult it can be to take care of newly pierced ears. The skin ended up growing over the backs of my earrings, and it happened pretty quickly. I had to have the earrings surgically removed. My mom still feels guilty about it. I don't remember the pain of having my ears pierced, but I do remember the pain of having them removed. Personally, I probably wouldn't pierce my baby's ears, but since I have a boy I don't have to worry about it If you do decide to have it done, just be extremely careful, make sure to turn them everyday, and follow any other instructions you are given.

[Freedom]

It is also common in Italian families to do the baby's ears quite young.

My mom was British, however, and refused.

When I was to start school (age 6), I had to get all those shots. And one was the polio vaccine. I get keloids. This is common in people of Mediterranean cultures. Lucky I didn't have pierced ears, as I'd have 4, one on each side of each ear lobe! (I've attached a pic of what it looks like on an ear for someone who gets these.)

I drove my mum crazy as a 14 year old when many of my friends were getting pierced ears. I wanted them SO badly! Even though I understood I couldn't do it medically, I was a kid and still WANTED it! (My poor mum!) So it was a good thing mine weren't done as an infant, and we waited until we knew more about my body.

No one in my family on either side had EVER had keloids, it was a totally new thing to everyone. Not sure HOW I happen to develop them; although they are hereitary.

[Twisterdog]

I personally think ear piercing is so very common that it really doesn't matter. It's not like you are piercing your baby's eyebrow or lip. I would guess that the majority of women get their ears pierced. I can't think of one woman that I personally know who does not have her ears pierced.

One of my employees just got her baby's ears pierced. She said it's nice because she was too young to play with or pull on them. I have to say, it does look adorable, IMO.

I let my son get one ear pierced when he was six years old. He begged and begged and did extra chores to help pay for it. Some of my friends were pretty appalled that I let him do that so young, and being a boy. My thoughts were, and still are ... pick your battles. Maybe if I would have adamantly refused he would have rebelled and pierced every body part he has with a needle by the time he was sixteen. Who knows. It just didn't seem important wnough to argue about. He wore earrings for many years, then just got tired of it. His hole is closed now. I'm sure if he changes his mind, he will have no problem getting it pierced again. And, you CANNOT see the hole, not a trace of it, we have looked.

I say do whatever you personally want to do. I don't think it's a big deal either way.

[IRescue452]

I say do whatever you personally want to do. I don't think it's a big deal either way.

I think it is a bigger deal than you make it. Your son was past the stage where he spent 90% of the day on the floor, on a blanket, or wrapped up in a carseat. He was past the stages where getting the earring caught or getting an infection would be very easy to do. He was also past the stage where he would swallow little pieces if the earring fell out. The only reason people do this to babies is for looks. Parents should stop and consider whether they think vanity is so important that they can't wait a few more years, when clearly the best interest of the child is to wait.

[jackie]

I think it is a bigger deal than you make it. Your son was past the stage where he spent 90% of the day on the floor, on a blanket, or wrapped up in a carseat. He was past the stages where getting the earring caught or getting an infection would be very easy to do. He was also past the stage where he would swallow little pieces if the earring fell out. The only reason people do this to babies is for looks. Parents should stop and consider whether they think vanity is so important that they can't wait a few more years, when clearly the best interest of the child is to wait.

Most babies here have their ears pierced. I haven't heard of one horror story. There are a lot of "what ifs" in life.

I personally don't think getting babies ears pierced is that outlandish.

[Andie]

I think it is a bigger deal than you make it. Your son was past the stage where he spent 90% of the day on the floor, on a blanket, or wrapped up in a carseat. He was past the stages where getting the earring caught or getting an infection would be very easy to do. He was also past the stage where he would swallow little pieces if the earring fell out. The only reason people do this to babies is for looks. Parents should stop and consider whether they think vanity is so important that they can't wait a few more years, when clearly the best interest of the child is to wait.

I can see your point but I don't think mina'smomma is ignoring the best interest of her child. I'm sure she has considered all the extra work the piercings will be for her. If she is truly considering this, I'm sure she has researched everything that could go wrong plus some. She's going to have to take extra precautions to avoid everything mentioned above. As in making sure the earring can't be snagged on the child's surrounding. Making sure they are cleaned, turned, tightened, ect. Women do alot of things for vanity, piercing their child's ears ranks somewhere near the bottom of harmful things. That's just my own opinion. Like Jackie said: There are alot of what ifs in the world.