Piercing Ears

[pitc9]

Karen that story is great!!!

I personally cringe when I see a baby with pierce ears. I think the child should make that decision on their own.

Shortly before making my first communion (age 8) my mom asked if I wanted to have my ears pierced. I said yes!

[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.