to pierce or not to peiece?

[Karen]

Okay, I can speak to this issue, as I used to work at an Earring Tree - a chain store that sells jewelry, and where you can get your ears pierced.

1. Cartilage has nothing to do with it. Piercing is done BELOW where the ear cartilage is at any age, unless you start doing multiple piercings, and go "up" the ear. Piercing is done in the soft fleshy part of the ear.

2. The store had a policy not do do anyone under the age of 4 IF there was only one employee on. With two employees, you can do both ears simultaniously, so even if the child freaks out (there's a noise from the "gun" as well as the pinch of the skin being pierced) both ears are done, no harm, no foul. So this policy didn't have physiological reasons, just psychological ones.

I pierced the ears of a teeny baby once, two weeks old, when I was the only one there. She was asleep, and her mom held her facing forward. I pierced one ear, she squawked a little in her sleep, then tilted her head to that side, so then I did the other. She was less trouble than many 20-something I did, who got themselves all worked up about it before coming in!

Metal allergies can happen at any age. My family tends toward them, so I never pierced my ears, nor did my mother or sister. I just never saw the point of it, I guess! (I did, though, have to wear magnetic earring to work at the Earring Tree, just to not freak out customers - "what? yours aren't done? Then it must REALLY hurt!")

[Tina]

Rob and I went through the samething when Kaitlynn was around 8 months old. Of course he wanted to have it done he thought it would be cute. Yeah it is cute. But wonder if the child grows up and doesn't want her ears pierced? I told him no that we should wait till she is old enough to understand and decide for herself. Then we will go and have them done.

Yeah their holes can grow over if they decide they don't like them. But I'm not going to take the chance. I'd rather wait till she is 7 or 8 years old and have them done if she wants them done. That is just my opinion.

[marysmerrycats]

well it is a matter of choice, and everyone has their own opinion of course, but I personally don't agree with it. I just don't see the point either. I was 15 when I got mine pierced( I supose I would have been allowed earlier if I had asked), and that was older than most kids, I don't see anything wrong with it from about age 10-12, but I kind of think before that is too young.

[tikeyas_mom]

I got my ears done when I was 6 months old . I think it is cute on lil girls .

[Edwina's Secretary]

When I was about 12 my sister and I were sitting around when she decided to pierce my ears. An ice cube and a sewing needle.

She did my mother's too.

So I guess I'm making the argument for "too young to know any better!" (Although how do I explain my mother???)

[ramanth]

I wouldn't do it, but my cousin's have pierced their babies ears and so far no problems have arrose from it.

I'd wait to let the child make the decision.

[Andie]

OK I'm an ear piercing junkie (though I have reached my limit) and I had my first holes done at 7 (i wanted them done when i was younger) and I had my mom reopen them a few times. I got my second holes done around 13 (and after a while they closed up too) with my mom's permission and they were redid for my JR. Prom and I added a cartilage piercing. Finally I got a thrid set in my lobe for my 19th birthday. ( and I wonder why I get earrings for my birthday and Christmas LOL )

I personally don't see any problem with younger kids getting their ear pierced but I think that if it's going to be done that both parents should agree on it. So I suggest putting off the baby's ear peircing days til both parents can agree that she's at the right age.

[Chinadoll]

I find it interesting that in a few cases posted, the Dad's have wanted it done and the Mom's objected. From most instances I've witnessed, it's just the opposite.

I don't see a problem with it. My mother had mine done when I was less than a year old. Never had any problems. I'm glad she had it done when I was that young. I'm a big chicken with needles and would have been so paranoid to have it done later on. Even though my mom wanted to pierce my sister's ears when she was a few months old, my step-father did not want it done. So they waited until Jillian was about 10. One got infected. Jillian hated dealing with it so she let them close up. A few months ago, she had them pierced again. No problems this time.

For a baby, I think at a few months old it shouldn't be a problem. I also think that as a baby, the mom has more control over making sure the earrings stay in and that it's kept clean. I think part of the problem with my sister the first time she got them pierced was that she kept playing with it and didn't follow the instructions they gave her.

But, it's really up to mom and dad. I don't see it hurtimg the child either way...if she gets it done as a baby or later on.

[carole]

well you all seem to be mostly for this, well i am still sticking to my guns, what happened to freedom of choice, next it will be ok to pierce their belly buttons as well, if its a cultural thing well i think thats abit different, i respect different cultures,not that i necessarily agree with them.
But i suppose the parents make the choices for their children all throught their lives, so i suppose they will just have to have them pierced whether they like it or not.
It just seems silly to do it because i quote most of you 'ITS CUTE' your baby girls are cute enough arent they?
Well everyone is entitled to their opinions, and mine is still firmly against it, if they dont get infections well i reckon they are just darn lucky, i left my daughters until she decided and i still had some problems and we were very fussy, i followed instructions to the t. well enough said. cheers

[DoggiesAreTheBest]

I was born in Beirut, Lebanon to a Lebanese father and American mother. Mom's idea on the subject, was wait till Souraya is old enough to decide if she wants to have her ears pierced. Dad's idea on the subject is it won't hurt her now and if in the future she doesn't want to wear earings, then she doesn't have too, plus the culture encouraged it. The very next day at the age of 2 days, my ears wear pierced! Never had a problem with them. I don't wear earings very often unless I am getting dressed up for something.

[iceyshiver21]

I still dont have them pierced...I dont think its that big of deal to get ears pierced....I think there a pain in the butt

[kingrattus]

my god daughtor had her ears done 3 weeks ago & shes 2 months old... Her dr said its ok to get it done because at that age they don't know whats going on & it doesn't hurt them. Emma was just looking around & se had both ears done at once.. She never made a peep & shes been a fairly cranky baby, because she wants to be held by daddy only & well daddy can't always hold her, he has to work

[AmylovesMisty]

NO WAY!!...i got MINE pierced when i was 5..

[DoggiesAreTheBest]

Carole, I don't think that it will as far as getting belly buttons pierced at an early age. I have been wanting to get mine pierced for a long time and my dad said: Absolutely no way! He is a very traditional Lebanese man. I finally got my belly button pierced last week!! He still flipped!!

[primabella]

Mine were pierced at a young age. I prefer it that way. You don't remember the pain