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Would you/have you?
I recently saw pictures on facebook of a girl whom I went to highschool with who had documented taking her 7month old to get her ears pierced... Including the pictures of her screaming like crazy and holding her head still to get it positioned right...
I personally don't like the whole "baby with earrings" thing... I don't get it. And I definitely don't after seeing those pictures... I mean REALLY!?
But that gets me wondering... How does everyone else feel about this?
Will you get your child's ears pierced before they are 1 year old? Why/Why not?
I personally asked when I was around 9 or 10, my mom let me at that point, but she wanted it to be my decision and wanted me to be old enough to take care of them properly. I later got a second hole (with my father I believe) when I was 14 or 15 (also my choice). My parents refused any other piercings after that until I was 18, to which I promptly got my belly button pierced on my 18th birthday, after wanting it done since I was 13... But my parents never forced getting my ears pierced. My sister has done the same thing with my niece, who got her ears pierced at the age of 6 (when she asked).
I did not have my ears pierced until I was old enough to ask for it and be able to take care of them myself (so like 5th grade or so). I don't like people who pierce their babies ears.
My ears were pierced before I was a year old and I'm grateful that I don't have that memory. I voted yes.
I was 9 when my ears were pierced. My daughter is 13 months old and I'm in no hurry even though my FMIL asks me all the time when I'm going to do it. I don't understand the point.
I would worry about infections in a baby or toddler! My mom doesn't have her ears pierced (she thinks its barbaric!) and made me wait until I was 12, after I had been BEGGING for years. I think once they are old enough to take care of it themselves and handle the pain, then its totally appropriate.
Ah, we had a big debate on this awhile ago. People feel strongly!
http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/if-youre-having-a-girl-will-you-get-her-ears-pierced
Personally, I wouldn't do it. I can't sleep with my diamond studs in because the post bothers me, I always wonder if studs would bother babies with pierced ears....
I had my ears pierced when I was 6. I asked to have them done and my mom told me it was my decision and that it does hurt. We made a day of it, I remember having sooo much fun.
I also know that in the Mexican/Latin culture it is normal to have an infant's ears pierced. If it is their culture then I would not say anything about it.
Ditto @Ms. Caniche. I would never pierce my child's ears until she was old enough to ask.. and I really don't like the idea of forcing it on a child. BUT, in certain sitautions when it's a cultural norm that has been in place for a very long time, I don't feel it's my place to disagree.
I'm with many of the other posters. I got my ears pierced around 5th grade which was when I wanted them pierced and asked for it. I can understand not wanting to experience the piercing, @hmaxwell77, but it really wasn't that bad and certainly nothing traumatizing, so I don't get the point of piercing when a child is young and didn't have a say in the matter. I feel like anything that permanately alters your body (piercings/tattoos) should be the choice of the person who's body it is.
ETA: Although I do agree with what another poster said - culture is important to people! Although I would never pierce my child's ears until they wanted them pierced, I also probably would try not to judge others for doing so, especially since I can't possibly know their reasons for doing it (unless they told me).
My sister's ears were pierced before she was 1. I will do the same with my kids if I have girls. For one, you can keep the studs in for so long and it helps the ears heal better (they dont' want to change them becuase they don't know!). Also, at that age, you don't remember any pain. I had my ears done a few times and I still remember the pain! I think it is really cute too! :)
I had my ears pierced as a baby. I'm very glad my mother did it!! I will probably pierce my daughter's ears as well and if she doesn't like them later in life, well she can stop wearing earrings.
I had my ears pierced when I was a few months old and I'm fine with it now. I'll probably have my daughter's ears pierced at that age, too.
My mom wouldn't let me go until I was 15. I'd also wait.
After that it was a downward spiral, I've got 6 holes in my ears, one in my navel, had nipples done and had a more private area done. Those were the college days though, and I just maintain my ears and belly button now :-)
I agree about it maybe being a culture thing. I remember watching the Friends episode where Rachael's sister pierced emma's ears and Rachael and Ross FREAKED out lol. I was like what's the big deal? I will probably pierce my future little girl's ears before she turns one depending on how FI feels about it!
Maybe I'm just used to pain but I don't remember the pain of getting my ears pierced at all.
Earrings make me very uncomfortable. I've tried piericng them a couple of times and no earring feels good. My grandmother is the same way and just wears clip ons but even clip ons make my ears red and bothered.
So I would be hesitant in piercing my infants ears because I know how much they bothered me. But when I had a kid old enough to tell me in words what felt good or bad then I'd be fine with it.
I got my ears pierced when I was in 5th grade, but I know a few of girls that got their babies ear's pierced when they were 6 months old and no infections. I'm still undecided though...
I feel extremely old fashioned when I say this, but I really want to wait until my girls are 13 to get their ears pierced. It's like, "Hey, you're a teenager...Congrats! Here's something I know you've been dying to do." My DH on the otherhand, he thinks they should be able to get their ears pierced when they're 8. Thankfully, considering we don't even have bun in the oven, we don't need to worry about this for a very long time! lol
My niece's ears were pierced when she was 3 months old. Now, I agree that 3 months is a bit too early but I would defintely do it before she turns 1.
Yup, thanks @ejs4y8! I was going to reference that post. I definitely will since I had them done by my pediatrician when I was that young.
I don't have strong feelings either way. I had mine pierced as a baby, and I'm ok that I wasn't "given the choice", lol!
I won't judge people by whether or not they pierce their baby's ears... seems kinda silly to do so.
I won't be. I don't really like the look for the most part and want that to be my child's choice.
When I was 8 or so I asked to get my ears pierced but was told I was too young. Then when I was 12-ish my mom said I could get them done if I wanted. I said thanks, but no thanks. I was a tomboy and didn't want to risk ripping them out. Then I turned 18 and got a tattoo and then a nose piercing for my 21st birthday. I think I was 22 or 23 before I finally got my ears pierced. I remember jumping but the pain wasn't that bad. Maybe the difference is that I got them done with a needle at a tattoo parlor rather than with a gun at Claire's or where ever?
I had mine done on my fifth birthday. I went with my mom and even though I bled all over my coat I actually have very good memories of the day. I certainly wasn't traumatized ;) I think I would get my (future) daughter's done around the same age, if she wanted them. Although I don't think there is anything wrong with getting them done earlier. I know that by the time I went to school, there were very few girls who didn't have pierced ears.
Maybe if my daughter is bald ;) Haha, but in all seriousness I will probably wait a few years to get them pierced just because I don't see a huge practicality of having a baby's ears pierced.
I was born in Brazil and most infant girls have their ears pierced right after birth so this is something that is very cultural in some parts of the world. I don't think there is a right or wrong time to pierce a child's ears.
I had my ears pierced when I was a baby because my mother is cuban, and I guess latina women don't really see it as an issue, or in fact embrace it. I'm glad now, because: 1. I have an INCREDIBLY low pain threshold and would probably never have anything pierced if my parents hadn't decided, and 2. I could try on pretty earrings whenever I wanted, and it made me feel feminine and pretty as a kid (and now :D). I haven't worn earrings for months now, but the holes have never closed up. I'm just glad I could wear earrings if I wanted to!
My mom pierced my ears herself when I was about 4 years old...with a needle..it hurt like hell. I had my daughter's ears pierced at 2 months old...she doesn't even remember the pain now...she is 12. For me...it's a cultural thing. The women in my family...dating back to slavery (seriously) have always pierced their daughters ears at an early age. Age 4 was actually late to have ears pierced. I think my little sister was the only one of 5 girls to actually have her ears pierced in the mall by professionals....LOL.
I just think the pain is forgotten more easily as an infant. My daughter can't remember a thing about getting her ears pierced but I remember every agonizing moment.
Also, I don't think it is like you are making a life choice for your child if you get their ears pierced before they ask for it. They can always make the choice not to wear earrings later on in life.
@caitlin: I've had my ears done with both a gun and a needle. The needle is 10x better/less painful/healed better. In fact, whenever my (future) daughter/son decides they want their ear pierced I will be taking them to a tattoo parlor to get it done.
Ladies, if you do get their ears pierced please DON'T GO TO CLAIRE'S! The girls who do it aren't really trained well. In fact the manager of the Claire's in my mall started as a junior in high school and wasn't the sharpest crayon in the box. A hollow needle is so much better than the gun.
Child's body, elective procedure, and thus child's choice. It's an unnecessary procedure with highly unlikely but potential complications. When my kid is old enough to ask for it and old enoough to understand the risks, I'll take it to have it done.
I've never thought about why she did it, but my mom had my pediatrician pierce my ears at six months. I guess I moved and one hole was crooked so they did another one very close to it. When I was little I kept accidentally putting the earring in the wrong hole but it finally closed and healed.
I had my second holes done on a whim on my 12th birthday. And my mom just a second set of holes to commemorate when her cancer went into remission. I don't remember the pain of the second set, but I remember the pain of the cartilage piercing I got in college. I couldn't sleep on that side for the year I left it in.
I guess there's nothing wrong with piercing a baby's ears, since they definitely will never remember it. And it'll help with that whole girl or boy problem.
@babyboo: so true! I have seven holes in my ears (3 in each lobe, one in the pinna) and they were ALL done with the piercing gun. When I got my nose pierced at 17, it was with a piercing needle and I was pleasantly surprised that it hurt WAY less than any of my ear piercings! When teenage girls ask if it hurt (because they want one), I think their parents get upset when I tell them that it hurt way less. Oops. 
I'm only being honest though.
As far as babies' ears go though, I'd probably wait until they are old enough to ask, but I don't have any real rationale for it. While my mom had hers done as an infant, I just don't really see the point.
my mom had my ears pierced when I was a few months old. the doctors office did it. We have Spanish heritage, so I don't see it as a big deal at all. Culture. My husband and I have talked about it, (not there's any bun action) but he brought it up when he saw so many babies in florida with their ears pierced (as compared to his homestate Wisconsin) He thought it was awful. But I explained to him the cultural aspect of it and whipped out my baby pics/ my sisters baby pics/ my mom's baby pics! and he was like "oh, well then I get it now"
Hell's to the no. (Said jokingly - I don't care what others do :)) That'll be a right of passage for our daughter (should we have one) when she's about 13 or so.
I am not bothered by whatever choice people choose to make on this. If I have daughters I will wait until they are old enough to ask for it and to take care of them. I got mine done when I was about 8 or 9 and it's a cool memory.
I agree with those who said it's up to individual families and children to decide. I am uncomfortable with blanket statements about "I don't like people who do this or that."
I posted this on the other thread about piercing and circumcision, but my sister pierced her baby's ears when the baby was 6 months old with a baby piercing kit from Target or Wal-Mart. The baby cried for about 5 minutes after each ear, and I think my sister was more freaked out about it than the baby. Sis's reasoning was that she (my sis) was "old enough" when she had her ears pierced as a child, and yet they still got infected and were really painful. She figured she could take care of the baby's piercings and be careful to keep them clean/uninfected, and she was right, at least in this particular case.
Still, this is one of those things where I don't think there is a right or wrong answer, and it's all up to you.
With @Babyboo on the hollow needle - I got one of my cartilage rings done with a gun and the other with a hollow needed by a piercer. They are much better trained to do those things, the hollow needle is less intrusive on your skin. Think of it like taking an apple core out - much easier to just use a tool to core the center than it is to rip apart the skin around it and force a rod through the center.
I also got keloids on my first "Claires" piercing, which did go away after a while, but the hollow needed one healed faster and hurt less.
Ugh, I shouldn't have said that I don't like people who do it. That isn't what I meant, I meant that I don't like the practice of it.
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