Do you think ear piercing for infants is cruel?

Question

I had a discussion with a classmate about it. He was against it. I had my ears done when I was only a few months old. I’m grateful because I cannot remember the pain, and I got wear pretty earrings from an early age. However, I am Mexican. All the Mexicans I know do this. Another friend of mine says that she thinks it’s a way for a family to celebrate the femininity of their daughters, I find this true. I do not think it is any worse then circumcision. I mean, if the girl does not want earrings any more she can take them off. I think it’s a little harder to get things back to the way they were with circumcision. What do you think?

Answer 1

I agree. I had my ears pierced at a few months old as well (Italian families are the same I guess...lol), and I'm no worse off because of it. Babies don't remember pain.
And if you decide when you're older that you don't want pierced ears, you don't have to wear earings and the holes will close up.

Answer 2

I think it is risky. First of all, having your ears pierced at any age is not painful if the piercing is done by a medical practitioner. It is a brief discomfort. Doing piercing at home is not sterile and makes you a candidate for an infection. Little babies have not built up an immunity to fight infections so it is best to wait until the child is older. Culture or not, why risk the baby's health.

Circumcision has become out of favor. It is very painful, and medical research has shown that the risks out weigh the benefits.

Answer 3

I do not think that it is cruel. What i do think is that it should not be done until the child is old enough to take responsibility of looking after the piercings herself. At a young age, children are vulnerable to infections and are definately not capable of managing alcoholswabs etc with ear piercings. I also think that babies look really silly with great big studs in their tiny little ears. It is almost on a par with those really ridiculous headbands that mothers make their babies wear......now thats cruel!!!

Answer 4

I used to think it was cruel, and I was also against circumcision, but I had my son circumcized (after much research and debate with my husband who IS) and it was nowhere near as bad as I expected. And I don't think my son will remember it; he is not traumatized by it in any way. So to answer your question, I do not think it is cruel. If it's part of your culture and has been positive for you, there is no reason why you shouldn't have your own daughter's done.

Answer 5

ear piercing for infants is not cruel but painful.
how can a infant endure the pain of piercing ear???
it maybe a tradition in a country, but other country folks may see it as no sympathy to infant.
infants are very young and should not be pierced at an early age.
i think parents should wait until they become matured to pierce at the age of 5+

Answer 6

I had mine done when i was an infant too, and the only reason I'm against it is because the piercer use a piercing gun; which is the worse way to pierce anyone.

The should only allow hollow needles for piercings.

Answer 7

I think its best to do iot when the person is a child, One because like you said you cant remember the pain, and also a baby cant take their earrings out when they are bothering them during the healing so by the time the kid gets older the ears are healed and theres less chance of them growing together and having to have them redone. I had to wait till I was older to have them done, and I as a kid took them out at least 5 or 6 times before getting the ones I have now, and it costs alot more to have them done when your older because of having to get them redone. So personally I think when your a smaller child that cant get them out its best. hope that helps

Answer 8

I had my daughters ears pierced when she was 6 months old. Her pediatrician said it was fine as long as she did not have any ear infections at the time. She is 9 now and is still glad she has them pierced.

Answer 9

I think it's more of a cultural thing. You obviously were talking to someone who does not share your same culteral beliefs, so don't let your classmate sway your thoughts. Just know that they are just different. Ear piercing for infants is fine since that's what you were exposed to.

Answer 10

I think there are other things that are more cruel than that. Infibulation (sewing the labia shut etc) are in that group. To say that ear piercing is cruel, I have no experience in that area.