Ears, to pierce or not that is the question?

Question

To pierce baby's ears, I'd liked to know from each side. I would pierce because of tradition, not looks. What is the good age for piercing, when they are young or able to make choices? What did your Parents do. I remember when I got my ears pierced I was in pain and scared.

My daughter has her ears pierced at six months

Answer 1

We pierced our daughters ears when she was 6 months old to the day. I wanted to get it done so she would not remember the pain. She did great. Only cried for a few seconds.

It's really up to you. It's your child. You can read other people's opinions but that's all they are OTHER PEOPLE'S.

Answer 2

My personal belief is that the child should be old enough to decide on their own and also be old enough to assume some responsibility for cleaning and caring for the new piercings.

I feel pretty strongly about this one. My reasoning is simple: it's her body.

Personally, I was 8, and asked for it, and took full responsibility for it afterwards. I no longer wear earrings unless it's a special occasion.... but I still have holes. It's no big deal to me, but what if I hate the holes and I'd had no say in them in the first place?

I think it's very important to teach a child that his or her body belongs to them and no one else. Body autonomy. The concept is crucial in raising kids who will feel secure enough to say "No!" when it is really important... I'm talking about someone touching them inappropriately.

To me, it is all part of the same big picture.

The other ways I think this can be taught are by simple things, like always stopping right away when tickling a child and they say "stop", allowing them as much control as possible over things like bathing, dressing, etc., and only "forcing our will" as parents when it is a matter of their health or well being.

Ear piercing is not a matter of such importance that I'd do it against their will... and just because they are babies and don't talk, or they are little and express a desire for earrings, doesn't mean they are truly ready and willing.

If you go ahead with piercing your infant's ears, please be careful, and it's recommended that you wait until they are at least a few months old and have had tetanus immunizations.

Answer 3

Well if ur going to get her ears pierced u have to wait atleast 6-8 weeks....personally though i do not care for a young baby to get her ears pierced, it doesnt look any better then if ur child was 2 and got it done. But overall ur the parent and u shouldnt base ur opinion on what others think...either way now or when she's older she'll still be beautiful.

Answer 4

Ok if it is for traditional purposes then you should know when to do it. If it is really for looks, I would wait and allow them to decide when to have it done. My girls were 4 and 6 when I had theirs done, it was their decision and I let them know it would hurt really bad. My personal opinion on having a babies ears pierced is that it is cruel. No one likes to have their babies get a shot at the doctor but we have no choice yet we will go in and have them pierced?? The baby doesn't understand it and it hurts them just as bad at that age as it does when they are older. So why not wait? Because they will forget right? I do believe they forget but what if they don't like it when they are older? Then you wasted that money and put them in pain for no reason.

Answer 5

I got mine done at 16 because my parents couldn't afford it and I had to earn the money to pay.
My older daughter was 5 and she got her's done by my neice (at the mall) for her birthday. I was upset because she didn't ask my permission, but it turned out fine.
My younger daughter wanted hers done at 5 and asked if it hurt, so I asked if I could pinch her and she said yes, so I pinched her ear with my nail and said it would hurt that much. She was good with it, but the moment the gun went off, she screamed "that hurt"! they must have hit a nerve and she almost didn't let us do the other one.
those are my stories, now for my opinion

I don't for a moment think it is necessary or appropriate to peirce a baby's ears. If I did it over again, I would wait until my girls were 13.
the noise that the gun makes is very scary for a baby and the earrings can pinch and poke behind the ear. THere is also an added risk of infection in little ears and why take that chance?

Answer 6

i was three months old when my ears were pierced, and i am so, so glad my mom got it done when i was very young. for one, i don't remember the pain. for two, all the little girls in kindergarten were so jealous! for three, it gave me more choices: if i didn't want to wear them, i could take them out, but people without pierced ears don't even have the option to wear them!

just be sure NOT to pierce with a gun. the piercing won't heal well and it is less sanitary.

Answer 7

I think 12 is a good age. Make it a girls day out if she wants them done.


I HATE to see babies with pierced ears! It's cheap looking and very tacky! Besides they are more likely to rip the earrings out if they are too young.

Answer 8

I have a daughter and chose not to pierce her ears as an infant. She is 4 years old and I am not going to consider it until she is probably 6 and then I will not do it until she wants it and asks for it and understands that it hurts. I didn't want to make that decision for her. I cried everytime she got a shot at the doctor. I hated it. I just couldn't inflict pain on her on purpose. But, I have a lot of friends who did and they have their reasons.

Answer 9

I was 13 months old when I got mine done, so i dont remember. I got my daughters ears pierced at about the same age. My husband wanted to wait til she was old enough to ask for it, but I figure chances are she will, and that its better to do it now, when she will forget they are there rather than when she is big and will have her grubby little hands all over them. Get them done at a professional piercer with needles NOT a gun. They heal better and faster that way with less chance of infection. My daughter did great. Cried cuz she hated being held down, but when it was over I gave her a snack and she forgot all about it. She only tried to touch them twice, and I just told her no, and that was the end of it. They were totally healed within days, with no infection or anything. They look so adorable, and shes too young to remember getting it done. Should she ever decide she doesnt want them for some reason, no big deal, she can just take them out.

PS: I had them put in TINY little pinch-ball hoop earings that way we wouldnt have to worry about her earings being too tight or poking her when she lays down. when shes old enough to want them changed, they can be, but they look SOOO cute.

Answer 10

My granddaughters father wants to have her ears pierced because of tradition but our side wants to wait until she makes the choice. When shes old enough to take care of them and will know what to do if they get caught on something is when she`ll do it.