Do you think piercing a baby's ears is unethical?

Question

Having a girl in September.

Answer 1

I wouldn't do it personally, but I don't think its unethical either. It's a parents choice.

Answer 2

Not at all... in a lot of countries baby girls are sent home with their ears pierced. Now they tell you to wait until they are at least 3 or 4 months. I think it is your choice and no one should berate you for the choice you make. My ears were pierced at the hospital (I was born in South America) and so was one of my sisters. The other two that were born in the States, 1 had them pierced when she was 6 months, and the other one did not get them pierced until she was old enough to decide if she wanted them pierced or not. It is not unethical to get baby's ears pierced... if people can go around with odd piercings on their body, nobody should look twice at you having your baby's ears pierced.

Answer 3

I totally agree with the people who've said it should be up to the girl herself, and not her parents. I've had my ears pierced by choice (when I was 10 or so), but if I hadn't, it would be too late for me to even make that choice myself, because I've gone months and months without wearing earrings, and my piercings have never grown closed. My husband and I don't think that it's fair to make any permanant choice for her, so while "unethical" might be a little strong, I think it's wrong to make that big of a decision for someone else. Also, I cannot sleep with earrings jabbing me in the side of the head. You have to leave new earrings in for several weeks while they are healing, maybe even longer for babies, I wouldn't know, and I don't think that "so that my daughter can look sooooo cuuuuute" is a good enough reason to affect a child's sleep.

Answer 4

No its not unethical. Its a good way to tell a baby girl from a baby boy. As long as you take care of the ears after its done there shouldnt be an issue. My little girl ( seven months old) is having to wait till she is older becuase i had a hard time with earrings when I was little. I want her to be able to tell me if there is something wrong not just cry all the time. It is the only reason i am waiting. Congrats on your little girl.

Answer 5

Nope. My son had his ears pierced at 6 months. I'm due with another in dec and whether a boy or girl this one will have the same thing done. My son didn't even cry when he had it done the first time. He did lose one and had to have it repierced and he did cry that time but not for long and certainly 2 years later he's not mad at me for it so it couldnt have been that bad.

Answer 6

I don't think it's unethical, it's strictly up to the parent. I had my ears pierced when I was 7 years old and it was a very special thing for me. When my daughter is born I will wait so we can have a special girls day when she is old enought o remember it.

Answer 7

Congratulations!

Yes, I do think it's unethical. Piercing should be a choice left to the individual. It is a permanent modification of the body (even if you take them out, there is a scar) If you do decide to have it done, please go to a professional piercer who does not use piercing guns.

Answer 8

It's all a matter of personal preference. I, personally, didn't just cuz I worried about my baby having earrings in, and the possibility of them catching on something or her grabbing at them. However, I don't have a problem with people who do have it done, as long as they are taken care of. I will leave it up to my daughter to decide if she wants pierced ears or not, when she is old enough to take care of them herself.

Answer 9

I'm a RN working in an OB/GYN practice. With the pregnant women I come across, it appears that mostly Mexican/Latin women, and lower class women of all races choose to pierce their baby girl's ears early. I'm not trying to convey anything racist or elitist, this has simply been my experience. I do not consider it 'unethical', but as a parent, I would wait until my daughter was old enough to ask for pierced ears.

Answer 10

I don't think there is anything wrong with it. Some doctors will do it so that you know its the cleanest place to have it dont. My niece has hers done and man its so cute. She was 4 or 5 months when they got hers done and she only cried for a min or so and now she calls them her pretties. They also dont mess with them as much when they are really young so they heal better. Also getting your ears pierced does not hurt as bad as most people say. It kinda stings for a min thats it and the holes close up without much being left to see if your little girl decides she doesnt want them later. Congrats on the girl

Answer 11

Not at all. This question has been asked many times. A lot of mothers say it's child abuse to do it at a young age but wait until their older to do it. How does the age difference change it from being child abuse. Everyone that I know got their daughters ears pierced. They even do it at some pediatric offices.