what do you think of parents getting babies or young children's ears pierced?

Question

Obviously not for cultural or religious reasons, but just for 'cosmetic' value?

Answer 1

I think it's a physical reminder for the child of her parent's stupidity.

(a) it's scary to the kid

(b) what if she doesn't want pierced ears when she's older?

(c) it's like putting lipstick on a dog! you can make kids wear funny clothes, dress them in matching pants and hats but a piercing? on a baby? idiots! what? is she supposed to be sexier? it's TACKY. Look at the people who do it...

bleh. Parents should wait until the kid is in at least 5th or 6th grade to make sure it's what they want.

Answer 2

I don't see a problem with it. When my mom was young, in the late 50's/ early 60's; it was common for the doctor to pierce a baby's ears at 6 months or so.

Plus, I think it's much easier to handle when the girl is a baby. I had my ears done at 6 and I would not let my mom clean them b/c I was afraid it would hurt. I had my ears pierced 3 times before it finally worked.

If I had it as a baby, I would have been use to having and caring for the piercing.

Answer 3

I think getting a baby's ears pierced for cultural reasons goes hand in hand with the aesthetic value. It is a way that a culture, OUR melting pot culture, helps identify genders and establishes standards of acceptable beauty. Gender identity is built early on, and little girls like things that make them feel like little girls and little boys like things that make them feel like boys too.
If it is done correctly, and in a sanitary environment it is not a cruel practice or child abuse. You can wait until they have their hep shot if you want to be extra safe. There are ways of anesthesizing the ear lobe so that it is not painful.
My ears were pierced as an infant & I had my daughter's ears pierced as well, I guess it is a "rite of passage". It's funny how almost everybody is walking around with some sort of tattoo (much more painful) but we're squeamish about pierced ears!

Answer 4

I pierced my daughters ears when she was 4, that was only because she had taken the scissors to her hair and after the stylist was done she started crying saying she looked like a boy, it was too short to even curl. The next day was her birthday so as a present I got her ears pierced. I don't regret doing it tho I would probably not do it again. As for babies, I don't see the point, esp when they get a bit older and start grabbing and pulling on their ears etc.
I think they should not get their ears pierced until they are old enough to take care of them and clean them on their own... maybe 10 in my opinion.

and I don't think babies and infants need earrings to make them look pretty - babies are cute enough as it is.

Answer 5

I don't agree with it on babies and young girls. For a start, I think it looks wrong on babies and toddlers, and also it causes problems for the child. Why force your child to wear earrings which can get caught in things, tear, and get infected? They also get forced to cover them up or remove them for P.E. at school. It seems an unnecessary burden.

I was 11 when I had mine done, so my daughter is going to be 11 for hers too (even though at 8 she is desperate to have it done). When she is old enough to take care of them properly, clean them, not lose the studs, etc, then she can have them. It doesn't look right on younger girls to me anyway.

Answer 6

If it's just to make them look pretty, I abhor the practice. Getting pierced for cosmetic reasons is a decision the child should consciously make when they are old enough both to not be traumatized by it and to talk to their parents about it (younger teenager/preteen) or old enough to go in and get pierced themselves (older teenager/adult).

Answer 7

I don't think it's a very good choice as a parent for many reasons. 1) Your baby is fresh out of the womb and you're already wanting to decorate her with tacky unnecissary ornaments. 2) As a toddler she's going to be very active, which could result in her pulling one out. and 3) Your baby girl's ears are beautiful the way they are, if babies were meant to have earrings they'd be born with them already.

Answer 8

I was faced with that question when having a girl finally after 2 boys. I decided not to because: (1) I don't think I could handle purposely putting my daughter through pain; and (2) she is not old enough to make decisions for herself. She may not want pierced ears when she gets older. I am waiting to see what she wants when she gets a little bit older.

Answer 9

I think it's cruel. My parents didn't do it, since they wanted me to decide if I ever wanted to have pierced earrings. When I did get them pierced, I was 18 and I knew what I was doing.
So, I think they should leave it up to the kid to decide when it's older.

Answer 10

Cosmetic value? What is that exactly? Are you a 16 year old mother on welfare? That's just sad. In addition, you had to name the illegitimate little one "Jackson." What's wrong with Steve, Bill, or George?