Do you think it is wrong to pierce an infants ears?

Answer 1

I know that in Spain nearly all little girls have their ears pierced very soon after birth- a friend of mine with a Spanish husband took her very young baby out to see the family and the grandmother had her daughter's ears pierced while looking after her without the mother's consent! While this is questionable, the baby didn't seem to mind- at this age babies have a fairly small memory for "short sharp pains" of this kind- babies are far less worried about getting shots than toddlers/little kids. So if you're planning that you really want your child to have pierced ears it may be kinder to do it now. However, I do think that children should have some say in what is, essentially, a body modification, albeit a minor one which is wholely accepted by society.

You should also take into account the baby's medical records/dates of shots etc- infants have weaker immune systems than an older child.

Ultimately, it may be less of a hassle to simply wait it out for a few years- make it an exciting event! I had my ears pierced when I was about 3 (my elder sister, around 11 at the time was having hers done) and I jumped up on the chair without considering for a minute that I would not be allowed to join in the "grown up" fun of having my ears pierced.

If you wait a few years you can use the experience as a chance to bond with your (presumably) daughter, and at the same time treat your child to a rare piece of "adult" decision making. While I don't think it's "wrong" per se, I do think it's a little mean to deny your child the experience. The slight "pain" is a learning experience in itself and teaches about responsibility for decisions and making sacrifices- it may hurt now, but it will look nice later etc. These are the kinds of lessons which are hard to teach without some kind of real-life example, but which are lost on an infant.

Answer 2

Actually, most PROFESSIONAL piercing salons will NOT pierce an infant's ears.

And the people at Claire's or even your pediatrician don't do it the best way possible. They use unsterilized "guns" in mall stores, and this carries a serious risk for blood infection. They may wash their hands and put some weak solution on the jewelry. But they do not autoclave (high heat sterilize) anything. A professional will use autoclaved gloves, wear a mask, autoclave the jewelry and the one-time use needle, as well. In addition, both mall stores and doctors are still using the ridiculous method of slamming a blunt object through the ear instead of using a sharp, hollow needle.

I do think it's wrong if you use the gun method through your doctor's office or a jewelry store that does "piercing on the side" as opposed to someone who is TRAINED and CERTIFIED in body piercing. If you want to do it the "right" way go through a professional salon, if they won't do it, then WAIT until your daughter is old enough to have it done professionally.

I've seen SOO many messed up ears from parents having their infants pierced. The babies ears are still growing so alot of times they end up "lopsided" or the baby tears them out, or they get infected, or keloid (OUCH and EEUUWW), etc. etc.

Answer 3

In my culture (indian), every baby girl gets her ears pierced. It's done when the child is just a few months old. From the day the child is born, people will start giving her earrings as presents. At that age, ear piercing is not as painful to the child and maintaining the ears immediately after the piercing is also easier as the baby does not know to pull out the earring.

Answer 4

Its no longer incorrect to get an little ones ears pierced at any age reckoning on the parents determination approximately it. In africa the place i come from, while a toddler is born- a woman, their ears are pierced one or 2 days after , in the event that they are boys , circumsiccion occurs a million or 2 days have self assurance they are being discharged from well-being middle. the girl toddler is pierced and placed a gold ear ring on the two ears , grew to become with the pointy pin dealing with in front as a fashion to advoid piercing and hurting of the returned of the ear. yet when I got here to europe i got here across that oldsters stay their little ones to mature and decide the place or no rely if or no longer they ought to pierce their ears and almost no circumssicion for the boy toddler and not using a signed rfile-. . so it soley relies upon on the determination of the two parents.

Answer 5

It is not recommended before the first birthday, as their ears are still so tiny that the earring may end up off-center as they grow. I got both my girls' ears done on the week of their first birthday. It is a good time, as they are too young to remember the earrings after the initial pain is gone, so they dont play with them and cause a greater risk for infection. Just keep em clean with the solution the piercer gives you and remember that gold hoops are much better than studs for such a young child. hope this helps :)

Answer 6

In my culture (latin/spanish) 98% of baby girls get their ears pierced before leaving the hospital, meaning when they are newborns. Parents just took the earrings to the hospital and then a nurse asks for them - meaning like it is a standard procedure- to sterilize them, they take the baby away and bring them back after 5 mins with their ears pierced. I did it like that, they never got infected cause a newborn doesn't even know they have ears so she never touched them. They just make sure you bought special earrings for babies that have a security lock at the end, they won't put on little hoops or anything like that. So I guess it just depends on the culture on you really feel about it. No ofense but I think american mothers are very uptight about stupid issues (like this one) and very relax in another more important ones. It's just a cultural question to me. Do whatever you want.

Answer 7

Here`s what i think when i see sparkling earrings (or any kind of earrings )on a bald infant`s head: the mother thinks is cute....and that`s about it. Why don`t you go ahead and get her a little tattoo...you know..to go with the piercings!? Don`t hurry, you`ve got plenty of time! Not every girl wants piercings!!


What are you gonna do? Thumbs down me??

Answer 8

I don't think it's wrong. There are good arguments for and against it. There is the pain thing, but your child isn't going to remember that it hurt. As long as you're dedicated to keeping the piercings clean and healthy.
My mom made me wait until I was in 2nd grade. I remember getting it done, but I don't remember it hurting very much. I had 2nd holes done when I turned 18 and they made me cry. So, I kind of think the younger the better.
I chose not to pierce my daughter's ears simply because I don't wear earrings very much and I wasn't sure that I had enough time and energy to care for them properly. She did ask me to get them pierced when she was 3 and I took her to the place to get it done. Before she did it I told her that it would hurt some and explained what they would do. She backed out and still has unpierced ears.
I say do what you want...it's your baby.

Answer 9

I think yes. My sister in law's mother did it to her daughter, at the express knowledge that she "didn't" want it done, and not a month after wards, her little ear got caught on a blanket and tore her earring right out through her little ear. She ended up with 2 stitches. I think it is dangerous and cruel. Wait until she is old enough to make the decision on her own. I know it may seem cute and all, but it could potentially be dangerous.

Answer 10

Yes... What if the little girl doesn't want pierced ears later in life when she is old enough to know for herself?

It's just another thing you have to clean/check and make sure that it doesn't get infected. New mom's have too much other stuff to worry about and to take care of than to add un-necessary stuff to the menu. lol