Ears... to pierce or not to pierce...

1andone

I can't decide whether to have Roxie's ears pierced or not. Most of my friends had their baby girls ears pierced at 2 months, or at least within the first year. I've been undecided since she was born and the husband is no help - says he doesn't care either way, bahhhh. So here's my list of pros/cons - help me make a decision please!!

Pros:
Young enough she hopefully won't remember the pain and will probably get over it quickly
Won't feel left out when other girls in elementary school have theirs done and she doesn't (this was my problem growing up - had to wait til I was 13 due to a strict Mom)
I can make sure they get turned daily and stay clean to avoid infections
I can make Daddy take her to get them done at her 18 month checkup at the pediatricians office - I won't be able to watch without crying if she cries

Cons:
May be a little too aware now - will be constantly touching them I'm afraid (don't want them getting infected)
What if she grows up and is upset that I had her ears pierced - she didn't get a choice
Unnecessary pain for completely unnecessary thing
Worried she'll lose sleep due to the pain of laying on them (which means that I lose sleep... booo)

mama0226

I would wait till she's old enough to take care of them herself, so 7 or 8. Fwiw I was 19 when I got mine done and I never felt left out. Also like pp said I wouldn't want to risk an infection.

aylafsu88

summergirl1211 said:

Personally I will wait until Riley is old enough and responsible enough to care for them herself. I'd hate for her to go through the pain now and not understand what's going on, and I'd also be worried about infections.

GL with your decision!

I agree with this. I will not have an exact age limit but will wait until she wants them and is able to care for them.

apollonia10

I agree with the other ladies - wait till she wants them. The pain is minimal and it could be a fun mommy/daughter outing for you! Plus she'll be old enough to at least attempt to take care of them herself.

pinkangelmoon

I got Emma's pierced at 7 months old by our pedi.  She does them on infants 6 months and older.  They never got infected and Emma never messed with them. I did feel guilty when she cried during the piercing (though they numbed her earlobes)  but she was fine afterwards and didn't seem to be bothered by pain.  I don't even know that she knows they're there.  She's obsessed with my earrings though!  

However I'd probably be more hesitant to do them at this age when she's more aware and would be more likely to pull on them if they hurt. 

ThePinkSuperhero

mrsmckinky said:

I think the age for getting it done early has passed; at this age, she will probably grab at it, pull, put dirty hands on it (upping the risk for infection).  As an infant, that risk is much much lower.  At this point, I would wait until she is older and asks for it (around the same age that her other friends would be doing it).

This, exactly.

britbratjf

I'm going to wait until she asks to have them done and then use it as a reward for something (chores, good report card, whatever).

And I also agree with PPs that the time to do it young has passed. She will mess with them a ton now.

potatoe6

I got my first ones done at 4, second set at 13, and third at 16. I'm going to wait for Becca to decide when she wants hers done, I like the idea of making a day out of it, almost like a rite of passage from little kid to big kid.

KarmB

i wanted to so bad, but she had to have her ear surgery and i think shes too old now. i think she'd pull at them now. I think i missed  my window so i'll have to wait for when she asks.

1andone

THANKS LADIES!! I have definitely decided to wait until she asks for them! I like the idea of making it a "special" day for me and her. Also agree with several that said I've missed the age where she won't mess with them - I know that at 18 months, she'll DEFINITELY mess with them. So, not worth it now.

lewispm

I'd wait. Ear piercing is 100% cosmetic and I think she should just get it done, if she even wants to, when she is older. I got mine at like 6 and I remember wanting it so badly that I was willing to go through the pain. Even though it hurt, it is actually a great, proud moment memory for me and I am glad my mom waited to let me decide I wanted them badly enough to go through with it.

APendola

I think it's really a personal choice...but my plan has always been that I'll take her when it's something that she wants.  That way it can be a little treat and a nice mother daughter outing.  I figure we'll do it when she is between 7-10 years old.

I think this age is a little tough because they might pull at them and it might be tough for you to clean them.  It's probably easier when they are 2 months then now...but I don't have personal experience with it.

zyas

I wish mine were pierced when I was an infant as I remember getting it done when I was 5 and I hated it. It was not a good experience at all. My mom really wanted me to get them pierced from the time I was 3 but she let me decide and I kept saying no. Until one day she asked me again while we were at the mall and I said yes. She had me in that chair before I could change my mind!

When Ava was a month old my mom and I took her to see if we could get her ears pierced but they said she had to be 4 months and I just never got around to going back. Now my H thinks she will play with the earrings too much if we get it done now. So I'm not sure what to do.