How young is too young?

VampyAuthor · November 2009

How young is too young to be pierce a little girl's ears? I've been wondering this. I know we want to pierce her ears, DH is getting her first set of earrings. But now I wonder how soon is too soon to pierce them. Someone said 6mos to 12mos is a really good age. But, Ii wonder if that's not too young. What are your opinions?

LuvMyBostons · November 2009

I think most Dr. offices will do it around 6 mos. We had my cousins done at 6 mos. cause she had absolutely NO HAIR and she looked so much cuter with little pink studs in her ears!

smorzandoj · November 2009

This should be interesting....

I say anytime before she can ask for them is way too early....and even when she can there will be no promises.

mandeline21 · November 2009

I'm going to wait until she's old enough to ask for it, but that's JMO.

mandaphilly · November 2009

From what I'm told, they have to have specific shots and have the Okay from your pedi.

But that's just what I'm told, I can't wait to get my LO ears pierced

WonderWoman27 · November 2009

I say 6 months is great! I can't wait to get my baby's ears pierced! I think it's adorable and if she doesn't like them when she grows up, she can take them out.

mrsj-dub · November 2009

My mom had my and my sister's ears done at 8 wks. old. Granted this was 32 years ago, but typically I've seen it done around 6 mos.

TinaL99 · November 2009

I'm not sure about what is "allowed" by Drs. I would say after 6 months. If we have a girl I think I will wait until she asks to have them done. I had mine pierced at 3 yrs. but I would only let them do 1! I had to be taken back another time to get the other one done. I want to leave it up to her as to if & when she wants it done.

VampyAuthor · November 2009

I just don't want to jump in and do things too quickly. 6 mos to 12 mos sounded about right. But if she doesn't like them when she's older she can take them out. I think it's cute. And DH is so excited to get her these ear rings.

Alicebean · November 2009

Honestly, I'm not a fan of babies having their ears pierced anymore. I think it looks a little cheesy. I agree with pp, it's appropriate when they ask for it.

star678 · November 2009

I'm in the "babies are not for bedazzling" camp and I wouldn't pierce until she is old enough to ask for them and care for them on her own.

mrs_sisco · November 2009

I hadn't really thought about this...interesting question. Hmmm

celiabwatson · November 2009

I would agree that I want to wait until she's old enough to take care of them herself. There is enough to keep clean on a baby without worrying about extra holes.

On another note: Alicebean, do you know what kinds your dogs are? The one that is black and brown looks a lot like our dog who is a rescue (and not from a shelter either, left alone in a snowstorm outside my school at 5 weeks) and we have no idea what she is.

Shannon11/3 · November 2009

I'm in the old-enough-to-ask camp as well. Not because I think it looks cheesy, or anything like that, but because when I was young (I'm not sure when, maybe 7 or 8) it was a HUGE deal that I was going to get my ears pierced - it was a birthday present, and I felt like a grown up because I got jewelry - it was like a whole rite of passage thing. I still remember going and getting it done and how cool it was for my mom to take me and how we had a whole girls afternoon out... It was really special and I remember it to this day.

IMO, if you pierce their ears as a baby, it's not that you take away the choice of them wearing them, because of course they can take them out, but you take away the grown up feeling and rite of passage of getting it done and picking out your first earrings.

FutureMrsDavidson · November 2009

Six months is when you can get her ears pierced. If I have a girl I will get her ears pierced. My parents got mine pierced when I was a baby and I'm glad they did.

b.heather · November 2009

*starcrossd*:
I'm in the "babies are not for bedazzling" camp and I wouldn't pierce until she is old enough to ask for them and care for them on her own.

Love this! I say not until DD is at least 12 years old. I've seen kiddos who get their earrings ripped out (ouch!) and honestly, why does a baby need earrings? I'm not going to poke holes in my child for my own amusement just because I think it is cute. It is up to her if she wants that or not.

kellialayne · November 2009

I wont be piercing my daughters ears until she asks for it. I dont understand why people do this to their babies but to each their own. Im w/ pp as it being an exciting thing that I wanted done, not something my mother chose for me. I dont think it's cute at all for babies to have their ears pierced but that's just my opinion.

bakedlaurabean · November 2009

I'd only get a baby's ears done at the doctor, so I say ask them how old your baby has to be. And really, what little girl doesn't want pierced ears anyway?? It's not like you'd be doing any harm.

Alicebean · November 2009

celiabwatson:
I would agree that I want to wait until she's old enough to take care of them herself. There is enough to keep clean on a baby without worrying about extra holes.
On another note: Alicebean, do you know what kinds your dogs are? The one that is black and brown looks a lot like our dog who is a rescue (and not from a shelter either, left alone in a snowstorm outside my school at 5 weeks) and we have no idea what she is.

I think he's mainly shepherd but might have a little husky in him because of his tail. Our other one is the one we just don't have a clue. We call him a hound mix, lol. They have DNA tests out now so you can tell what mix they are. We've never tried it but I heard the blood tests are more accurate than the swab tests. Do you have a pic of her?

serrill2 · November 2009

I waited on my first daughter until she was old enough to ask for it, and understand what it was.

I won't pierce Claire's ears until at least 5 or 6.

Mc_Babymaker · November 2009

10 yrs Old... thats how old i was. I will not do that to my children, IMO i think it's tacky for babies to have it done to them with no choice in the matter. It's not like you are sparring them from horrific pain similar to "circumcision" or "cutting teeth", it's a tenth of a second pinch.

I would think having open wounds on a baby is a whole lot more trouble than it's worth.

danalynnrd · November 2009

I had my daughter's ears pierced at 2 mos old after her 2 mos shots. AND I got them done at the mall - flame away. The ladies were good. They each did a year at the same time. She screamed. I breastfed her. She was fine after that. She never fussed to have them cleaned or anything. I'll do it again if this one is a girl.

mrs_sisco · November 2009

After listening to the comments, I'm beginning to lean towards the "wait til they ask" side. To clarify, I don't think either side is wrong or right, I just agree more with some of the points made. I had my ears pierced when I was around 6 months and am fine with that, but, I did have an accident when I was three years old where one of the other little kids grabbed my earing and pulled it through. The hole has closed for the most part, but I stil have a long "slit" on that ear. I think it may be best to wait til Jia is past the toddler/young child age and make it a special event if she wants to have them pierced. Thanks for the comments everyone!

celiabwatson · November 2009

We probably won't test, just curious though. When she was little people guessed that she had doberman or rottweiler in her because the brown was mainly eyebrows and underneath. Then we started getting more shepard. The strange thing is that she's little (almost exactly 50 pounds) which doesn't seem to match any of those breeds. I do have a picture but don't know how to post it.

Hip2Bsquare · November 2009

Well I think it's a cosmetic thing. period. I don't know if there is a right age. I've had them done on me a couple of times (2 or 3) starting at the age of 13 I think. I honestly didn't take care of them at that age and they got super infected. Some would argue that if you got ears pierced done as a baby they won't remember the pain and the mom can take care of the cleaning and avoid infection. Just because the kid is older and can ask to get them done still doesn't mean you are going to prevent pain or infection or even an accident where they get ripped out. I honestly don't know if and when I will do this to my kid. I do think that it is similar to circumcision if you are doing it for cosmetic reasons. I know! go ahead and flame me but that's my opinion.

Alicebean · November 2009

celiabwatson:
We probably won't test, just curious though. When she was little people guessed that she had doberman or rottweiler in her because the brown was mainly eyebrows and underneath. Then we started getting more shepard. The strange thing is that she's little (almost exactly 50 pounds) which doesn't seem to match any of those breeds. I do have a picture but don't know how to post it.

We adopted him at 12 weeks and we thought he was rottweiler too. As he grew he was more slender than bulky so looked more and more like a shepherd. He's about 70lbs now but he's a little chunky on the hips, lol. He should really be more around 60-65 I think

zakuravlm · November 2009

mandeline21:
I'm going to wait until she's old enough to ask for it, but that's JMO.

Same here

sassafras007 · November 2009

As soon as we can we will if having a girl.

LuvMyBostons · November 2009

So guessing that not many ppl here are gonna like our decision to have our LO belly button pierced at 12mos. I mean, a girl's gotta be fashionable!

carrotcake06 · November 2009

*starcrossd*:
I'm in the "babies are not for bedazzling" camp and I wouldn't pierce until she is old enough to ask for them and care for them on her own.

I couldn't agree with this more.

lmpdjc · November 2009

I had my DD's ears pierced at about 8 months. If I were having another girl, i would do it around the same time. They were easy to take care of and healed quickly.

Interesting side note~ DD is now 13 and a few years ago wanted a second hole in each ear. I caved and it was a big ol' hot mess! She didn't take care of them properly and they got all infected and nasty. I had to dig them out of her ears and she hasn't used those second holes since! (in fact, I think they closed up)

stgn01 · November 2009

i will wait until she asks. i don't really like when people get this done to their little girls, but to each their own. if she is old enough to ask and take care of them, then i'll take her. i think i'm having a boy anyway, so this might not even matter. interesting question though.

Heather R · November 2009

Italiannvegas:
Weto circumcision if you are doing it for cosmetic reasons. I know! go ahead and flame me but that's my opinion.

Except that there are health reasons you keep refusing to believe in that make some people want to circumcise. They're not obscure and crazy reasons. Some people worry about preventing them, and this reasoning is not stupid, nor are they cosmetic. This comparison is not valid. Now go report me again for telling you you're wrong.

Hip2Bsquare · November 2009

Heather R:
Italiannvegas:
Weto circumcision if you are doing it for cosmetic reasons. I know! go ahead and flame me but that's my opinion.

Except that there are health reasons you keep refusing to believe in that make some people want to circumcise. They're not obscure and crazy reasons. Some people worry about preventing them, and this reasoning is not stupid, nor are they cosmetic. This comparison is not valid. Now go report me again for telling you you're wrong.

Wow someone sounds so angry! and bitter?????? I think there is definitely some bitterness going on. Can you ever just give your opinion without being so hateful about it. Everyone here was just stating/giving their side of the story and opinion. It was really peaceful too. Geez and as far as me and you are concerned just MOVE ON, get over it! let it go! forget about it! drop it! c'est le vie! I don't know what else to say to you Heather.

BrainySmurfette · November 2009

When she is too young to give informed consent. IMO, it's wrong to make permanent changes to a child's body w/out their permission. However, it it's just ear piercing, it's not the worst thing in the world. My DD won't be getting hers done until she is asking for it, though.

ehiwv · November 2009

i'm not a fan of earrings on babies. i got mine done for my 10th birthday, and i will probably do the same for my daughter.

IrishBrideND · November 2009

10 years

KristenBtobe · November 2009

I think earrings on babies are tacky. My daughter can have them when she's old enough to ask and take care of them.

Heather R · November 2009

Italiannvegas:

Wow someone sounds so angry! and bitter?????? I think there is definitely some bitterness going on. Can you ever just give your opinion without being so hateful about it. Everyone here was just stating/giving their side of the story and opinion. It was really peaceful too. Geez and as far as me and you are concerned just MOVE ON, get over it! let it go! forget about it! drop it! c'est le vie! I don't know what else to say to you Heather.

Like you moved on? lol. You could take that advice, too.

There was nothing hateful about my post at all.

But you're right; we should not argue. Otherwise it will be like this (and goodness knows, we don't want that):

urbanwifey · November 2009

I think it's so creepy and inappropriate to pierce a girls ears before she's old enough to care for them herself.

There is nothing like perminantly decorating a baby for your own self edification.

Hip2Bsquare · November 2009

Heather R:
Italiannvegas:

Wow someone sounds so angry! and bitter?????? I think there is definitely some bitterness going on. Can you ever just give your opinion without being so hateful about it. Everyone here was just stating/giving their side of the story and opinion. It was really peaceful too. Geez and as far as me and you are concerned just MOVE ON, get over it! let it go! forget about it! drop it! c'est le vie! I don't know what else to say to you Heather.

Like you moved on? lol. You could take that advice, too.

There was nothing hateful about my post at all.

But you're right; we should not argue. Otherwise it will be like this (and goodness knows, we don't want that):

ok you made laugh!

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