MIL and ear piercing

dadonet · April 2011

MIL keeps talking about about how she had SIL ears pierced at 5 week! There is no way that will happen to my daughter! (if I have one) I was 3 years when I had my ears pierced and my mom said they only reason she did it so young was because I kept asking to have it done. At that point I was old enough to not only understand but to want it, mom said after the first one was done I only shed 1 tear and said I still wanted the other one. I think it should be LO choice when they are older that is permanent for the most part. If LO is a girls she will be able to ask for herself if she would like to have it done. What are your opinions?

vitan · April 2011

The first time my mother saw me after she had given birth to me, my ears were pierced. So I've had my first holes (I have 3) since the day I was born. She wasn't happy about it because she felt they did it without her permission. Me personally, I wouldn't be against it. But I'm not sure if they allow that nowadays.

Roxyroodle · April 2011

It bugs me when babies ears are pierced.

I just imagine them getting their little fingers caught and riping one out or if they got infected. Our girls won't be getting their ears pierced till they are old enough to want it done.

forensicmama · April 2011

I don't care for baby ear piercing, personally. I think it's cheesy, too. We tried at age three with my DD when she wanted it, but then she freaked out and we didn't do it. I told her that she has to wait and ask for it again before we try.

ETA, nope, it was right after her fourth birthday, this last fall.

christen_z1 · April 2011

Roxyroodle:

It bugs me when babies ears are pierced.

I just imagine them getting their little fingers caught and riping one out or if they got infected. Our girls won't be getting their ears pierced till they are old enough to want it done.

This!

MereB · April 2011

I was in 4th grade when mine were done, and my mom made a real big deal about it. My grandmother, aunt and cousins were with us (we're real close). We all went shopping, I got my ears pierced, and then we went out to eat. They treated it as part of becoming a woman, and this was one of those special days. If I have a daughter I'd love to do something similar, maybe at age 10 (if she even wants her ears pierced).

DomerJenC · April 2011

It's a cultural thing for some people, but it's not my cup of tea at all. I don't think you should worry about it. She certainly can't make you get it done.

kaydi327 · April 2011

DH and I were just discussing this the other day. If we have a girl, de is of the opinion "absolutely no ear piercing until she can make her own decision," whereas I don't know if I would want to pierce a young one's ears but I don't like absolutes. I remember getting my ears pierced when I was five and freaking out (I was a bit of a pansy), so I initially thought it may be better to do it when she doesn't remember. However, I've come to the conclusion that she should make that decision on her own. I didn't even think about a baby ripping out their earring or causing an infection (duh Katie). So, DH and I are on the same page now.

scarlettoctober · April 2011

I know it's the norm in some cultures, but I just don't like it.

kaydi327 · April 2011

DomerJenC:
It's a cultural thing for some people, but it's not my cup of tea at all. I don't think you should worry about it. She certainly can't make you get it done.

I agree- DH's stepsister is from Spain and all of the little girls on her side of the family (including her daughter) had their ears pierced when they were incredibly young.

pennysuedog · April 2011

MereB:
I was in 4th grade when mine were done, and my mom made a real big deal about it. My grandmother, aunt and cousins were with us (we're real close). We all went shopping, I got my ears pierced, and then we went out to eat. They treated it as part of becoming a woman, and this was one of those special days. If I have a daughter I'd love to do something similar, maybe at age 10 (if she even wants her ears pierced).

Yes, it is a right of passage. I don't know if I can hold my daughter of until ten . She is 5 and she begs but I think maybe 1st or 2nd grade.

dlast09 · April 2011

I had mine done as an infant and had no problems. But my middle sister, she is now... almost 13. She got hers done as an infant and somehow got one of her earrings off and got the back stuck up her nose. And my mom had to take her to the ER to get it removed. Couldn't get it out on her own. So that freaks me out. DH and I are not opposed to getting them pierced at a younger age... but we will see how we feel when LO is here. I don't think its tacky or anything. Its cute, but not something I am going to stress about and say I am DEFINITELY going to do. Its whatevvv ;]

happylady07 · April 2011

I won't until they want it done themselves, and even then not until they are at least school age. I wanted mine done when I was really little and while the piercing itself went okay, my parents STILL to this day talk about what a horror story it was to clean my ears. My mom had to pin me down by sitting on me on the bed, as my dad swabbed them while I screamed at the top of my lungs. While I don't remember any of this, it scarred them (especially my dad- lol!) my ears ended up getting infected and they just said to heck with it and let the holes close up. I got them re-pierced when I was in Jr. High.

Lambie. · April 2011

I didnt do it because I don't care for piercing babies but I kind of wish I had before she discovered pulling on her ears. I will say that the she has to be old enough to ask because I wouldn't do it without her consent argument is crap. A three year old can hardly consent to such a thing. If you really felt that way you would wait until they were teenagers.

cantalopes24 · April 2011

Lambie.:
I didnt do it because I don't care for piercing babies but I kind of wish I had before she discovered pulling on her ears. I will say that the she has to be old enough to ask because I wouldn't do it without her consent argument is crap. A three year old can hardly consent to such a thing. If you really felt that way you would wait until they were teenagers.

I actually knew a couple girls in HS who were resentful their parents had their ears pierced as babies. I don't know about waiting til they're teens but 3 is too young to consent IMO. I don't get that as an excuse.

Lambie. · April 2011

cantalopes24:
Lambie.:
I didnt do it because I don't care for piercing babies but I kind of wish I had before she discovered pulling on her ears. I will say that the she has to be old enough to ask because I wouldn't do it without her consent argument is crap. A three year old can hardly consent to such a thing. If you really felt that way you would wait until they were teenagers.
I actually knew a couple girls in HS who were resentful their parents had their ears pierced as babies. I don't know about waiting til they're teens but 3 is too young to consent IMO. I don't get that as an excuse.

Yeah, I won't make a blanket statement for what a good consent age is since all kids are different but for most I would say at least 10-12. Not that you can't do it sooner but much younger and they dont really know what they are doing.

renogaw · April 2011

My daughter is 3 and doesn't have hers pierced. I plan to wait until she's old enough to take care of them completely on her own. No idea what age that will be...maybe 10+? I'll have to play it by ear to figure out when she's mature enough.

cantalopes24 · April 2011

Lambie.:
cantalopes24:
Lambie.:
I didnt do it because I don't care for piercing babies but I kind of wish I had before she discovered pulling on her ears. I will say that the she has to be old enough to ask because I wouldn't do it without her consent argument is crap. A three year old can hardly consent to such a thing. If you really felt that way you would wait until they were teenagers.
I actually knew a couple girls in HS who were resentful their parents had their ears pierced as babies. I don't know about waiting til they're teens but 3 is too young to consent IMO. I don't get that as an excuse.
Yeah, I won't make a blanket statement for what a good consent age is since all kids are different but for most I would say at least 10-12. Not that you can't do it sooner but much younger and they dont really know what they are doing.

I completely agree. Its also a good lesson in responsibility, body image and control IMO by waiting until they can take care of it themselves.

amberlala1 · April 2011

I understand where you're coming from about not doing it early. My mom got my ears pierced at 1 year old. The reason though was b/c no matter what my mom dressed me, no matter how girly, people kept asking if I was a girl or boy, because (I had hardly no hair for a while). After I got them pierced though, those questions stopped. My mom did it because it was annoying her how many people were asking. But, I ended up taking them out a little later, then I got them re-pierced at around 9. Then years later, I got really into piercings and re-poked through my old holes and had two earings in each ear. Now I only wear earings when I dress nice and classy. But if I have a girl, her ears will not be pierced until she asks.

forensicmama · April 2011

kaydi327:
DomerJenC:
It's a cultural thing for some people, but it's not my cup of tea at all. I don't think you should worry about it. She certainly can't make you get it done.

I agree- DH's stepsister is from Spain and all of the little girls on her side of the family (including her daughter) had their ears pierced when they were incredibly young.

Where we lived last in Oregon, there is a strong Hispanic culture (Mexican culture) and all of the little baby girls have pierced ears.

forensicmama · April 2011

amberlala1:
I understand where you're coming from about not doing it early. My mom got my ears pierced at 1 year old. The reason though was b/c no matter what my mom dressed me, no matter how girly, people kept asking if I was a girl or boy, because (I had hardly no hair for a while). After I got them pierced though, those questions stopped. My mom did it because it was annoying her how many people were asking. But, I ended up taking them out a little later, then I got them re-pierced at around 9. Then years later, I got really into piercings and re-poked through my old holes and had two earings in each ear. Now I only wear earings when I dress nice and classy. But if I have a girl, her ears will not be pierced until she asks.

Haha... this definitely tempted me to think about piercing my DD's ears when she was itty bitty. She was literally bald until she was 2 1/2. Even in pink and bows and dresses (she rarely wore pants) people would still think she was a boy! I don't get it! Who puts a dress on a little boy?

TaraDustin · April 2011

My mom had mine pierced when I was about 6 months old. I'm sure it was partly because I had no hair, so I looked like a boy! lol. But I've always been glad she did because then I didn't have to do it later on. When I was older I got a second set on my ears, so I didn't miss out on making the decision. I think it's really adorable when little girls have their ears pierced, but to each their own. It never bothered me. And now, because I've had them for so long, I can go months without putting earrings in and they never close up.

Sammy-Mae · April 2011

I had mine done at 8. It was a thing in our family. At 8 girls got their ears peirced and boys got a Swiss Army Knife. I won't do DD's until she is old enough to ask for them.

Ceridwen21 · April 2011

I think pierced ears on babies looks really sweet. We'll probably do it if we have a girl.

amberlala1 · April 2011

forensicmama:
amberlala1:
I understand where you're coming from about not doing it early. My mom got my ears pierced at 1 year old. The reason though was b/c no matter what my mom dressed me, no matter how girly, people kept asking if I was a girl or boy, because (I had hardly no hair for a while). After I got them pierced though, those questions stopped. My mom did it because it was annoying her how many people were asking. But, I ended up taking them out a little later, then I got them re-pierced at around 9. Then years later, I got really into piercings and re-poked through my old holes and had two earings in each ear. Now I only wear earings when I dress nice and classy. But if I have a girl, her ears will not be pierced until she asks.
Haha... this definitely tempted me to think about piercing my DD's ears when she was itty bitty. She was literally bald until she was 2 1/2. Even in pink and bows and dresses (she rarely wore pants) people would still think she was a boy! I don't get it! Who puts a dress on a little boy?

lol. exactly what my mom said.

LCass · April 2011

TaraDustin:
And now, because I've had them for so long, I can go months without putting earrings in and they never close up.

I kind of doubt that's the reason. I have friends who had their ears pierced when they were really young and they have to wear earrings regularly or they close up, while mine were only done when I was in grade 4 (my mom refused for years, until my aunt convinced her to pierce her own and then she felt she couldn't refuse to let me get mine done anymore) and I have gone 6 months before without wearing earrings and the holes didn't close.

I think I'd probably wait till my daughter was asking and around school age before I pierced her ears, although I do think it's really cute when babies have pierced ears.

vtcriddel · April 2011

I think it's up to you, but you've already got enough other things to worry about w/ a newborn so why add cleaning their piercing? Some of my cousins had theirs done when they were really little, but my parents did it for our 10th birthday. We had to be old enough that we could be responsible for cleaning our own ears & there were a lot of conversations about the process & responsibility that went along with it. Until then, I just had a large collection of clip-ons.

Oh, and I've gone a year at a time w/o wearing earrings & mine have never closed up, so I guess it just depends on the person

itsmegin · April 2011

I won't do it until our daughter is older. I had them done around 7 or 8 and it was so fun, such a big deal and a great memory for me. I want to do that with my daughter, not when she is a baby and can't even remember.

I do think it's nice when they're in that is-it-a-boy-or-a-girl phase to make it clear that it's a girl though, and I can see doing it early so they don't remember the pain and aren't scared, but I want to hold off.

amethyst13 · April 2011

I agree with you. We waited until DD was old enough to want it. She was just shy of 3 and was begging so we did it. We told her it would hurt but only for a second and then she'd have beautiful earrings. We didn't want to sugar coat the pain. She sat right up in the chair and got them done and cried but as soon as they gave her a lollipop she was fine and SO PROUD OF HERSELF!!! That was the best thing ever. Seeing how happy she was that she did it make it worth waiting. Good for you to sticking to your guns. Don't back down if that's what you want to do.

hunnybunny614 · April 2011

renogaw:
My daughter is 3 and doesn't have hers pierced. I plan to wait until she's old enough to take care of them completely on her own. No idea what age that will be...maybe 10+? I'll have to play it by ear to figure out when she's mature enough.

You saying play it by ear made me giggle. But I agree with you. I want my daughter to be mature enough and be able to make the decision, as well as understand the responsibility.

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