Earrings on a toddler

[Domo]

OK, so I was on the bus today and couldn't help noticing this kid opposite from me, couldn't have been more than 6 months to 12 months old... she (or he?) had earrings.

I find that a bit, well, unusual.

What do you guys think?

 

[aprilchem]

Not unusual at all - especially prevalent in the Hispanic community here. I chose not to have my daughter's ears pierced but have many friends who did.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

It's pretty common to have girls' ears pierced while they're infants.

I didn't choose that for my daughter, I waited until she asked. But almost everyone I know had theirs done when they were babies.

 

[MrsDuck]

OK, so I was on the bus today and couldn't help noticing this kid opposite from me, couldn't have been more than 6 months to 12 months old... she (or he?) had earrings.

I find that a bit, well, unusual.

What do you guys think?

Definitely can be a cultural thing! But, sometimes not, too.

I don't think I'd do it but certainly don't have a problem with those who do.

 

[mjkacmom]

I live in a very Italian area, and it's common to have them done as infants. I really regret not having my girls pierced as babies - all three had issues with infections (one ER visit), and having to have them repierced because of sports.

 

[Poohforyou]

OK, so I was on the bus today and couldn't help noticing this kid opposite from me, couldn't have been more than 6 months to 12 months old... she (or he?) had earrings.

I find that a bit, well, unusual.

What do you guys think?

It isn't something I'd do but it is common among many cultures.

 

[mommysaurus]

I agree, not something I'd do but I don't look down on those that do. It's very common in my area.

Haha actually about 2 weeks ago I was leaving after school at the same time as a mother and daughter (about 7) and they were discussing pierced ears. Was some like this...

Girl: Abby just got her ears pierced. I want mine pierced too, please?

Mom: well that's fine, if that's what you want to do. But do you know how they do it?

Girl: no. How?

Mom: Well they take a needle and-

Girl: NEVERMIND! I think I changed my mind


Glad I have a son!

 

[Mizzoufan]

Not weird in my area. I don't think it's a great idea.

 

[eliza61]

Everyone I know (including myself) had their ears pierced at birth. all my nieces have pierced ears, all done as infants. lol, I think in my family it's like getting your shots.

 

[E&Cmom]

Not weird to me. Some people get their kids ears pierced as babies some don't. It is often cultural. I think it is personal choice. I had my ears pierced by my Spanish ( Spain) mom and no damage done but DH and I choose not have my DDs done until they ask for it. Surprisingly they still don't have them pierced at 12 and 9 as they haven't asked.

 

[RitaE]

It's very common in the Hispanic community here too but otherwise so common I really don't think twice when I see it, as long as the earrings are those tiny studs. Every once in awhile …. like years apart, I'll see hoops or something and I wonder how they keep the kid from tugging on them.

 

[elphaba91]

I used to pierce ears. While I understand that it's a cultural thing, I 100% think that it's better to wait. It was absolutely awful piercing babies' ears because:

• It was impossible to mark the spot properly because they wiggled so much (which resulted in the person who'd done the dots having to tell the second piercer where they should pierce in relation to the dot, rather than on the dot itself);
• It took ages to do, with us continually almost getting there and then having to pull back at the last second because the baby moved (which was especially hard to coordinate with 2 piercers);
• It hurts the babies more because their ears are smaller and less fleshy;
• Unlike older kids the babies couldn't understand why we were causing them pain;
• The earrings often ended up being positioned too high once their ears grew;
• The parents usually didn't take proper care of the piercing afterwards and the babies often touched them with grubby fingers which usually meant they got infected and we would end up re-piercing a few years down the track (which was harder with scar tissue);
• The earrings are very small and sharp and really aren't suitable for babies - if one was swallowed it could cause terrible damage; and
• It was incredibly draining having to put a child through such torture when it was just because their parents thought their precious baby didn't look pretty enough without bits of metal through their ears.

While in my family we had to wait for 13 and I was totally fine with that, I think around 10 is the best age to pierce. Obviously it can vary with the child, but the 10 year olds were usually the ones who came back for more spray because they'd used it all up (and actually done it themselves). We often ended up having to re-pierce younger kids because someone would take the earrings out and then forget to put them back in and older teens were often 'too cool' to take proper care of their piercing.

Sorry for the long rant - it's just something that I am really passionate about!

 

[leebee]

Not too common here at all, but I know in some cultures it's pretty much expected. I look at ear piercing as a form of body mutilation, and feel it should be up to each person to make the decision of whether or not to pierce their ears. No way I'd have a child's ears pierced until they asked about having it done. DD asked at 7 and had them done for her 8th birthday. I had mine done for my 22nd birthday.

 

[gemini2727]

I wish I had my girls' ears done as infants. They wanted them pretty young (kindergarten and second grade ) and I wasn't against it, so that's when we went to get them done. My older daughter was fine, but my younger one jumped off of the chair and ran across the store and hid when it was time to do the second ear, lol!
It took a lot of convincing to get it done, but she finally agreed.
Infants won't remember at least! My daughter sure does

 

[Turn the Page]

It's relatively common here but I really do not get it. My brother and SIL got my nieces ears pierced when they were both about 10 weeks old I think. They were REALLY young.

I refused to let DD get hers done until she was old enough to take care of them herself. She was asking for awhile and I finally let her get them done at about 7 1/2. She was really good about taking care of them at that point and knew what was involved to get them done.

I know it is common in some cultures but I really just do not think it's a good idea.

 

[momto2girls]

I'm not a fan, but I know it is popular in some cultures.

 

[bcwife76]

Not unusual at all here, but not something I chose to do for either of my daughters. I'm waiting until they ask/want to get theirs done.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

I don't think it's weird or bad. My mom is Mexican and mine were done as an infant. I don't remember the pain and I enjoy having my ears pierced. I got more ear piercings when I was older. I do agree it's really common for Hispanic/Latino people.

The anti-circ people get really riled up about it though, among other people who think infant ear piercing is "torture" or "mutilation."

 

[DisneyBabies]

My mom got my sister's done when she was a baby; she had no problem with them, no infections or anything, but because she cried, my mom wouldn't do mine until I was old enough to take care of them myself By the time I was 12, my sister had let her holes close, but decided she wanted to wear earrings again, so my mom took both of us to have it done. I insisted on going first because I didn't want to be told no when my sister cried again ... which she did. It stung for a second, but I didn't think it hurt enough to cry over. However, DSis and I both had issues with infections after that and I still do on occasion. I have to wear solid gold posts; anything else and they get infected, which is a pain, but I like to wear the few pair that I have.

DH and I got both of our girls pierced when they were 3 months old. DD1 cried for a minute and DD2 didn't cry at all. Neither of them played with them or have any issues with infections and though we try to make sure they only have earrings for sensitive ears, some others do sneak in every once in a while (gifts from friends) but do not seem to have any effect on the girls. Both girls love to change out their earrings and after seeing older girls get theirs done, DD1 says she's glad she doesn't remember getting hers.

 

[mom2rtk]

My daughter had hers done around age 12 or 13. She chastised me at the time for not doing it when she was young enough to have forgotten the experience!

I worked in a mall during college and the Piercing Pagoda was right outside our store. I hated hearing those poor babies cry and vowed not to do that to my own.