How old to get ears pierced?

[Serena]

I don't think I would do it unless your husband agreed to it. Now if she were older, like 13, I'd do it if he agreed or not. That is old enough. But 2?
And she will be insistant, that's what 2yo's do. They are insistant on everything.

I'd just take a while to think about this a little bit longer, there is no hurry anyway.

 

[goofy4tink]

My dd was told that she could have her ears done when she was 10. Dh agreed to that age. Well, about 8 months before she turned 10, dd started having some 'issues'. Mostly self-esteem and 'I don't feel like I'm growing up'...that kind of thing. She was feeling like a baby compared to a lot of the girls in her class. So, we were at the mall one day and we decided to have the ears done right then and there. Dad was really perturbed when we got home!!! But, dd felt so 'grown up' that he stopped griping. I personnally don't like to see really young girls with pierced ears. Yes, I know in some cases it is an ethnic thing. That doesn't bother me. But when I see 6 y/o kids wearing huge dangly hoops, well...that is way too mature for me.

The other thing that bothers me about this particular thread is the 'my dd is really whining/begging/pleading with me...should I just give in' posts. I'm one of those mean mothers that if I'm begged by my dd for something, she has learned that is the fastest way to never get what she wants. Nope, I never give in to those pleadings. Otherwise you find yourself always in that situation....child begging/crying for something and the only way to stop it is to give in. Nope, not my style. Sorry if that offends someone, but I'm a parent, not a friend. Saying 'NO' is sometimes the best thing for your child.

 

[autumnfae]

I don't think she's too young. I've seen babies have their ears pierced. I got mine pierced for the first time when I was 5, then they got infected and closed up, and I had them done again when I was 16 or 17. Mine got infected because I am allergic to the nickel in gold earrings and no one could figure it out! The second time, I had them pierced with medical plastic and I had no problems. Now that my ears are healed I can wear gold, but when they were freshly pierced, forget about it. So, find out first if your daughter is allergic to nickel. Your doctor's office may do ear piercings (that's where I got mine done) with medical plastic. There is a company called Blomdahl that makes medical plastic earrings, so look into that if your DD is allergic to nickel.

 

[skiwee1]

I had my last DD's ears pierced at age 4 months. It was very easy to clean them and she didn't even blink when they were put in. With my first DD I waited until she was old enough to clean them herself. Big mistake! She didn't take care of them. I had to harp on her to clean them and she never did. They ended up getting infected. So when my last DD came I decided that I was going to do it early because I knew I would take care of them. I certainly wouldn't do it if DH didn't want it though. My DD is now 5 and she has never had any problems with them. She loves going in Claires and getting tons of earrings.

 

[SC Minnie]

If your DD is begging etc but you husband doesn't want her to do it-- discuss with you husband a reasonable age when he would be OK with it- 6? Explain to your daughter that is the age that you will take her. Period end of conversation. When she brings it up just say 'when you are 6 (or whatever age you decide).

My DH didn't want DD to get hers done at all- ever . When she was 5 she BEGGED to get them done I heard the 'I am the ONLY one that doesn't have them' story . Anyway I told her I would get them done for her birthday in 6 months if she still wanted them. That wasn't good enough so I told her it cost $ to get them done and if she wanted them done before her birthday she would have to do extra chores to earn the money. It took her about 4 weeks to earn enough so I took her to get them done. She didn't cry but did admit that it hurt a little. She was old enough to take care of them and we never really had a problem.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

My exh and I were going to have dd's done when she was an infant (she was too young to play with her ears at the time). But we never did and decided to wait now until she's much older. Personally, I now think they look kind of silly on really young girls and I'm glad we never had it done. DD now plays with her ears when she sucks her thumb (which is often unfortunately!) and she doesn't seem to want earrings anyway. A friend of mine made her clip-on earrings, which are cute.

My sister ended up pulling out an earring when she was about 6 and now (at age 31), she still has a slit in her ear and had to wear clip-ons all her life. On the other hand, I had mine done at 9 months and never had a problem.

It's definitely a personal decision.

 

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

Originally posted by goofy4tink


The other thing that bothers me about this particular thread is the 'my dd is really whining/begging/pleading with me...should I just give in' posts. I'm one of those mean mothers that if I'm begged by my dd for something, she has learned that is the fastest way to never get what she wants. Nope, I never give in to those pleadings. Otherwise you find yourself always in that situation....child begging/crying for something and the only way to stop it is to give in. Nope, not my style. Sorry if that offends someone, but I'm a parent, not a friend. Saying 'NO' is sometimes the best thing for your child.

My children understand that no means no, I'm not a push-over mom.

DH and I talked last night and she will get her ears pierced after she potty trains, it will be her big girl reward.

 

[MagicalMom]

My DD had her's done when she was 12. She was old enough to decide & care for them herself.
On the other hand, my friend hasd her son's done when he was in 1st grade. That shocked me a little. My son (8) has never brought the issue up.

 

[totalia]

Originally posted by ladydancer
I have been at the mall and seen these little girls screaming when they get this done. Oh, sure some of them probably agreed to it. They didn't realize the pain involved. That's why they have parents to make good decisions for them. I feel it is child abuse!! Holding a child down and poking holes in there ears. For what reason? Because there parents thinks it's cute. I for one don't think it's cute. Everytime I see a infant or small child with earrings in there ears it makes me sick! It's all about the vanity of the adults. I think this is the height of selfishness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was NOT held down and I resent that implication. It isn't child abuse. That word is used far too often.

 

[JVL1018]

Originally posted by ladydancer
I have been at the mall and seen these little girls screaming when they get this done. Oh, sure some of them probably agreed to it. They didn't realize the pain involved. That's why they have parents to make good decisions for them. I feel it is child abuse!! Holding a child down and poking holes in there ears. For what reason? Because there parents thinks it's cute. I for one don't think it's cute. Everytime I see a infant or small child with earrings in there ears it makes me sick! It's all about the vanity of the adults. I think this is the height of selfishness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It doesn't hurt. I got my ears pierced 3 years ago and it didn't hurt even the littlest bit.
I got my daughters ears pierced when she was 9 months, not only was it easy to take care of, I'd rather do it myself than havce to nag a 10 year old to make sure she was taking care of it.

I probably hurt her more when brushing tangles out of her long hair than any discomfort the ear piercing may have caused.
Should I chop my daughters hair off because it hurts her to have it brushed sometimes. I mean after all the only reason to have long hair is vanity, same as earrings.

 

[mbw12]

Well....I am in the minority here, I guess. I had my DD ears pierced when she was 5 months old. I LOVE the look on her. Call me "vain" if you want. And I am sssoooo glad that I did it at that age. In fact, when I spoke to my doctor about it.....her answer was that it is a PERSONAL decision. She did say though, that if I was going to do it....do it before she was 6 months old OR wait until she was old enough to take care of it herself. Her reasoning was that if it is done as a baby, the child gets used to it, where as if you do it when they are 1 or so...they tend to play with the ears more and get infected.

As to calling ear piercing, child abuse....well, I do think that is an extreme case of using that word. Yes, it is your opinion...which you are well allowed to have. But thank you, I have my own opinion. (And knowing children that are products of an abusive environment.....ear piercing is NO WHERE near what a real child abuse victim goes through.)

Bobbi

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Originally posted by ladydancer
I have been at the mall and seen these little girls screaming when they get this done. Oh, sure some of them probably agreed to it. They didn't realize the pain involved. That's why they have parents to make good decisions for them. I feel it is child abuse!! Holding a child down and poking holes in there ears. For what reason? Because there parents thinks it's cute. I for one don't think it's cute. Everytime I see a infant or small child with earrings in there ears it makes me sick! It's all about the vanity of the adults. I think this is the height of selfishness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

These comments are totally ridiculous. Child abuse, give me a break! My Daughter was 8 months old when she had hers done. She cried for a minute. BTW, she cried alot less getting her ears pierced than when she gets her vaccinations. My DH didn't have an opinion either way. Told me to do what I wanted, which he never says, LOL. Not a big deal to take care of either. I just swabbed them off, everytime I changed her diaper. Its a personal choice, some people do it as babies, some not. Good Luck!

 

[KimRaye]

Update: 6yo DD reached the 6 week milestone today, and she wanted those earrings changed. She wimpered and winced more over the first earring being changed than she did AT ALL when they were pierced. 2nd ear was no problem tho.

My advice:

Originally posted by KimRaye
I let the 'insistence' continue until she knew FULL WELL, from several sources, what it meant, for HER, not ME!

This, of course, for children old enough to request. For those too young to know or decide, it's the parent's decision and responsibility.

 

[ladydancer]

Originally posted by totalia
I was NOT held down and I resent that implication. It isn't child abuse. That word is used far too often.

I'm not saying YOU were held down but I have seen it! Your right, child abuse is used too often. I have heard of stupid stuff parents have been charged with for child abuse. Which IMO was nonsense. I might add, that it was no worse than this. Maybe not even as bad as this, IMO.

I still stand by my view there is no logical reason to poke holes into a childs ears. An infant or small child does not ask to have earrings. If a small child who is old enough to speak asked for them that doesn't mean a parent "has" to do it. Just like other things children ask for that parents don't feel they need they say "no". That is why children have parents.

As for the people saying it doesn't hurt. I have to laugh I have had my done twice, as one grew closed. It hurt both times. I was a teenager, second time an adult and made my own decission. My daughter was aloud at 12 to get hers done. I didn't ask her or encourage her. She had asked at an earlier age but I said "NO".

I still feel it is totally selfishness of the parents. As I said there is no logical reason for children to have holes put into there bodies other than vanity on the parents part.

If others don't agree with me, oh well, I have the right to my own views on this matter.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

DD wants her done when she turns 10 next year and I think that is reasonable for her.

 

[ksy8384]

DD6 now but was 4yo then begged to get her ears pierced. I would remind her that it was a needle that they used and she would change her mind. The last day of school at Christmas break she gets off the bus begging again. She didn't care how they did it she wanted her ears pierced...... her best friend had hers done and she wanted it too. DH and I discussed it and decided ok.... so we took her to WalMart. She screamed and begged for her daddy who had taken off to the farthest corner away from the ear piercing. Meanwhile all the people around us are looking at me like I'm a child abuser. First day back to school I am sooo excited waiting to see what her best friend has to say.....
DD gets off the bus and gives me the most disgusted look. I ask excitedly what was said. She looks at me and tells me that best friends ear-rings were sitck ons.

She wouldn't let me take care of them. One of them kept getting infected. It took two of us to hold her down to clean or change them. We finally pinned her down and removed them so that they would grow shut. It was too much for us to handle. She is glad they are gone but will say when she is older she wants it done again.


Stick ons.... I never knew. Guess I do now.

Kalen

 

[tidoublegger]

I think they should be old enough to be taking care of it themselves. I think that around 8-10 years old should be the youngest. I also don't think it should be mentioned around dd if dh isn't supportive. It makes dh look like the bad guy. I would come up with a compromise and go from there. Also, many pediatrician's offices offer this service and if yours does, when the time comes, I'd suggest having her ears done there.

 

[totalia]

Originally posted by JVL1018
It doesn't hurt. I got my ears pierced 3 years ago and it didn't hurt even the littlest bit.
I got my daughters ears pierced when she was 9 months, not only was it easy to take care of, I'd rather do it myself than havce to nag a 10 year old to make sure she was taking care of it.

I probably hurt her more when brushing tangles out of her long hair than any discomfort the ear piercing may have caused.
Should I chop my daughters hair off because it hurts her to have it brushed sometimes. I mean after all the only reason to have long hair is vanity, same as earrings.

I agree completely.

Originally posted by mbw12
Well....I am in the minority here, I guess. I had my DD ears pierced when she was 5 months old. I LOVE the look on her. Call me "vain" if you want. And I am sssoooo glad that I did it at that age. In fact, when I spoke to my doctor about it.....her answer was that it is a PERSONAL decision. She did say though, that if I was going to do it....do it before she was 6 months old OR wait until she was old enough to take care of it herself. Her reasoning was that if it is done as a baby, the child gets used to it, where as if you do it when they are 1 or so...they tend to play with the ears more and get infected.

As to calling ear piercing, child abuse....well, I do think that is an extreme case of using that word. Yes, it is your opinion...which you are well allowed to have. But thank you, I have my own opinion. (And knowing children that are products of an abusive environment.....ear piercing is NO WHERE near what a real child abuse victim goes through.)

Bobbi

Agree with that as well.

Originally posted by ladydancer
I'm not saying YOU were held down but I have seen it! Your right, child abuse is used too often. I have heard of stupid stuff parents have been charged with for child abuse. Which IMO was nonsense. I might add, that it was no worse than this. Maybe not even as bad as this, IMO.

I still stand by my view there is no logical reason to poke holes into a childs ears. An infant or small child does not ask to have earrings. If a small child who is old enough to speak asked for them that doesn't mean a parent "has" to do it. Just like other things children ask for that parents don't feel they need they say "no". That is why children have parents.

As for the people saying it doesn't hurt. I have to laugh I have had my done twice, as one grew closed. It hurt both times. I was a teenager, second time an adult and made my own decission. My daughter was aloud at 12 to get hers done. I didn't ask her or encourage her. She had asked at an earlier age but I said "NO".

I still feel it is totally selfishness of the parents. As I said there is no logical reason for children to have holes put into there bodies other than vanity on the parents part.

If others don't agree with me, oh well, I have the right to my own views on this matter.

It doesn't hurt. I don't know why you can't get that. I could tell you didnt get it done young.

There's a reason it hurts so much when your older. Your body has changed by that time and.

I've seen my nephew fall in ways that would have me cringing (he's just learning to walk) and the only time he ever seems to cry is when he accidentally cracks his head on the floor or table and even that only lasts a minute (even when he's bleeding).

Your making this into a way bigger deal than it is.

 

[Chicago526]

I was in 5th grade. Oddly enough, I never thought about it. My mom asked me if I wanted it! The did both at the same time (so I couldn't chicken out after they did just one side.) That gun going off in my ears made me jump. The pain didn't start until a half second later...

OUCH!

Glad I had it done though. I still don't wear earings more than 2x a year, but I'm glad I've got the option!