OT: At What Age Did You Pierce Your Daughter's Ears?

[Tinkerbell424]

I got mine done when I was 7 or 8 years old,and I had to take them out for dance and then I got them repierced years later.and then I got my second holes done and took those out becuase of infections.

So in my opinion you should wait and see if she wants hers done.It wouldnt be fair to her if you choose to put 2 holes in her body,when she might not even want it done.

 

[Andy B]

There have been a number of responses. I wonder if it has influenced the OP at all?

Reread the original post and would like to say our DD had her ears pierced just before Christmas and she is 9 we waited until she asked.

 

[luvdisney00]

I have 3 daughters and they all got them done at 3 years old or so. I t was hard to get them to let me clean them, and each of them had at least 1 infection. My daughter who is now 9 walked around for a year with 1 ear pierced beause she refused to let them do the 2nd one after she felt the pain of the 1st. My daughter who is now 3 has had them less than a year and she tries to take them out nd touches them all of the time. Last week my husband had to hold her while I put them back in b/c I didn't want them to close and her to have to go thru it again. I would do it earlier so she is used to it at a young age , and if she doesn't want them she can take them out and close them up.
There is a RX cream that the doctor can write a script for called EMLA that numbs the ears much better than the spray. You put it on the earlobes 30 min before and they get numb. It is used for starting IV's on children.
Good Luck making your decision!

 

[vanreg]

I just had my 2 dd's done at the end of December. They are 7 & 10.

 

[TiggerandTink]

My DD got her ears pierced at 6. I waited until she asked for it and even then it took her a while to decide if it was what she really wanted. We made a trip to the mall and watched another little girl (probably 4) get hers done. After my daughter saw her cry that was it for the day. We went home. A couple of days later she started asking me "how much does it hurt" "how long does it hurt", etc. so I knew she was ready. She has had some earrings that bother her ears more than others and was pretty sensitive about getting them changed at first but now she changes them on her own and loves it.

 

[sammyteach]

I think its horrible piercing childrens ears. Wait until they ask repeatedly and they are old enough to make a truly mature and considered decision of their own. Let children be children not mini adults. Im a teacher and you should see the horrors some of our kids come in wearing high heels and massive hoop earings at six or younger wouldnt you rather your child concentrated on playing learning and having fun rather than growing up? I think lots of people in the UK would think it was a bit common to pierce a babies ears. Sorry to be so out spoken.

 

[Starr W.]

I didn't get my ears done until I was 13-14, but then again that was 20 years ago.

My Mom didn't get hers done until she was an adult, as my grandmother didn't approve of them.

 

[littleprissboutique]

We had our dd ears done at four months. Pedi said it was fine. She loves her earrings and has never gave me grief over them. LOL She has always been all girl. She has wore a bracelet from about 2 weeks after birth, and always has to have one on.

I say if you want your little one's ears done do it when your pedi says OK! I think a lot of the nay sayers may not be as girly as I am or my daughter is. I know for a fact if I had not had it done then, she would be driving me nuts to do it now. That is how she is. A lot of people tell me that it is I who made my dd super girly, but I think it is something you are born with. My best friend tries everything to girly up her dd, but she wont have it. My dd has always loved her earrings. On her first birthday she said " Mommy can I get hoopy ear ings ike urs" ---how she pronounced it. That is what she wanted for her 1st birthday, so we let her pick them out.

 

[meandtheguys2]

What purpose is there for putting holes in a small child's ears? It just is an intrusive way for mom's to decorate them.

 

[KirstenB]

DD1 is eight, and her sister is 15 mths. I'm in the camp of letting the kids decide when/if they want to do this. I told older dd she could have them done at 8, she wound up chickening out. She'll get them done eventually when she's ready.

 

[Dawn414]

I had mine done when I was in 2nd grade (so around 8?)...I think it was for my birthday...but because I wanted them done. I recall my 2nd grade teacher was aghast because one of my classmates and I had it done. I'm of the mind 'to each his/her own', but my opinion is to wait until they ask for it. In the beginning my mom helped, but it was my responsibility to make sure I cleaned them, did the turning, q-tip with alcohol, etc.

As for the small children wearing high heels and big hoops? I think that's an entirely different issue...just my opinion.

Dawn

 

[Dani&Pao'sMom]

Cultural traditions affect ear piercing just as much as they do circumcision. In Latin countries, especially, girls are expected to have pierced ears, and it is odd not to. I know that in Spain it is traditionally done very early, usually before the child is a month old.

My two cents, I'm from Guatemala, my grandmother had my mom's ears pierced when she was born by the pediatrician. My great-uncle did mine same day I was born, at the hospital, he was a plastic surgeon (btw, they are perfectly placed in the center!). DH got beautiful baby-earrings for both our kids when they were born and the pediatrician pierced their ears at the hospital. DD5's were done the same day she was born; DD2's were done the next day.

It is true, girls are expected to have pierced ears, it is VERY odd not to. I'm glad mine were already pierced by the time I noticed earrings! I don't remember the pain, I think I would hold a grudge over my mom has she allowed me to grow up to suffer and REMEMBER the pain! And it is a cultural issue; I don't see it as a mutilation of the body. To each its own. I won't change anybody's mind, they won't change mine. I think the younger, the better. Ridiculous is very subjective in this case.

To the OP, if you decide to do it, go with gold earrings, at least 10K or 14K that are screwed in the back. Or look for baby earrings. They now sell them with the applicator and the pediatrician said it's really easy and fast to do it. DH got these at jewelry.

The reason behind the gold earrings is that it does prevent infections. When the ears have first been pierced you need to roll the earring and clean it but nothing special, soap and abundant water. When it's healed, if they are gold earrings, you can practically forget about them. I check once in a while my kids' earrings, that the little ball behind the ear is properly screwed, you don't want those that can be pulled free, earrings can get lost or god forbid, swallowed!

ETA: It doesn't matter what age they are, gold earrings is the best anyways to prevent infections. After it's healed, anything goes.

Karla

 

[kanga24roos]

My father pierced my ears when I was 3. I remember, what I thought was a very large needle he brought home from work( luckily he worked in a hospital) ice cubes on my ears and my Mom holding me on her lap in the bathroom. I don't remember any pain. That was 33 years ago and the holes are still there whether I wear earings everyday or not. However as I went through the teen years I did have multiple holes put into my ears by mall ladies or myself and they have all closed back up. So I guess my opinion is whenever the parents feel comfortable doing it or when the girl really really wants it. For me personally the more important question is when is it appropriate to have your DSs ear pierced? I have 4 and the oldest 10 has already asked. I'm against.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

DD had her ears pierced by our pediatrician at 6 months. Everyone in my family does it at that age. Personally I see no issues with it being done early. If she gets older and doesn't want to wear earings she doesn't have to put them in.

I have only boys but my sister had my niece's ear's pierced at around 4-6 mos. at the pediatrician's office too. We both agreed we wished our mom did this for us very young to spare us the pain, well the memory of the pain.
She never had any problems with them, choking etc. She's now 21 so I don't know if they still do it in dr.'s offices. If I had a girl I definitely would do it ASAP.

 

[meandtheguys2]

We both agreed we wished our mom did this for us very young to spare us the pain, well the memory of the pain.

Wow, you suffered that much pain?

So, at what age did you all get your son's tongue pierced? Infant, or did you let him decide? Do you all do nipples on the babies, too? Stretch their necks, or carve up their privates?

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Wow, you suffered that much pain?

So, at what age did you all get your son's tongue pierced? Infant, or did you let him decide? Do you all do nipples on the babies, too? Stretch their necks, or carve up their privates?

Now that's a ridiculous comparison!!!
And yes, my boys are circumsized along with every other male I know. I guess I'm a mean mom!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Wow, you suffered that much pain?

So, at what age did you all get your son's tongue pierced? Infant, or did you let him decide? Do you all do nipples on the babies, too? Stretch their necks, or carve up their privates?

BTW, immunizations have lots of potential side effects. Did you wait & let your kids decide when/if they should get them?

 

[meandtheguys2]

BTW, immunizations have lots of potential side effects. Did you wait & let your kids decide when/if they should get them?

Mine aren't immunized, and yes, if they so choose they are welcome to later in life.

My point is that just because something is traditional doesn't make it the appropriate choice. Think about those wee little shoes they put on the girls in Japan. Considered attractive, but mutilated their poor little feet.

Earings on a baby are just for a mom to show off. I think mom's ought to live their own lives, and allow their children to decide whether they want holes in their ears, etc.

 

[Andy B]

Now that's a ridiculous comparison!!!
And yes, my boys are circumsized along with every other male I know. I guess I'm a mean mom!

Out of interest why did you circumsize your son, unless for religious reasons it is not common in the UK.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Mine aren't immunized, and yes, if they so choose they are welcome to later in life.

My point is that just because something is traditional doesn't make it the appropriate choice. Think about those wee little shoes they put on the girls in Japan. Considered attractive, but mutilated their poor little feet.

Earings on a baby are just for a mom to show off. I think mom's ought to live their own lives, and allow their children to decide whether they want holes in their ears, etc.

Yes, to us it's sad. To them it's part of their culture. To each his own. No one puts a gun to our heads. I just think girls wearing earrings and boys being circumsized is socially accepted here. It's more mainstream than say, tongue piercings, etc. But I still wouldn't attack someone who wanted to. I only parent my own kids not other peoples.
At least immunizations have a medical benefit. I work in a hospital a get a flu shot every year. How do your kids get into school w/o shots? Do you homeschool? That's the only way around it here.