Piercing Infant Ears?

[MamaMermaid]

No way I’d do it at Claire’s! Personally, I’d wait until she’s old enough to decide for herself. That said, it’s not apart of our culture.

 

[KayMichigan]

My Dad the pediatrician did mine at his office. He wasn't great at it though, he had to redo the right ear because it was off center.

I was older when I decided I wanted it done, 21 or 22. I think his office had an age limit of 13 or something, they wouldn't do it on anybody younger than that.

 

[_19disnA]

Seems pointless to me. An infant can't understand why you are causing them needless pain and doubt they are going to wear earrings at that age.

 

[Sinder]

I wouldn’t do it but don’t really care if someone does it to their baby

 

[tvguy]

We told both our kids, no piercings and no tattoos until they were 18 and at their expense.
DS is 35 and has no pierces or tattoos.
DD is 31 and has no tattoos and got her ears pierce at 18, and best I know the holes have healed over because she stopped wearing ear rings within a few years of the piercing.

 

[mjkacmom]

Seems pointless to me. An infant can't understand why you are causing them needless pain and doubt they are going to wear earrings at that age.

What do you mean? After they get them pierced they always wear earrings.

 

[MamaLema]

I could see it not being a social norm for a male baby to have their ears pierced but I went to school with multiple guys who had piercings in their ears some had quite a few actually. Gauges were common enough as well (both sexes wore those too).

When they were older or did the males get it when they were babies?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

When they were older or did the males get it when they were babies?

I literally said "I could see it not being a social norm for a male baby to have their ears pierced" so I spoke to that but the comment I quoted was you mentioning what age is common in your culture (12), what is common in your husband's culture (2-3months of age) and followed by "We have 3 boys so it wasn’t an issue for us"

Just because you had boys did not mean they would not get their ears pierced at some point (whatever age) nor does having boys mean you wouldn't have pierced their ears as a baby even if not nearly as common. It just made it sound like because you had boys piercing of the ears wouldn't be an issue.

 

[Moliphino]

Seems pointless to me. An infant can't understand why you are causing them needless pain and doubt they are going to wear earrings at that age.

The parents usually just leave little studs in at all times.

 

[AppleDumpling]

I’ve never seen a baby boy with earrings, though I’ve known a few who got a single piercing (one ear) starting at about kindergarten age. They’re usually sons of fathers who have a pierced ear/s. I’ve also heard parents who pierce their daughter’s ears specifically for the reason that they want them easily identified as girls. YMMV

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I’ve also heard parents who pierce their daughter’s ears specifically for the reason that they want them easily identified as girls.

Which is sorta what I was alluding to.

 

[brockash]

Opinions on piercing an infant's ears? My friend just had her 2-month old's ears pierced. At Claire's no less. Putting permanent holes in your child when they're fresh out of the womb and can't consent is just wrong in my opinion.

Yeah, I agree...almost abusive in many ways and along the same mindset of other countries that mutilate children's body parts due to their beliefs.

I get that it's not really looked at like that, but that's how I see it. Having said that I'm a woman with a double ear piercing with 2 girls who also have piercings, but not until they asked repeatedly for it. I get there are wonderful parents who get their babies ears pierced, but I can't help but feel really yuck about it.

 

[MamaLema]

I literally said "I could see it not being a social norm for a male baby to have their ears pierced" so I spoke to that but the comment I quoted was you mentioning what age is common in your culture (12), what is common in your husband's culture (2-3months of age) and followed by "We have 3 boys so it wasn’t an issue for us"

Just because you had boys did not mean they would not get their ears pierced at some point (whatever age) nor does having boys mean you wouldn't have pierced their ears as a baby even if not nearly as common. It just made it sound like because you had boys piercing of the ears wouldn't be an issue.

That’s how it sounds because that’s what I meant

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

That’s how it sounds because that’s what I meant

And why would that mean it wasn't an issue? That's why I brought up seeing boys in school. I knew what you meant, I'm asking you why that means it's not an issue.

Is there something wrong with boys who have their ears pierced? If any of your boys wanted them at age 12 when you said was culturally the norm would you have said "sure let's go do that?"

 

[BrianL]

I really can't understand why anyone would punch a hole in their body to hang jewelry from, but I do think it should be that person's individual decision and a baby cannot really make that decision.

 

[leahgoogle]

It's not the age of the child that gives me pause, it's the fact that it was done at Claire's. I'm firmly in piercings should take place at a professional body piecer or Dr.'s office if an infant.

This! We let our girls decide when they were ready, but I wish I would have taken them to a professional body piercer to get it done.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

My mom was always against pierced ears. She said, "If you were meant to have holes in your ears, you would have been born with them." When my sister and I were older (she was 24, I was 21) we decided we were old enough to decide for ourselves! We went and got our ears pierced at the mall. We both still lived at home at the time. When we got home, our mom said, "OK, but I don't want to hear about it if they get infected!" We took good care of them until they healed and never had a problem. That Christmas, mom gave us each several pairs of earring, so she got over it pretty quickly! I don't have girls, but I would have let them get their ears pierced when they were responsible enough to take care of them. My boys have never expressed a desire to get their ears pierced, nor do I expect them to. It's just not their thing.

 

[E&Cmom]

I had mine done as an infant by my Spanish mother. Ironically I rarely wear earrings these day unless going out somewhere nice but it definately has never affected my life or I thought not thought much of it. I have left my daughter to decide on thier own and so far at 15 and 18 they have not had it done.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

In principle, I don’t agree with it because I don’t agree with any body modifications that are done on individuals who can’t consent. Traditions and beliefs are all well and good so long as the individual is applying those things to themself — I don’t believe they should have the right to permanently alter someone else’s body without that person’s consent. Even if we don’t make them wait until adulthood to make the decision regarding some modifications, a child should at least be old enough to say they do or don’t want to change their body in a certain way. Having said all that, pierced ears on babies is not the hill I would die on for this argument. It’s the least invasive and offensive thing done to children compared to some other modifications that come to mind.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I worked at a book store at the mall when I was in college. There was a Piercing Pagoda right outside our store, and dang. The sound of those babies crying made an impression. Said I would never do it until my child could consent and take care of it herself. My daughter had hers done at 13 and promptly told me I should have done it when she was younger so it would have been done already without her remembering or anticipating with fear. Lol. I'd still wait though.

Gosh, that's a "can't win", huh? - Kids are so unpredictable!