Would you pierce your baby's ears or do you think that is not right?

I think it’s cute, I can’t lie. Every time I see a little girl with her ears pierced I go “aww”. But, I do think you should let her decide. It is kind of painful and unnecessary to put a child through just for the sake of looks.

To be honest, I’m not big on piercings in general.

But I definitely think they’re a bad idea to put on a baby or toddler. It’s not like they can appreciate how good the shiny new metal in their ear looks. They just know the pain of the piercing, and of the potential infections.

I wouldn’t do it, but I have no opinion about other people doing it.

It’s less painful then a shot at the doctor’s. In that age they get shots every 3rd 4th week. One more or less doesn’t matter for the baby, and the next day she will forget it anyway. So I think it’s ok and accepted. But if you want to make sure, just ask the shop where they piercing the ears, if it’s common to do it with your baby’s age.

I believe that we should all be allowed to choose what modifications are made to our own bodies. I’d wait until my kid was able to make that decision herself personally. I don’t tend to think much when I do see it – negative or otherwise

When I read this question, I thought it was actually about ear-piercing infants.

I don’t think it’s wise. Babies grow into toddlers and toddlers play rough. An earring can easily get ripped out. I wouldn’t want my child’s ears pierced until they’d outgrown the rough-and-tumble play stage.

In some cultures, piercing a baby girl’s ears is very common. Usually a pediatrician does it. When I worked in daycare, I knew a few little girls whose families were originally from Mexico. All of them had their ears pierced as infants. The earrings were very small gold studs, not big enough to grasp and pull out or get caught on anything. I thought it was very cute. :)

With my own daughter, I waited until she was old enough to ask. She decided she wanted pierced ears when she was five. It was not fun. She had one ear done, then balked at the other. What I should have done was take her to a place with TWO people working so they could have pierced both ears at the same time.

Im with @stardust on this one.

@downtide has a valid point, although I can’t back it up with any stats. on how often this happens.

Our sister had 3 daughters. Like us, they had to wait until a certain age in order to get their ears pierced. Interestingly, 2 of her daughters got theirs’ pierced, and one opted out. She’s now 30 and still pierce-free.

Personally, I liked the anticipation of getting to that age in order to get them. Mom didn’t take me, but my two sisters did. It was sort of a rite of passage and one that I look back on fondly.

I don’t care for the look on a baby. But when they’re about 8 it’s cute. no plastic earrings please!

No, when they are that young, they are more susceptible to infections.

I think a child should have the right to decide if they want the piercings or not. A baby is not a dress up doll. I never understood why someone would want to do this to a baby.

My daughter is six, and just asked if she could have hers done. She said all her friends have them, and she is the only one that doesn’t. I’d rather she want it done because she thinks it’s pretty, not because everyone else has them.

I think it’s fine. I also think both parents should agree about it.

If my husband was against it, I would have no problem waiting, and letting her do it when she is older. I had it done when I was 8. Ironically it is more likely my husband would assume it would be done during infancy. He is Mexican, and most Latin American people I know do it when their daughters are babies.

I have never met a girl who did not want her ears pierced.

My grandma had it done in her 60’s. For years she dealt with clip earings, it is really much more convenient to have pierced ears.

The one thing about when they are babies is you have to do the work of caring for it and turning the earings etc. I think people made good points that if an infection does occur, it might be more worrisome if it is a baby.

I’m actually not sure when I would pierce my daughters ears, or let her do it? If I had a daughter.

i would not pierce my babies ears…. its there body and when they became old enough i would let them decide on what they wanted to do. Plus it leaves a chance for infection/ pain if they get caught on something. Just not worth the headache.

I would do it and I think its adorable. My mom got my ears pierced when I was 3 months old.

When I have children I would like to have my little girls ears pierced. However I would also need the agreement of my child’s father.

I had my ears pierced at 6 months, I don’t remember it at all. I loved wearing earrings when I was younger. I got a second hole in each ear when I was 12. Granted it wasn’t a horrible pain, but I remember every bit of it. Also, my first hole has never closed up on me, no matter how long I go without wearing earrings in them. That second hole closes up if I don’t wear earrings in it every few months.

If we have daughters, I would like to get their ears pierced, as long as my husband agrees. If she decides she doesn’t want them when she gets older, she can take them out.

I guess it depends. If I had a little girl, I would want her to have earrings. All the girls in my family had earrings when we were babies, and my holes still haven’t closed. I got my second ones when I was five, and my third when I was 10.
But I wouldn’t go all crazy like that with my kid.

I would let my daughter choose for herself when she gets older. Choosing for her at such a young age is almost expecting that she won’t be beautiful on her own and will need ear decoration in the future. Maybe that’s taking it too far in the feminist direction, but it may make her feel obligated to wear earrings none the less.

I do realize that for some it is a cultural custom. I just wish they had the hits to go against the grain.

But the Q is what I would do. I feel strongly that a child has the right to decide what they are comfortable with for their own bodies.

If she wanted it, I would make sure she understood everything involved, including aftercare and go from there. As long as she had a voice in the decision.

But for a baby ? No way at all. Its a friggin fashion statement which is of absolutely no advantage to the baby and could cause infection. Makes no sense at all.

No way. I had to wait until I was 10, old enough to kind of make an informed decision. I had to take care of my ears, yadda yadda.
I personally think thats too much pain for a little one to handle.

EDIT “I wish they had the guts to go against the grain.”

iPhone typing sucks eggs :)