babies with pierced ears.

[february2003bride]

I've never looked at piercing ears at a young age from the viewpoint of unnecessary body modification.

I've always thought it was a bad idea due to logistics of growth. I didn't get my ears pierced til I was 10 (11? 12?, I don't actually remember). I'm SO thankful for that because many of my peers had them done as very young children - and what was the central spot on their ear as infants/toddlers no longer is. My piercings are dead center of my lobes still, while many others have one that are low or high or wonky.

I'd just like my non-existant-future-imaginary daughter to enjoy the same central earholes that I do.

Good point. My MIL is indian and her ear's were pierced VERY young. When she wears earrings today they are so high up on her ears, they look painful and odd on her ears.

 

[AGBF]

I've always thought it was a bad idea due to logistics of growth. I didn't get my ears pierced til I was 10 (11? 12?, I don't actually remember). I'm SO thankful for that because many of my peers had them done as very young children - and what was the central spot on their ear as infants/toddlers no longer is. My piercings are dead center of my lobes still, while many others have one that are low or high or wonky.

Good point. My MIL is indian and her ear's were pierced VERY young. When she wears earrings today they are so high up on her ears, they look painful and odd on her ears.

I'm really not trying to be difficult, but could this be to you? Perhaps in her culture, due to the practice of early ear piercing, this look is normal or at least among the many acceptable looks women end up with?

Deb/AGBF

 

[AGBF]

My fears of piercing an infant's ears - what if she has or develops metal allergies and can't vocalize her distress to me ?

This is all thoughts from the noggin of a woman with no children yet...

I do not want to make fun of you, PintoBean, but as a mother all I can say is that unless a baby is seriously ill, she can always vocalize her distress! But don't pierce if you have reservations!!! I didn't.

Major hugs,
Deb

 

[PintoBean]

My fears of piercing an infant's ears - what if she has or develops metal allergies and can't vocalize her distress to me ?

This is all thoughts from the noggin of a woman with no children yet...

I do not want to make fun of you, PintoBean, but as a mother all I can say is that unless a baby is seriously ill, she can always vocalize her distress! But don't pierce if you have reservations!!! I didn't.

Major hugs,
Deb

Hi Deb! I'll take your experience and insight any day!

 

[Laila619]

I hate pierced ears on baby girls for so many reasons. A baby is not a doll to decorate at the parents' whim. A loose earring can also be a major choking hazard. I have a daughter, and I will let her get her ears pierced 1) if she wants them and can verbalize that to me and 2) when she is older and can care for them responsibly.

 

[natascha]

Wait a minute, just trying to understand this concept . It is not ok to make a decision to pierce a baby's ears because it should be their decision and they might not want their ears pierced, but its perfectly alright to pierce a 5 year old that says they want it?

And sorry but finding male circumcision ok but piercing to be excessive is something I at least find a bit odd. If someone decides later on they dont want pierced ears its not a big issue, but you cant reattach a foreskin. Removing the foreskin has a much larger impact than piercing someone ears. Saying that its for health benefits in this day and age, living in a developed country is a bit hard to stomach (no sorry hygiene is not a reason and neither is STD, a minute decrease in infection rates is irrelevant if you practice safe sex). Just be honest and say you do it for aesthetic reasons and to fit in.

 

[kenny]

This tough guy says, "Only sissies have pierced ears."

 

[Cluless]

ohhhhh look at those big beautiful blue eyes! It's a cultural thing for us (Italian) I came home from the hospital with 18 carat yellow gold hoops, that was the norm. When I had my daughter they did not do piercings in hospital so I waited and was badgered as when was I going to have my daughter's ears pierced at 5 months took her to an excellent jeweler and had her ears pierced with little gold studs ............. now she looks Italian lol. People vary as Kenny would say

 

[Cluless]

ohhhhh look at those big beautiful blue eyes! It's a cultural thing for us (Italian) I came home from the hospital with 18 carat yellow gold hoops, that was the norm. When I had my daughter they did not do piercings in hospital so I waited and was badgered as when was I going to have my daughter's ears pierced at 5 months took her to an excellent jeweler and had her ears pierced with little gold studs ............. now she looks Italian lol. People vary as Kenny would say

 

[lin_ny]

Why do people pierce baby girls' ears?

'Cause vanity.

 

[Cluless]

Sorry for the double post above can't edit. Excuse my ignorance, so if piercing a baby girl's ears "cause is vanity'', so is wearing an engagement ring when we're engaged or wedding band when we're married?

 

[GliderPoss]

Piercing babies' ears does seem to be largely a cultural thing.

My 2¢ worth is that babies and toddlers are perfectly adorable without earrings. Without bows held onto their heads with elastic bands too, for that matter.

Ditto above. We had to wait until we were 16 in our family else it was seen as "tacky" and "low class" etc especially multiple piercings. I feel the same about any future children we may have although I'd probably lower the age to 13. Still not a fan of blokes with piercings though...

 

[yssie]

Wait a minute, just trying to understand this concept . It is not ok to make a decision to pierce a baby's ears because it should be their decision and they might not want their ears pierced, but its perfectly alright to pierce a 5 year old that says they want it?

And sorry but finding male circumcision ok but piercing to be excessive is something I at least find a bit odd. If someone decides later on they dont want pierced ears its not a big issue, but you cant reattach a foreskin. Removing the foreskin has a much larger impact than piercing someone ears. Saying that its for health benefits in this day and age, living in a developed country is a bit hard to stomach (no sorry hygiene is not a reason and neither is STD, a minute decrease in infection rates is irrelevant if you practice safe sex). Just be honest and say you do it for aesthetic reasons and to fit in.

No offense intended to anyone, but I snorted out loud at this. Yeah... can't say I'd trust a five year old's judgement on body modification any more than I'd trust an infant's! Not even a ten year old's, for that matter.

I started college at 16 - waiting until then to pierce my ears would definitely have made me the anomaly.

It's always interesting to see how people from different backgrounds and cultures can sometimes have very different opinions and expectations

 

[Missy]

Wait a minute, just trying to understand this concept . It is not ok to make a decision to pierce a baby's ears because it should be their decision and they might not want their ears pierced, but its perfectly alright to pierce a 5 year old that says they want it?

And sorry but finding male circumcision ok but piercing to be excessive is something I at least find a bit odd. If someone decides later on they dont want pierced ears its not a big issue, but you cant reattach a foreskin. Removing the foreskin has a much larger impact than piercing someone ears. Saying that its for health benefits in this day and age, living in a developed country is a bit hard to stomach (no sorry hygiene is not a reason and neither is STD, a minute decrease in infection rates is irrelevant if you practice safe sex). Just be honest and say you do it for aesthetic reasons and to fit in.

No offense intended to anyone, but I snorted out loud at this. Yeah... can't say I'd trust a five year old's judgement on body modification any more than I'd trust an infant's! Not even a ten year old's, for that matter.

I started college at 16 - waiting until then to pierce my ears would definitely have made me the anomaly.

Guess I'm the anomaly...cause I started college at 16 y.o and got my ears pierced that year.

 

[yssie]

Wait a minute, just trying to understand this concept . It is not ok to make a decision to pierce a baby's ears because it should be their decision and they might not want their ears pierced, but its perfectly alright to pierce a 5 year old that says they want it?

And sorry but finding male circumcision ok but piercing to be excessive is something I at least find a bit odd. If someone decides later on they dont want pierced ears its not a big issue, but you cant reattach a foreskin. Removing the foreskin has a much larger impact than piercing someone ears. Saying that its for health benefits in this day and age, living in a developed country is a bit hard to stomach (no sorry hygiene is not a reason and neither is STD, a minute decrease in infection rates is irrelevant if you practice safe sex). Just be honest and say you do it for aesthetic reasons and to fit in.

No offense intended to anyone, but I snorted out loud at this. Yeah... can't say I'd trust a five year old's judgement on body modification any more than I'd trust an infant's! Not even a ten year old's, for that matter.

I started college at 16 - waiting until then to pierce my ears would definitely have made me the anomaly.

Guess I'm the anomaly...cause I started college at 16 y.o and got my ears pierced that year.

Oh, you anomaly, you!

 

[natascha]

Wait a minute, just trying to understand this concept . It is not ok to make a decision to pierce a baby's ears because it should be their decision and they might not want their ears pierced, but its perfectly alright to pierce a 5 year old that says they want it?

And sorry but finding male circumcision ok but piercing to be excessive is something I at least find a bit odd. If someone decides later on they dont want pierced ears its not a big issue, but you cant reattach a foreskin. Removing the foreskin has a much larger impact than piercing someone ears. Saying that its for health benefits in this day and age, living in a developed country is a bit hard to stomach (no sorry hygiene is not a reason and neither is STD, a minute decrease in infection rates is irrelevant if you practice safe sex). Just be honest and say you do it for aesthetic reasons and to fit in.

No offense intended to anyone, but I snorted out loud at this. Yeah... can't say I'd trust a five year old's judgement on body modification any more than I'd trust an infant's! Not even a ten year old's, for that matter.

I started college at 16 - waiting until then to pierce my ears would definitely have made me the anomaly.

It's always interesting to see how people from different backgrounds and cultures can sometimes have very different opinions and expectations

Glad to see Im not the only one . Sheesh at 9 I got one of those fake tattoos of a huge rose and stuck it on my cheek. Walked around like that for 3 weeks thinking I was majorly badass

I guess I can see both sides. Im half Uruguayan where we pierce babies ears at the hospital, and half Swedish where that is definitely not done. Still find the whole appropriate age discussion a bit funny though.

 

[Missy]

Wait a minute, just trying to understand this concept . It is not ok to make a decision to pierce a baby's ears because it should be their decision and they might not want their ears pierced, but its perfectly alright to pierce a 5 year old that says they want it?

And sorry but finding male circumcision ok but piercing to be excessive is something I at least find a bit odd. If someone decides later on they dont want pierced ears its not a big issue, but you cant reattach a foreskin. Removing the foreskin has a much larger impact than piercing someone ears. Saying that its for health benefits in this day and age, living in a developed country is a bit hard to stomach (no sorry hygiene is not a reason and neither is STD, a minute decrease in infection rates is irrelevant if you practice safe sex). Just be honest and say you do it for aesthetic reasons and to fit in.

No offense intended to anyone, but I snorted out loud at this. Yeah... can't say I'd trust a five year old's judgement on body modification any more than I'd trust an infant's! Not even a ten year old's, for that matter.

I started college at 16 - waiting until then to pierce my ears would definitely have made me the anomaly.

Guess I'm the anomaly...cause I started college at 16 y.o and got my ears pierced that year.

Oh, you anomaly, you!

I enjoy being an anomaly. Normal can be boring and in any case I prefer doing things my way.

 

[Hospatogi]

I think the choice is really a personal family decision . I had mine done at 3 and I loved playing dress up and wearing earrings like my mom! In fact all the girls in my kindergarten class had earrings so I didn't think anything of it until I saw this thread. I don't have kids but if I have a daughter she will probably have her ears pierced too although id probably not feel comfortable doing so until she has had all her vaccinations. And if she ever decides she doesn't want earrings she can stop wearing them and the hole will close right up!