To Pierce or Not to Pierce

I had my daughters ears pierced at about this same age and it worked out fine. I would suggest however, investing in the type of earrings that "lock" or screw on because it is a possible choking hazard. I was able to clean and twist them daily without any problems. Despite being worried about the initial pain I have no regrets and I think she looked darling with her little earrings. Now, at age six, she changes them to match her outfits each morning!

My grandaughter got hers done she is 18 months she jerked one of hers out the other day and ripped her ear. My daughter that is now 21 and with a baby of her own got hers done when she was 5 . We waited for her to ask so she could have the choice as to whether she wanted them done or not.

I had my daughters ears pierced at her doctors office. She was 9 months old. She didn't even cry. It was just like a shot. She's 3 1/2 now and still wears earings.

First, let me say thank you for the service you and your husband perform everyday for us. My 5 year old wants to be a police detective when he grows up and let me tell you he's already got interrogation techinques down to an art!!

I waited to get my little girls ears pierced until she was 2 or 3, she breezed through the piercing, but I would have to fight to clean her ears and a couple months later she realized she could take the earrings out herself!! Twelve dollars down the drain and nothing to show for it now because they closed up. I'd go ahead and do it now while she's not quite as inquisitive as a 2/3 year old tends to be, she'll be fine.

Thanks again for your service.

A. Hayes

I would wait till she got older so she could make that choice herself. My daughter is 24 and just got her ears pierced a few months ago. I asked her if she would had rather me done it when she was younger.She said "No, she was glad I hadn't, that she thought that should be her decision". She never wanted then pierced until now.
D.

I pierced my daughters ears at 3 months old. She cried for just a second, her daddy picked her up and she was fine. She is almost 16 months old and she doesn't even bother them. They HAVE NEVER been infected. We cleaned them with the solution that they gave us. I do not regret getting her ears pierced.
I have heard people say wait until she is able to make the decision on her own, and that its too painful for her. Well just think of it this way, they will not remember the pain.. and for all of you that has said, well we don't want to do that to our daughter because its not her choice, if you have a son are you going to be like, I can't circumcise my son because it's not his choice? I for one, have three kids, 2 boys that are circumcised and a daughter who has her ears pierced.
You have to make the decision that is right for you and your husband, if you want to do it then go ahead and do it, she is not going to hate you for it. If you don't want to get it done, then that is okay. Not every girl has to have her ears pierced.
JUST MY OPINION.

I had my daughter's ears pierced at 6 months. I only waited that long because no one would do it sooner. My mom had mine done when I was just a baby, too. I did it for the same reason that most of the others did. If you do it now, she can decide later if she wants to wear earrings. It's not like you are making some huge cosmetic alteration. It's a simple hole in her ear lobe. The younger they are, the less likely they are to mess with them and make them sore. Also, if you take care of them, they are less likely to get infected than if she were to do it herself. It's your decision, but I say go for it. They can do both ears at one time. I have had nieces and cousins that beg to have them done, then chicken out when they get there. It doesn't hurt them, it just scares them. I know, I have my ears pierced, too. I hope this helps.

Forgive, this has made me realize the mith we grew up with was just that. I was always told that African Americans were the only race that got their childs(male or female)ears prirced early.
I adopted my daughter and i was going to be that A.A. that waited but her aunt had taken her to get them peirced. She never had a problem with her ears. We would get the statement from our friends that weren't A.A about her ears. My cousion that had also heard the same waited until her daughter was 8 and her daughter was very excited about it. After seeing her attitude about now being able to get her ears peirced made me wish my daughter were not peirced sooo early. My cousion did get grief by other A.A's but she didn't give in. I said all that to say I would wait maybe even until she 4 or getting readt to enter kindergarten, something special.

I say go with what you want to do. I have my little girl's ears pierced and did it when she was about 5 months old.

If she doesn't like them when she gets older then she can take them out lol Just like if she doesn't like living by your rules she can be out the house when she's legal ;)

Wait until she's older and can make the decision for herself! What if she decides she doesn't want pierced ears? Also, it's funny to see babies with pierced ears - this should be a privilege like wearing makeup that comes for older girls, maybe in late elementary or early middle school.

This is a tough one. I did my little girls at 3 months and I think she was too old then. She screamed and cried for about 10 minutes and then it was all over with, but I am one that can't deal with my kids screaming. Of course I cried with her. lol. The only thing I would worry about is her being old enough to pull them out. I had to deal with this for about 3 months. I eventually went and bought some locking backs and put them on all of hers and it stopped her from pulling them out. So, if you can deal with the crying and all, then I say go for it. It looks precious and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Hi! I have to say that I agree with the wait approach. Just a personal decision that I made as a mother. I will let her decide if she wants earrings. My mom waited until I was 12 years old, and then I was able to decide whether or not to pierce. I did. Then a year or two later I asked for second holes. I regret those! I wore earrings for a few years and now I am walking around with what look like second holes, but they are closed in. Yuck.

I was not allowed to have my ears pierced until I was 13 and I am glad that my parents made me wait. I got to make my own decision.
It was up to me to care for them at that point. A baby can't do that and it would be just one more thing for you to do.
Also, you might think about the possibility of the earring getting ripped out during play in the years to come.
I have a 10 month old and I too am tempted to pierce her ears, it would look cute! These are just the things that I have thought of.
T. S

In my opinion, it should be HER DECISION (when she is old enough) as to whether or not she gets her ears peirced. I don't think that it is fair that mothers pierce their babies ears! They have rights to make choices in their own time. YOU may want them done but what if she grows up and didn't want any holes in her body? - My Dad pierced my ears when I turned 13 and would not give in a day before! He wanted me to be 100% sure before I had holes put in my ears. Besides, what if her ears become infected, then what? If she DOES want to get them done in the future, she won't be able to due to scar tissue. If it were me, I would wait! Best of wishes to you on your decision!!

wait til she ask to have her ears pierced!

I considered it when my daughter was a baby, but she got ear infections frequently and I didn't want to cause her more irritation. Any this winter my daughter was 2 1/2 and she started telling me she wanted them.
Her dad and I took her to the mall one night and they both kept talking about how she should get them. I refused for about an hour telling my daughter it would hurt really bad. I told her when i got mine pierced it hurt and I told her it might make her cry. I even pinched her ear to show her a little pain there, but she insisted it didn't hurt and that she wanted them. Her dad kept saying - let her get them....she's tough, aren't you?
Anyway, I finally gave in. She sat perfectly still "like a big girl" as they marked her ears. Then two girls pierced them at the same time...one on each ear. My daughter didn't even flinch. And when it was over she said "it didn't hurt mommy, I'm a big girl."

Moral---I'd say wait until it's her decision. But that may be just another year or two. Now she is SO proud of what a big girl she was and shows off her earrings to everyone. She even twists them and cleans them herself (with my instruction of course) She'll be 3 in June.

I am 43 and have never had my ears pierced. It wasn't allowed in my family. I always thought I'd have it done, but never did. My hair covers my ears anyway, so earrings don't show up much. DH wanted to have DDs ears pierced when she was a child, but I asked him to wait until she was older and could take care of them herself. She had them done as a teenager. I agree with the other people about waiting until she is old enough to make the decision on her own.

~A.~

i'd wait til she asks to get them pierced. i remember getting mine done as kind of a right of passage from toddlerhood to sentience at age 3.

my daughter will have her ears pierced at 13.

For us it is a right of passage into young women hood.
she is very excited and will be mature enough to take care of herself.

children are so naturally beautiful i see no reason to start adorning them early.

did i mention it is work for the mom!!!!
Keep it simple

I stronglly recommend this approach.
D.

I am opposed to any cosmetic alterations to children's bodies when they are too young to understand.
Everyone told me I should get my daughter's ears pierced when she was an infant, and I refused. I was only going to have it done if and when she wanted it done.
When she was about 4, she wanted to wear my earrings, and I told her she couldn't because you needed holes in your earlobes to wear them. She asked if she could get her ears pierced, and then asked if it hurt. I told her that it hurt a little bit and she asked how much. I told her that I would show her if she really wanted to know. She said she did, so I gave her earlobe a short sharp pinch with my nails. She yelped, then rubbed her ear, and a few seconds later, said, "It stoppped hurting. Does it stop that fast for earrings?" I told her it did, she decided the pain was worth it, and we went the next day and got them pierced. By the time she was in middle school, she had three sets of ear piercings, and is now saving to get a cartilage piercing.

I wanted to get my daughter's ears pierced, but I also wanted it to be her decision because with them come responsibility. I didn't want it to just be something I wanted her to do. I waited until she was able to make up her own mind and so picking out her first pair of earrings was a special treat for her. She was 5 yrs old.

This may be a weird response but here goes. In my family an Aunt always, always, took the girls to have their ears pierced but only after the age of 12. Having my daughters done at 9mos, 4 years and 8years old. We had infection problems, as she got older she liked them, then she didn't, now at 12 she does. I'd say let the child decide when she is old enough....may save a lot of 'time, effort, and some pain' and let her and possibly an Aunt, or best friend, get them done when SHE can appreciate this basically little right of passage. She isn't a dolly.
B.

I would let her make the choice when she gets older. Since she's almost a yr. now she'd probably pull & touch them & it might make them get infected...! My daughter was four and asked so we had them done at Walmart..don't think they do it anymore but several stores in the malls do it or your doctor might..they used to...wait..their her ears!!

We pierced our daughter's ears at 6 months. The reason I have problem with my ear and they heal over every time I get them pierced. We talked to the doc who said if we did it early for her she might have better sucess. She is now 3 and had them just about 3 years. We have never had any major problems. She has lost a couple, but never ripped them out of her ears. She wasn't bothered too much by the piercing just like she is with a shot.

Hope this helps.

If you want to do it, do it now or wait until she is old enough to ask. In my family we pierce them as babies, it is just part of our traditions. My daughter was six months old and the doctor did it. It was no worse than her getting a shot. As far as caring and cleaning the ears and earrings, that isn't so bad. It takes less time then brushing their teeth. My daughter is almost two and pulls the ear rings out when she sleeps, so now we take them out at night and put them in in the morining. She doesn't give us any problems putting them in and out.

I agree it is a personal preference. I have had so much trouble with my ears being pierced that I will not do my daughters until they are about 12 or so and only then if that is what they want. I want them to be able to take care of them themselves so it is their choice and their responsibility. As for them not remembering the pain...I was 13 when I got mine pierced and I don't remember the pain. My children's godmother threatened to have it done and I put a stop to that one. I say let them be kids, they'll grow up fast enough.

I say do it. I waited to have my daughter's ear's pierced until she was 2 yr old cause my husband didn't want them done when she was a newborn cause he was afraid that it would "hurt" to much and then as she started getting older he thought she would pull at them. Then just one day we were in Walmart and I was paying for my items at the jewelry desk and I felt kind of bad because all the other lines were so full so I said lets get Anastacia's ears done and my husband said ok. They had me hold her and they did them both at once and she just clinched up for a second but never cried and from then on she walks around and she will show you her earrings. She is so proud of them. If I had to do it again I would have done it while she was younger but it is really all up to what you and the father think is best for the child.

I believe a child should be old enough to decide for themselves if they would like to have their ears pierced. I have an 8 yr old who chose to get pierced ears at 5. My 4 year old has not yet mentioned having hers done.

My little girl's Dr. told me he would do her ears when she was six years old but not any sooner. So that was fine with me.I was eight when my mom did mine.

I got my daughters ears pierced when she was about that age, and it worked out great! She never bothered them at all! Sometimes it was a bit challenging changing out her earrings, but not more so then when she got a lil bit older!

Upside - she is too young to pull them out. Downside - My daughter hasn't had hers a year and I just got them healed up. I finally had to take them out each night so her ear could heal up. Turns out that sleeping on them would rub the back of her ear into mangeled meat. I was about to take them out and say forget it before I started removing them each night.

Piercings are prone to infection. At 11 months she is just old enough to reach up and get them dirty and no where near old enough to take care of them.
I you are prepared to do all the work then it is your choice. At about two some little girls want to wear jewelry. Might as well get it over with.

Here a funny true story that might give some perspective.
My teenage sons wanted to get their ears peirced. My husband said no. The oldest got his done after he turned 18. Now I had 2 more wanting it. I said I don't care what you get peirced just so long as I never have to see it.
I will give you two guesses what they got pierced.
One is named for Queen Victoria's consort.
Be prepared.

I say if you want to do it do it! I have two daughters. One was 5 months old and one was 9 months old when we did it. My older daughter is now 3 years old and we have had no problems . It was difficult changing them out at first, so we would usually put one pair in and leave them for awhile.

They had each ear done at a time, not at the same time. They cried more when you had to hold them still (for about 2 minutes) then it was over. Ask lots of questions of the person piercing them. You will find that it is very sanitary.

I know this issue is a bit controversial, but I think that whatever decision you make will be the right one.

I have an 8 month old daughter and my husband and I have decided to wait. And when she does decide she wants her ears pierced, it won't be Wal-mart or a store in the mall, that uses the "ear gun". That piece of machinary is probably the most dirtiest way to pierce anyones ears. Yeah, they clean the piercing end cleaned, but what about the rest of the gun. And I have never seen any of those "piercist" wear gloves. None of that for me or my daughter. She will have a professional piercist do her ears.

When I came to Louisiana as a little girl I was amazed at children with earrings!Later I read where the custom came from west Africa. I went back and forth about getting mine pierced as a teenager and then a young adult. But then I was such a natural person. I finally decided at 36 I'd try something different and get my ears pierced. Bottom line: I made my own decision when I was ready.

When my daughter was born, I was 30. People kept asking me (louisianians especially): "You have a little girl! So when are you getting her ears pierced?" My answer was: "I will let her make that decision concerning her own body when she is older and can think and reason for herself."
She is now 21 and not the bit interested in earrings or piercings of any type. She doesn't look weird or stand out because of her decision but it IS HER decision and she tahnks me for allowing her to have it.

Now, I see people taking infants to kiosks in the mall! I'm sorry. There's something not kosher about that--putting a baby thorugh such for cosmetic reasons. Most people are not thinking of blood-born diseases, keloids, hepatitis, etc. because if they were, they'd take their child to the doctor before getting her ears pierced and they would have some teenager in the mall doing it.

We had our daugther's ears pierced at 13 months old and she is now 27. She never played with them and never had an infection. She cried briefly. Her uncle was with us and gave her a sip of his coca-cola and she was fine. She told us later when she was a teen that she was glad that she had no memory of the pain and had pierced ears. Her friends were geting their ears pierced and were dreading the pain and their parents were making them responsible for that first care. I say go for it but put fine jewelry (14kt) earrings in initially. Hope this helps.

personally, I did both of my girls early at 3 or 4 months...didn't have any problems. By doing it early, they didn't pay too much attention to their ears. But it is a personal decision...go with your gut!

We pierced my daughter's ears at 11 months. She looked so cute for her 1st birthday! And for her 1-year photo. We got them pierced in the mall, at a place called Claire's (same store as The Icing & Afterthoughts). She cried for a few minutes, but was distracted as soon as she saw herself in a mirror. I gave her some Tylenol before we went, and she took a nap not too long after (just like she does with her shots & Tylenol). She rarely messes with them. She sometimes fights me to clean them or take them out/put them back in. When she was younger, I'd take them out & clean them when she fell asleep. You do have to keep them in for a certain amount of time (10 weeks I think), before you can take them out & clean them. Also, Claire's gave me a bottle of Earring Cleaning Solution. The piercing was free, but I had to purchase the piercing studs.

The earrings also helped out 'cause everyone kept thinking she was a boy (she had very little/short hair).

I had my little girls ears done when she was 4 months old. I would do them now. Because i have had friends that have gotten they little girls ears done later and they pull on them and some of them have pulled them out. So i would do it now while she doesn't notice her ears that much then to wait until later. Just ask around to see where the best place is to have them done in your area. Good luck on what you deceide

We have two daughters. We pierced the first ones ears at 5 months and the second one at 3 months. I think when it is done early, you have less chance for infection. My 9 year old (the second one)went and had hers done for a second time last year and we had so much problems with them. We had to take them out. But her first holes are great and we have never had problems with them. So, it's totally up to you. But, it doesn't cause problems for them. Good luck.

I have heard of parents requesting the technician to do both ears at once, so you don't end up with one ear pierced. We decided not pierce our daughters ears because we felt it should be her decision.

Has your daughter asked to have her ears pierced? Why do mother's think it is necessary to "bling" up these babies? How about waiting until it is her choice?

Well, I got my daughter Mia's ears pierced when she was 5 months old. I personally think it is good to their ears peirced when they are young. Mia has never messed with them, and as long as you clean them correctly, you should have no problems with infections. I got my ears pierced when i was about 10 months old as well, and have had them ever since.

I talked to a woman who does piercing for a living and she said that she recommends very highly not piercing until the kid is about seven years old and can not only choose for themselves but take care of it themselves.

I think that altering a childs body should only be done with the childs consent. I would wait until the child asked for her ears to get pierced.

My advice is DO NOT DO IT. In my opinion, piercing ears on a baby of any age is way too young. Think about when you fall asleep or just lie down in your earrings and lay on your side, how it hurts when the post of the earring sticking out in the back presses against the skin - at least it hurts me! I just think that is a little ridiculous to poke a hole in your baby's little ear and stick a metal rod through it, just for appearance's sake. She'll be begging to have them pierced soon enough! For my daughter, I'm not going to let her have them pierced until she is older, like 12 or 13, IF SHE asks for it. My mom took me to get mine pierced at age 5, but today I wish I had never had mine pierced. I don't wear earrings anymore because they always make my ears turn red, babies grab at them anyway, and I hate it that I can still see the scar of the holes! Just my opinion, good luck with your decision.

Whatever you like, your daughter will be fine. She will cry, it does hurt, but she won't remember it. I personally think little girls with earrings look kind of gross. I don't like the look. My sister wishes she would have had her daughter's ears peirced as an infant, so it's just a personal preference. You will have to really watch infection and go someplace you trust to clean equipment, etc. My mom's rule was wait until 14 when we could take care of the holes ourselves; I plan to wait until at least 13 with my daughter, but at 8, she can't wait.

I did my twin girls ears at 6 mos It was nothing if you go to claires or someplace like that. The use that gun and it just takes a second mine only cried for about 15 secs I used 14k studs and just never touched them until this year they turned 3 and I got them a new pair with their birthstones and diamonds I got them online. Hope that helps. i am an RN and I didn't even clean them all the time like they say and nothing ever happened to their ears. I think leaving thme alone was best unless they bled alot or you see drainage I did turn them now and then but thaqt is it.

We got Kassi's ears done at 2 months, she is 8 months now, and finding her ears. The piercing studs they use have a locking back on them that is hard for even me to get off, so I don't see a baby being able to do it. We got hers done at Claire's in the mall, fairly cheap, included the cleaning solution and all that. She cried less than she does when she gets her immunizations. If she is very interested in her ears, I might put it off, but otherwise, go for it.

I got my oldest daughters ears pierced when she was 6 months old and I am glad I did it at a young age. She never bothered them or tried to pull them out and she doesn't remember the pain from getting them done. I have not got my youngest daughters done yet, but I will probably have them done around her 1st birthday.

I would wait till she's older and let her decide if she wants them pierced. They are her ears after all.

I had my daughters ears pierced at 10 months and she did great! I highly recommend that you consult her pediatrician and you might even see if she is willing to perform the procedure. As long as you keep them clean and follow the directions given to you by your doctor all should be well. I say go for it my daughter is almost two now and loves to get her earrings changed it is just another way for her to dress up.

I personally think you should wait until she is old enough to choose for herself. My mother would not let me get my ears peirced until I was responsible enough to take care of them myself and when I finally could I decided I didn't really want earings. I think that that should be something that your child should choose if she wants or not. I decided that that would be my statement and that that was what set me apart from the crowd. Plus, the positioning of the hole could move as your daughters ears grow and they would have to get repierced. If this is not enough then just think if they were to get infected, you would have to deal with taking care of them all by yourself and probably an extremely fussy little girl.

Personally, I say not to pierce. I'm not generally a fan (yes, it looks cute, but it's a heck of a burden for you to pick up for the next 6 or so years until she's big enough to take care of them yourself). In any event, I feel if you're going to do it, it should be done when they're really really little, like a few months. With ear infections, and dirty little exploring toddler hands, teething, there is just so much yuck that she brings to the table as she checks them out and grows at that age.

And as others said, she also may ultimately not want them. I feel that until she's old enough to take care of them herself, you should hold off. She'll of course admire yours and pretend that she has earrings, but that won't make me get her ears pierced now any more than admiration and play of my 3" pumps will have me looking on Ninewest.com for toddler pumps.

I had my daughter's ears pierced when she was 4 months old. I would recommend getting it done by your daughter's pediatrician, if they offer it. Our pediatrician had some special cream to deaden the ears, so it was virtually pain free!

Hi my name is D. b and i wanted to respond on your ar peircing.well i have a 20 month old and i got her ears done when she was 14 months old i was really shocked because she didnt cry at all.before i had them done everyone thoght she was a little boy even though she was in pink.i was just like you i didnt want to them until she was older but my huband told me that when she is gonna get older it might hurt her.i also thought she was gonna pull them out at such a young age well she nver touches them at all.i am really surprized.bu they r so cute she looks diffrent i love them.i just had to sike myself up and to know it didnt hurt her.she was on mylap nd i think i was holding my breath.she was so easy about it .well i really hope u do it when she is this age.u will lovethem and so will her .ohh i got mine done when i was 4 monthss old and my mother said i didntcry eaither

I say do whats best for you and your family. Don't go by what everyone else says, it is your child and only you know what is best thats why you are her mother. It's a personal decision and no matter what you do people will have their opinions and possibly judge you for the decision you made. My dad wouldn't let my mom get my ears pierced until I was 4 and I asked for them, but I'm almost 9 months pregnant and I plan on getting my daughters ears pierced while she is an infant because its easier on them. My only advice is ask your pediatrician alot of them will pierce the ears and its more sanitary. If your pediatrician doesn't pierce ears go to an actual certified piercing studio because the research on the piercing guns say they are not as sanitary and can cause problems. So you want to go somewhere where they use piercing needles.
Hope this helps with your decision

My mom waited for it to be my choice. I knew it would be my responsibility to keep my ears clean and all the stuff that comes with piercing. I liked the idea of being responsible for something that I thought was a very big deal (I was 5). Personally, my daughter's ears are not getting pierced until she decides that is something she wants.

C. it was a really special "girl day" in second grade for me when my mom took me to get my ears pierced. I had to earn it and it meant more to me because of that. It was a bonding day for me and mom, since we had my ears pierced and then had a "big girls lunch" together. You will make the right decision for your family but I thought I'd share!