Ear piercing

[Michele]

I know we've been over this before but I couldn't find the thread. Maybe if it pops up in the related threads section someone can link it for me? I'm kinda limited on my iPad.

I'm starting to internally debate this about Phedre. Russ is encouraging me to pierce her ears now. I'm not sure. I kinda think I should let her decide she wants it done, but then I figure if she grows up with me she's gonna wear earrings. After all I do have my ears and lip pierced. Everyone I know who got it done in grade school said it was horrible. The ones I know who had it done in high school or later said it wasn't that bad. Everyone else had it done as babies. I figure it's easier for me to take care of them if she's a baby. I can do it when she nurses or whatever. And if she doesn't want earrings she can just not wear them. But I don't know. She is 3.5 months old.

Right now I'm leaning towards having it done...then I start the debate over where and how? Insert eye roll. Googling it just gives me more questions insecurities and worry. Mall kiosk, Claires, pediatrician, piercing parlor? Needle, piercing gum?

What did you do? When? Where?

[weeniegeniewife]

I didn't pierce DD's ears until just a few weeks ago (she's almost 9), but I think pierced ears on babies are adorable! I myself am a big fan of piercings; I have my ears pierced 3 times, and my nose pierced. If you have your lip pierced, you probably had that done at a piercing parlor. I have had my ears done at mall kiosks, only to have to go to a piercing parlor to have them fixed. I think piercing with a needle is much better than a gun, but it's also more painful.

If you do get her ears pierced, make sure to post a pic. She would look so cute!

[scrub-jay]

I had mine done in grade school when *I was ready*, it was a rite of passage for me. I feel that it is a personal decision, and I want to respect the wishes of my dd. If she decides she is ready (and ready for the care required), then I will support her. Unlike WGW, I am not a big fan of piercings on babies, but mostly because it meant so much to me when I made the choice. FWIW - I don't remember it being horrible, it was an experience and I was super excited to choose my "first pair of earrings".

To each their own. Good luck with your decision.

[diggitydot]

Our girls both got it done for their 6th birthday and have had no problems. Depends on the kid and whatever works best for your family. Keep in mind this is coming from a woman with various non-ear related piercings.

I had mine done in grade school when *I was ready*, it was a rite of passage for me. I feel that it is a personal decision, and I want to respect the wishes of my dd. If she decides she is ready (and ready for the care required), then I will support her. Unlike WGW, I am not a big fan of piercings on babies, but mostly because it meant so much to me when I made the choice. FWIW - I don't remember it being horrible, it was an experience and I was super excited to choose my "first pair of earrings".

To each their own. Good luck with your decision.

This! I think I was in 5th grade. I had it done at a mall spa with my best friend. I was old enough to care more about my appearance than my fear of needles. Also old enough to take care of them by myself. It was definitely a rite of passage.

It was my thread. Here you go ... http://www.medicalspouse.com/forums/...ng-Baby-s-Ears

FWIW - I've given everyone in dh's family who said it's "no problem" a big ol' raspberry. It's been a huge PITA. We've lost more earrings/backs than I care to think (seeing as how they're all 24kt gold). The whole "screw back stays on" idea was bunk. I got so desperate that I was using those plastic backers, and ... hello? choking hazard right there! The ONLY earrings that we've not had trouble with are the "starter" ones, where there is a notch in the post for the back to click into. Mattie even developed an infection in the "hole" -- about a YEAR after she got them pierced. I told dh at that point that if the topical antibiotic didn't work before the hole closed on it's own, I was letting the other hole close as well and she could have them re-pierced in grade school. I do think they're cute, and I know that it's part of the Indian culture, and if I were a little Indian girl wearing Indian clothes, I'd be totally bummed not to be able to wear the jewelry with it -- and that is the ONLY reason she's got them.

[Michele]

Thx! That was the thread I was trying to find.

I'm thinking I'm over-thinking this. I think earrings on baby girls are ridiculously super cute! One of my biggest concerns is what if she hates me for putting holes in her ears. As if I won't give her a million other reasons in her teenage years!

Russ really wants it done. He's never really had much of an opinion about anything before...he didn't even make an issue over my decision to not circ the boys. (and I suppose they could hate me for that as well) There's a local piercing parlor that claims to have been piercing babies' ears for over 20 years. They use a needle and the starter earrings (no screw backs). They actually recommend between 3w and 3m as the best time.

Hmm. If I do it, I'll be sure to post a pic.

[ides]

I'm slightly against it. I'm all for piercings but I think the person should make the choice for themselves. I got mine done with a good friend when I was 12 and it was totally a right of passage. It burned a bit wasn't horrible. My friends mom took us to a place in a mall. I kind of feel it's selfish for a parent to make their child pierce their ears cause it looks cute.

However, it's your choice.

[MissCrabette]

I had mine done when I was a baby. I don't feel really strongly one way or another, even though I hate the holes I ended up with. I'm guessing the earrings my parents made me wear were maybe a wee bit too heavy and they stretched my ear lobes to the point that I don't have cute and dainty piercings, but some pretty large holes. Ugh!

I later got 2 more piercings in my left ear, which I eventually decided to let close. You should know that, at least in my case, they never truly went away. I can still tell where they were and it bothers me. Just mentioning that because you said that she could simply not wear earrings if she doesn't like them.

My mom had mine done when I was around 3 to 5 years old. I wear earrings now, but for a long time on Active Duty in the hospital, I couldn't really wear earrings, but no one noticed that I had ear pierced ear lopes. I had a second hole put in when I was in my early twenties....and it stung for sure. So I think it's fine either way. Unfortunately some people have had some issues like MissCrabTree (sorry that happened!) and maybe others who had similar experiences.

Either way, personally, for me, I don't think it's a big big deal. You can wait until she's older to have it done or do it now. I guess the question is, how old is old enough to know that you may/may not want a marking or hole in your ear for the rest of your life? (I may be playing devil's advocate here). My nephew had his done at 10..some people were upset that a 10 year old made the decision...and I have a friend of mine who's parents wouldn't let her get her's done until she was 17. Family, child dependent. Each to their own.

I'm sure you'll make what ever choice you feel most comfortable with and it will be fine (but I would make note of MissCrabTree's point that if you do, make sure you are selective of the choice of earring you pick for those little ears!)

[v-girl]

My girls had them done as infants. Honestly, the gun was so much easier than the needle! Babies dont like having their heads held still. The needle takes longer to do than the gun. Both were easy to care for as infants. Ella's were done at Claire's. Remember, the piercers there do a lot of ears and have a lot of experience because of it.

Mine were done when I was 8ish. I screamed so loudly that security came running thinking there was a child abduction.

[Vishenka69]

I debated for a long time but in the end decided against it. Mostly because we can already open a drugstore with all the lotions and potions we have for her skin and I just couldn't deal with yet another body part needing it's own treatment. But we each have our own thing to obsess over.

[Thirteen]

Mine were pierced at age 10, in the mall, with my grandmother. (I went behind my Mom's back). :P
I feel like I was old enough to take care of them, and my Mom told me that if they got infected and had to close, she "wasn't getting them pierced again." Fear of not being "cool" was a huge motivator.
Anyway, I still have the original piercings, and a 2nd set (college), and a cuff piercing (college).

My sisters and I all had to wait until we were at least 12 and I really liked the "rite of passage" feel to it. I don't really remember it hurting that much. I got a second set in late high school and a cuff piercing then too. That one got infected and closed. My 2nd set closed due to a lack of use. I never really wear earrings but the first set of holes is still open so I can on special occasions. I got my belly button pierced in college and then took that out when I met my husband. It just bugged me. I'm not really a jewelry person to begin with. There are days I don't even wear my engagement/wedding ring. My sister is making my nieces wait until they're older. I'm not a big fan of piercings on babies but I don't think it's a moral issue or anything. Good luck with it either way!

[Tenacious_D]

I think I said this in Jenn's previous thread but I do think it's cultural. I had them from birth along with all cousins etc. I was shocked when I met girls who had to wait. I don't think she'll be mad at you for getting her ears pierced but who knows what kids will feel half the time . Good luck with your decision. It'll be fine either way!