What is the big deal about ear piercings?

Jaime - posted on 09/19/2009

Yes, I too am not in favour of circumcision as well as piercing a baby's ears--but not because I think it's inhumane or ugly. I simply do not believe that these are my choices to make for my child. If a boy or a man wishes to be circumcised then so be it--but I will not make that decision for my Son. If a boy or girl wishes to have piercings then so be it--but I will not make that decision for my Son either. It's not a fanatical viewpoint expressing injustice about the removal of a child's 'rights and freedoms', it has more to do with the reality that we DO NOT own our children and there are just some decisions that we DO NOT NEED to make for them. If you decide to circumcise or pierce your baby's ears that is YOUR decision---but it might not be theirs and that's enough to sway my decision to allow my child to choose, when HE is old enough to understand consequences. I already know the consequences, but it's not my body in question.

Chantel - posted on 09/19/2009

Quoting Anna:

I don't get this either. I got my daughter's ear's pierced at 6mths old *gasp*, oh the horror! She didn't even cry, nor does she cry when she gets her immunizations. Bottom line, my child, my decision, I could really care less what other people think about it.

Exactly!! My child, my decision!! Breanna's were done at 2 months. If I have another girl I'll get them done again. I think its cute. I am so sick of people saying its ugly!! (only on CoM have I got that btw) An opinion is one thing but ugly is such a nasty word to me.

Jeannette - posted on 09/18/2009

Quoting Sharon:

LOL you'll probably find that the people who are against piercing baby ears are also against circumcision. But I get your point!

Actually, that is true for me.  My son is intact.  Never made that connection until I joined COM.  If you girls keep talking about vagina ears, I'm going to hurl.

Sharon - posted on 09/18/2009

It depends. A friend of mine had hers done when she was really little and because she was a tomboy didn't wear earring for years - by the time she was a teen they had closed up.



Mine closed up when I quite wearing earring for 3 years. But another friend hasn't worn earrings in at least a decade and they're still open.

Jenifer - posted on 09/18/2009

Yeah, I'm against both, actually. But I do have a question for those who say they can just take them out if they don't want them - do you know if the holes do actually close back up? I had mine pierced when I was 6, and I think the only time I've worn earrings over the last 10 years or so was for my wedding, and yet the holes remain. I'm not saying I wish thy weren't pierced, I just don't know if I could actually get rid of them even if I wanted to.

Sharon - posted on 09/18/2009

ROTFL!! omg be grateful it wasn't her vagina lips - whats the deal with the bars across the lips of the vagina?? Someone asked me about that I was like WTF? beats me dude.

Katarina - posted on 09/18/2009

and on a funny note, I have pierced Vagina Ears and let me tell you I had to try my hardest not to throw up. This particular lady was getting her holes redone because they had torn threw,OMFG disgusting. None of my employees would do it for me(I was pregnant at the time). Her ear lobe flapped as I was marking and then piercing. so gross

Sharon - posted on 09/18/2009

LOL you'll probably find that the people who are against piercing baby ears are also against circumcision. But I get your point!

Katarina - posted on 09/18/2009

I dont wear earrings now only because my son pull son them,ouch! BUT i dont see anything wrong with parents making their own decisions for their child. Like Sharon said, if thye don't like them later they can take them our. No harm, no foul.



I used to be a proffesional piercer and have done many many babies, including boys. Although something does have to be said about cosmetically altering your daughter's body, how many ladies have gotten their sons circumcised when they are so against ear piercing. Circumcision is cosmetic as well.

Jaime - posted on 09/18/2009

Quoting Carol:

Do we give our children the right to eat what they want, wear what they want, go where they choose? If they really own their own bodies, we should stop controlling all of their actions. As I said, I do not plan to pierce my daughter's ears, I will let her beg for it first, LOL, but I just do not think that parents who choose to do so are really taking away a fundamental right of their child to self-determination.

Children DO own their bodies, that is the reality--it's not a 'new' concept brought about in this discussion to try and strengthen the argument that children have rights.  And yes, there are many important decisions that we need to make for our children when they are too young to know or understand consequences, such as; what to wear, what to eat, what to watch on t.v., etc.  Whether or not to pierce a child's ears is NOT a decision that NEEDS to be made for the health and well-being of a child.  As has been said before, piercings are not likely to be psychologically damaging for babies or children, but what is the big deal with letting our children decide if they do or do not want holes and shiny objects pierced into their bodies?

Erin - posted on 09/17/2009

Carol I agree with you in that there are far bigger issues and decisions to deal with as a parent than whether or not to pierce a child's ears. I don't look at it philosophically (ie. taking away a fundamental right of their child to self-determination) so much as practically (I see nothing to be gained from doing it and just lots of extra drama and worry looking after them). But I do still think it's a decision for the child to make when they're old enough to understand the consequences.

Johnny - posted on 09/17/2009

Do we give our children the right to eat what they want, wear what they want, go where they choose? If they really own their own bodies, we should stop controlling all of their actions. As I said, I do not plan to pierce my daughter's ears, I will let her beg for it first, LOL, but I just do not think that parents who choose to do so are really taking away a fundamental right of their child to self-determination.

Erin - posted on 09/17/2009

I don't like the idea of piercing babies' ears, but as long as it's not my child I don't care. I'm not going to lose sleep over whether other people do it with their girls, but my opinion is that it's unnecessary and not a parent's place.

Charlie - posted on 09/17/2009

Quoting Jaime:

Quoting Carol:

I would never choose to pierce my daughter's ears. Let her beg for it when she gets older so that I can hold it over her head so she'll be good. I also wouldn't want to watch her go through the pain, but it's more about me than her. And I don't want to deal with cleaning them and keeping her from pulling on it.

That being said, I don't know why some women are so deeply opposed. It's not even necessarily permanent. Leave them out for a while and they'll grow over, it's not a big deal. And it really only hurts for a few moments, I think shots are more painful. The whole thing about altering your child's body without permission is really a false argument for two reasons. The first, as I stated, they can grow over. And secondly, what little girl won't be wanting her ears pierced at some point anyway. It's not like you're piercing their eyebrow which would just be embarrassing to a six year old.

Har har har, vagina ears!

It's not about deep opposition to piercing.  It's about allowing children to make that decision when they are at the age to understand what it means to get and have a piercing.  Certainly holes can grow over and there are likely no psychological ramifications of ear piercing, but the point is very simple... the child should be the one to decide--not the parent.

Exactly it's about owning your own body , having the rights to make the decision for themselves .

Jaime - posted on 09/16/2009

Quoting Carol:

I would never choose to pierce my daughter's ears. Let her beg for it when she gets older so that I can hold it over her head so she'll be good. I also wouldn't want to watch her go through the pain, but it's more about me than her. And I don't want to deal with cleaning them and keeping her from pulling on it.

That being said, I don't know why some women are so deeply opposed. It's not even necessarily permanent. Leave them out for a while and they'll grow over, it's not a big deal. And it really only hurts for a few moments, I think shots are more painful. The whole thing about altering your child's body without permission is really a false argument for two reasons. The first, as I stated, they can grow over. And secondly, what little girl won't be wanting her ears pierced at some point anyway. It's not like you're piercing their eyebrow which would just be embarrassing to a six year old.

Har har har, vagina ears!

It's not about deep opposition to piercing.  It's about allowing children to make that decision when they are at the age to understand what it means to get and have a piercing.  Certainly holes can grow over and there are likely no psychological ramifications of ear piercing, but the point is very simple... the child should be the one to decide--not the parent.

Jeannette - posted on 09/16/2009

I personally didn't have either of my daughters' ears pierced. My reason wasn't about the pain so much, my reason was, what if she's a tomboy? I was a tomboy and I didn't want earrings througout elementary and jr. high, and didn't have them pierced until high school. I was glad I had that choice.
My daughters got theirs pierced in jr high. The middle daughter wanted them before that, but she was so rough, I told her I was afraid they'd get torn out. So, she waited.
Also, and I know this is personal taste, I think they're ugly on babies. Babies faces are already so cute and adorable, it looks like an adornment for no reason. And I really hate to see babies with big fat studs in their ears...looks even worse. But that's my taste.

Johnny - posted on 09/16/2009

I would never choose to pierce my daughter's ears. Let her beg for it when she gets older so that I can hold it over her head so she'll be good. I also wouldn't want to watch her go through the pain, but it's more about me than her. And I don't want to deal with cleaning them and keeping her from pulling on it.



That being said, I don't know why some women are so deeply opposed. It's not even necessarily permanent. Leave them out for a while and they'll grow over, it's not a big deal. And it really only hurts for a few moments, I think shots are more painful. The whole thing about altering your child's body without permission is really a false argument for two reasons. The first, as I stated, they can grow over. And secondly, what little girl won't be wanting her ears pierced at some point anyway. It's not like you're piercing their eyebrow which would just be embarrassing to a six year old.



Har har har, vagina ears!

Diana - posted on 09/16/2009

I don't agree with infant piercings-I think it causes them unnecessary pain and that they should have the right to pierce-or not pierce-their own body when or if they feel like instead of the choice being already made; I also think it send a bad message about gender. I have been militant about my feelings in the past-but only when someone asked for my opinion and then railed on me about it. I think that if you post a question like that on CoM, you have to expect feelings from both sides of the issue, not just those who agree with your decision. I would never say anything negative about infant piercings to a mom whose baby's ears were pierced unless she asked for my opinion-which I would then give her-and I'm not militant about things like that unless I'm immediately attacked for the opinion that I was asked to give, because in the grand scheme of things it's really only a little bit important.

Charlie - posted on 09/16/2009

Sharon i always called those ear lobes " cats asses " hahaha , no joke !
I just think a person should have the rights to their own bodies and should not be tampered with without their permission so if someone asks " should i pierce my daughters ears " i will give them my reasons why , otherwise it doesn't have anything to do with me .

Anna - posted on 09/16/2009

I don't get this either. I got my daughter's ear's pierced at 6mths old *gasp*, oh the horror! She didn't even cry, nor does she cry when she gets her immunizations. Bottom line, my child, my decision, I could really care less what other people think about it.

Jaime - posted on 09/16/2009

I agree that ear piercing is a minor issue, but I also agree that it is the choice of the individual getting the piercing--not the parent. We have lots of decisions that we need to make for our children but this is not one of them.

Sharon - posted on 09/16/2009

Oh Better yet. let your hubbies read this - they'll never be able to look their mothers or grandmothers without flinching.

Sharon - posted on 09/16/2009

you guys are so screwed. I've had years to adjust to my aberrant brain. you'll never be able to go past a make-up counter at dillards without scanning the old ladies for vagina ears.

Lindsay - posted on 09/16/2009

Now try looking at those little old ladies with a straight face!!!!!!!!!!OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joy - posted on 09/16/2009

LLAMA!!!!! OMG I can't stop thinking about vagina ears now.......

Lindsay - posted on 09/16/2009

WAFFLE!!! =)

Joy - posted on 09/16/2009

Next time I see an old lady with saggy piercings I'm gonna say "Um, excuse me ma'am? You've got a vagina on your ear." R O F L M A O

Evelyn - posted on 09/16/2009

Oh...she got them when she was 4..almost 5. She asked for them..I explained to her that she would feel a little pain, she understood and that was that. :-)

Evelyn - posted on 09/16/2009

I admit it..I was one of those moms who didn't want to get my daughter's ears pierced as an infant mostly due to the pain I knew it would cause her. I could not imagine causing my daughter ANY pain that was not absolutely necessary...(like vaccinations..and that was hard enough)...but to go somewhere to purposely cause her pain for something as cosmetic as earrings? Heccckkkkk no. No way...uhh uh. Even if it was a temporary pain that would go away quickly....If that makes me nuts than so be it. I got angry with my brother when he took my niece as a baby to get her ears pierced... lol. Yeah, earrings are cute and all..but not cute enough to cause my baby any pain. It also may be due to the fact that when my daughter was 5 days old, she had to be admitted to the hospital for dehydration..she was not latching properly or getting enough milke and therefore ran a slight fever ( 100.1) so they wanted to put an IV in her arm and they could not find a vein..after trying THREE times in her tiny little wrist..I looked at the nurse and told her if she tried to stick my child one more time with that needle I would take every needle in that emergency room and shove them up her ass. That situation made me especially sensitive to my daughter experiencing pain of any sort.

Sharon - posted on 09/16/2009

In the case of boys there is so much judgement (for now) if they have a pierced ears - I can see waiting until they understand how much a statement it makes. One day all men will have pierced ears - or not - and no one will care if they do or don't, but that day isn't here yet.

Shannon Cassidy- - posted on 09/16/2009

I have a different Situation, I would love to have my little boys get done (ONE EAR ONLY) But my husband is dead set against it he has his done and right in front of them he says Oh My God the pain is unbelievable I don't want them to go through that . I am like its not tha t bad and your scaring them for know reason. It hurts for a quick second but not as bad as he is letting on. He said when they are older if they want it done they could do it , When they get to the age that he is going to let them they will be so scared they won't want to . I personaly don't think they will ever do it because of their father ,My little nephews have theirs done and it is so cute on them I could just pitcure it on them.

I put an magnet earing on my youngest son just to see what it would look like on him , My husband came home an saw it I thought he was going to have a freakin heart attack , I am like its fake LOL

Jenifer - posted on 09/16/2009

I don't like the idea of piercings for babies, but it has nothing to do with the pain. Like Laura said, I don't think I have the right to make cosmetic changes on someone else's body. In the whole scheme of things, I certainly agree that a pierced ear is a minor issue - but I don't think that makes it right.

Lindsay - posted on 09/16/2009

I don't have a problem with it and I don't think it's cruel or abusive. I thought about piercing Madeline's ears many times btu never did. I was more concerned that she'd pull at it and rip it out than the actual piercing part. She's 4 now and whenever she asks, I'll take her to have it done. If they ever decide they don't want them all you have to do is take them out and let them close up. =)

Isobel - posted on 09/16/2009

I'm not one of those nuts that freak out on the subject...in fact I used to pierce ears professionally and am personally responsible for many pierced baby ears.



that being said...I don't think that I have the right to alter my child's body in any way. Your body is the one thing that you and you alone own from the cradle to the grave.