When is it appropriate to pierce babies ears?

Debra - posted on 09/05/2009

My daughter is almost 10months old. I'd love to get her ears done now because I know she'd look beyond adorable with them but I don't believe in causing your child pain. Think back to when she got her shots and how hard she cried, that's how bad she will cry when she gets her ears done. Would you want to be the reason for that? It just breaks my heart when my daughter cries that hard because of pain. We are waiting till our daughter is old enough to decide for herself. Good luck!

Nicole - posted on 09/05/2009

I think earrings are a part of almost every girl-woman. They are a main accessory even for those who don't wear jewelry. I don't think they are trashy in any way, its ears not a belly button for crying out loud. But. opinions are opinions and should be respected. So. If you as a mother feel that it's cute and your daughter would enjoy this in time, do it and do it young so she will not mess with them and more prone to them getting infection because of it. I didnt have mine done as a child, I did them as an adult and they didnt heal as fast as my daughters did who was 9 mo old at the time! Hers went smooth as can be. Also, bear in mind the 2 people, 2 gun rule! much more efficient and boom, your done! Good luck with whatever u choose to do!

Hope - posted on 09/05/2009

i got my daughters ears pierced when she was 2 mths.. she seem to do fine with them.. she is now 7 mths she hasnt got an infection or pulled them out.. i like to get them done now because they are so cute. and i dont have to worry about her getting upset when she is older.. but getting them pierced is your desicion. if you do get them pierced at a young age make sure to get the ones with the safety back so they cant fall off and become a choking hazzard...

Debra - posted on 09/05/2009

after there first set of shots. thats when i got my daughters done

Brett - posted on 09/05/2009

i pierced my daughters ears at 9 months. my uncle is a tattoo artist / piercer and recommended younger as she is less likely to play with them (infections) and would get pver the pain quicker. needless to ssay side from the tears when she had them done i have had no problems. she is now 4 and i know it would have been really tough to do it now. make sure it is done with a needle and not a gun though

Debra - posted on 09/05/2009

after there first set of shots. thats when i got my daughters done.that way you dont wait till the day she asks for it and you go in and they do one and she changes her mind because it hurts

Diane - posted on 09/05/2009

I think I just changed my mind...I just read this on babycenter.com



Please, please read this and be warned! My oldest daughter is 15 1/2 now. We had her ears pierced when she was small. She had no problems with the piercings themselves however, when she was 5 she woke up one morning and her lobe was torn completely. There was no blood, no open flesh to be sutured back together. We were at a loss and consulted with our doctor right away. The doctor said that since there was no open flesh or wound, he could not suture this back together and we would have to consult with a plastic surgeon, which we did. The plastic surgeon advised us that it is NEVER a good idea to have childrens ears pierced at a young age because the cartlidge in the lobe is too young and it's VERY easily torn. He said that over time the posts had acted like a little saw, slowly working their way down the lobe until this morning when they finally tore the lobe completely. Since she was so young, he said that she would have to undergo general anesthesia to have it repaired.



Here is the link...

http://www.babycenter.com/404_when-is-it...

Diane - posted on 09/05/2009

There really is no "right" time to get a girl's ears pierced. But I decided (my hubby doesn't care either way) that when my daughter is old enough to ask me to get her ears pierced, we will go get them done. For all I know she may never want them done *shrug* GL with your decision!

Tiffandmat - posted on 09/05/2009

mine were done when i was 1 month old but my advise is if you want to get them done when they are younge get someone who can do both ears at the same time so it is just one click not one and then have to fight a screaming child to do the second. the younger they are the faster it heals as well. my daughter i wont be getting done till she asks but have considered doing it now.

Tasha - posted on 09/05/2009

definatly younger if you wait til shes older it will not only be painful for her but she will remember the pain if you do it now it will hurt but she wont remember it after it is all over with and also you can take care of them and they will heal alot better and will be less likly to get infected then if you wait till shes older she may not take care of them as well and also some girls get scared of haveing them done i think she would appreciate you doing them now in the lng run i hope that helps you decide Tasha

JC - posted on 09/05/2009

We did our daughter's a couple days before she turned 3 months. It was over in seconds and she never even noticed them there. I'm so happy we did it early.

Ann - posted on 09/05/2009

I was 6 days old when my mom had mine done. Its just ear piercing, I don't think it needs to be made into a right of passage. lol I'll do my daughters early too. Why not? Easier to clean and they look sooooo cute. My friend waited until her daughter was 6 months and she was rubbing and itching them to the point where they had to take them out anyways. So I'd say do it eariler

Sarah - posted on 09/05/2009

What is you find that the child is allergic to the ear rings? I have never been able to wear ear rings because I am allergic to nickel. There is a terrible infection that happens in my ears and they never heal properly. Good luck with your decision.

Yashira - posted on 09/05/2009

WELL, CLINICALLY SPEAKING IT IS BETTER TO DO IT BETWEEN 3-6 MONTHS

Yashira - posted on 09/05/2009

WELL, CLINICALLY SPEAKING IT IS BETTER TO DO IT BETWEEN 3-6 MONTHS

Laura - posted on 09/05/2009

I have a three month old daughter and i will pierce her ears as soon as they look big enough to get an earing in them- i love it on babies! I was three when my mom had mine done, my dad wanted to wait 'till i asked for it. It isn't an issue for my husband, so as long as your husband is on board- i say go for it! Never too early for a little girl to have some diamonds or pearls- by the way- there is nothing trashy about it!!! The woman who posted that is just silly...

Rochelle - posted on 09/05/2009

Ooh.. this is a good topic and I am sure has sparked quite a debate. Personally, I don't think that you should pierce them until she ASKS you to have them pierced.

Tanya - posted on 09/05/2009

i had my daughters ears pierced when she was 10 months old and there were no problems and my other daughter was older when she had hers done she was 4 and again everything was fine so i think it really is your choice

Jessica - posted on 09/05/2009

I have a friend who pierced her daughters ears and now she's constantly taking care of them for her daughter...I didn't get mine done until I was ten and responsible enough to deal with the problems basically on my own. I don't plan to do my daughter's until she's old enough to take care of them. It just seems like a hassle when they're younger. Just my thoughts. Good luck with your decision.

Ashley - posted on 09/05/2009

We had our daughters ears piereced at 2.5 months. She cried for no more than 10 seconds and cleaning them after each bath worked perfectly.I highly suggest doing it when she doesn't remember. :)

Amanda - posted on 09/05/2009

Quoting Kristen:

When is it appropriate to pierce babies ears?

My boyfriend and I have been debating when to pierce our daughters ears.. Seems theres pros and cons to both sides.. Do we do when shes young (3 months) so we can take care of them or older so she can? is sometime in between better...

Don't you think it's better to wait it out and let her make her own decisions about her body? I say this because I know some girls that would have hated to have their ears pierced without their knowing as a child. (:

But if you want to otherwise, then I would say young. Most people I know do it when their children are between 3 - 6 months old.

Erica - posted on 09/05/2009

I had my daughters done when she was 2 months old. Im glad i chose to do it then because she didnt mess with them.

Tegan - posted on 09/05/2009

i am a hairdresser and do ear piercing as well and it is much better to pierce them wen she is younger as they heal quicker they are not as likely to get infected from germs and things cause u can look after them properly, she will only cry for a second then staight after feed her and she will go straight bak to sleep they wont even bother her but as she gets older they will hurt her and she will be more prone to play with them so they could get infected, my mum had all 4 of my siblings ears pierced wen we were 5weeks old i allways recomend to clients from the age of 6weeks is perfect, but i would deffinatly recomend doing it sooner than later, hope that helps.

Jessica - posted on 09/05/2009

I just think that it is better to wait until the child is old enough to decide what she wants. While I agree with the pros that the child wont remember the pain etc, when i see a baby with pierced ears I also cant help feeling that the child has been subjected to this. I think the baby should be respected and allowed to make their own decision.

Tracy - posted on 09/05/2009

I had my daughters ears done when she was 17 wees(a week after last injections) She cried for about 2 minutes if that and has had no problems with them at all. I think its better the younget they are as they dont really notice them so wont play with them or touch them. Also at that age they still sleep on there back so not on the peircing. I did get a lot of people telling me I was cruel and she was far to young but I was the same age when my mum got mine done so I knew she would be fine. I know in Trinadad they peirce them before they leave the hospital when they are just born(or at least they used to!) Totally personal choice x

Catherine - posted on 09/05/2009

ps. good note to whomever said getting them done while they're older.. IT DOES teach them responsibility!!!



Either way, it's a personal choice, which I don't judge either way it's your babies. Kudos to all the caring mothers!!!

Catherine - posted on 09/05/2009

Quoting Robin:

Quoting Catherine:

Quoting Jennifer:

Why do we stop at the ears? Why not the nose or the navel. Really, whats the difference? Why do we want are baby girls to grow up so fast. I was amazed that so many people in here actually pierce their child's ears.

I totally agree!!!

You know for the longest time I was against it, but I think ear piercing has been acceptable for ages, even as adults in the business world it is acceptable to have one single piercing in the ear but not the nose or belly button or eyebrow, WHY whats the difference right?

Im not trying to start an argument, but after  years of being against it, I really thought about WHY am I against it? It really doesnt cause any significant pain to the baby, its something that can be removed if needed, or by choice of the child later, and doesnt cause any health problems, I have found it to be cute to have just a little stud on a baby ear,

I know you are both against it, but I was just wondering if you could share your perspective of WHY you are so against it.

Wow.. this post is getting a lot of attention!!!!!!

In response to your post robin... there are chances of health risks in piercing ears and other parts of your body. You're putting a foreign object, that wasn't meant to be there, into your flesh. Your body can reject the metals, and or eat away at the metal/ "hypo allergenic" materials, and cause infections. If not treated, or disregarded, can lead to other complications. One of which is pillowing of the ears. The site in which was pierced will swell up and a fat piece of scar tissue will form. If infections aren't treated... well... you know how that will turn out. It's fairly common, I've known at least 5 people who've had the pillowing scar tissue.

As for me being against it... I'm not. I'm completely unbiased. Like I said, I had my ears pierced when I was very little, and for whatever reason they were removed. Which left scar tissue. And if anyone has ever had their holes close up, and tried repiercing them... you should know it's a lot more painful, and difficult to repierce!!!  NOT only that, but if you choose to not have them pierced, you're left with the scar tissue, and that's not very pretty at all... :\

It is a personal choice... To shove metal through your kids head...
My opinion is just that piercing a young child only for esthetic reasons is a bit absurd. It should be an experience the person should be able to remember and decide for themselves. There's pros and cons.. but all the reasons listed to why you all think they should be pierced when they're younger aren't very valid arguements considering A. it only hurts for a second. [so why do it when they can't remember if it doesn't even hurt?] and B. seems like you'd do it out of pure vanity/esthetic purpose. You wouldn't take your infant to pierce anything else, why put a hole in their head at all unless they want it there?

Crystal - posted on 09/04/2009

Well I know I'm not getting my daughter's ear's pierced until she is about 7. I want her to be able to tell me if it hurts and also I think at that age it's a great way to learn responsibility. Because she has to clean them and take good care of them. On the other hand I do have friends that have had their babies ears pierced at 6 months and they have done just fine. The only issue I had is when they hit 2 and 3 years old they would take the earrings out and lose them. That's why I think 7 is a better age to do it. But it's your baby and just go with whatever your heart tell you to.

Lori - posted on 09/04/2009

The choice is up to you. I took my little girl to get hers at 5months, which they say to wait till ur 6months-up. Everything turned out ok, no infections, didn't cry for that long. But not she is 2 and takes them off all time. So Im just letting her have them off and wait til she gets older to see if she wants them back. So that would be her choice. Like others say, you can pierce them, but then she might not like them but at the same time she will leave them on.

Lori - posted on 09/04/2009

The choice is up to you. I took my little girl to get hers at 5months, which they say to wait till ur 6months-up. Everything turned out ok, no infections, didn't cry for that long. But not she is 2 and takes them off all time. So Im just letting her have them off and wait til she gets older to see if she wants them back. So that would be her choice. Like others say, you can pierce them, but then she might not like them but at the same time she will leave them on.

Katie - posted on 09/04/2009

You should always wait until your baby has had her first set of shots. In fact most places won't even pierce unless you bring in her immunization record.

Katie - posted on 09/04/2009

You should always wait until your baby has had her first set of shots. In fact most places won't even pierce unless you bring in her immunization record.

Chenoa - posted on 09/04/2009

Hi my daughter turned one on the 15th of july i had her ears peirced and have had no problems at all, i also had mine peirced about that age too, she loves them and does not play with them either

Sheena - posted on 09/04/2009

My husband was so against our daughter getting her ears pierced, and I said I absolulty wanted them done. Well I got my way!! LMAO at 6 months her ears were pierce now she is 2 1/2 she has NEVER had an infection never pulled on them. She doesnt even notice them! Better to do it younger! Good luck!

Bonnie - posted on 09/04/2009

yeah same my lil girl i got hers dobne at 5 months old but tje chemist told well advised me that i must wait till she is about 6 months so that her era lobes were big enough to peirce...

Ashley - posted on 09/04/2009

I did my daughter's when she was 2 months, I chose to do it the same day right after her 2 mth old shots so she stillhad tylenol in her and to get it out of the way! That worked very well for me

Natasha - posted on 09/04/2009

I had my daughters ears pierced when she was about 2 1/2 months old and yes she cried but not for long and we haven't had any problems and she just turned 3. She doesn't mess with them cause they have been there for as long as she knows. I am pregnant with my 2nd daughter and I will get hers done about the same age.

Diane - posted on 09/04/2009

I have read that 3 months is a good age to do so how ever my mom had 6 girls and we all got our ears pierced before that anywhere from one month to two months and she said there was never a problem it was better that way we don't move and we didn't cry

Sara - posted on 09/04/2009

Hey it all depends on how you feel about it. My daughter was 8 months old when i did hers and she was really good about it. I never had any problems

Natalie - posted on 09/04/2009

i think it should be the childs choice

Cassie - posted on 09/04/2009

My mom had mine done by my neonatologist at 2 months. I'm 22 now and they are fine and never close up, even after years of not putting in earrings. I choose not to pierce my daughter's ears just because I don't think its necessary.

Katey - posted on 09/04/2009

My daughter was 2 months old when were pierced her ears. Was a great age to do it. She doesn't remember. They did both ears at the same time and she only cried for a minute.

Danelle - posted on 09/04/2009

I agree with several of the other moms who say do it while she's still a baby. She won't remember the pain, and there are some places where they do both sides at the same time. I used to manage a Claire's store and many parents asked if we could do both at the same time and it was no problem at all. Just make sure she's had her tetnis shot, and the dots are alighned before they do it. Godd luck.

Jennifer - posted on 09/04/2009

I had my two girls down at 6 months old.

Samantha - posted on 09/04/2009

Babies to tend to tug on their ears, especially when teething. I have 13 piercings in my ears and 4 large tatoos. I feel that because it is a form of "body mutilation", you should allow your child to make the decision. My daughter got to choose when she wanted them done and before I took her, i pinched her ears lightly with my finger nails to show her how it was going to hurt when they did it. She was ok with it and is also old enough to make sure she cleans them herself. I would've hated to end up with an infant with an infection in them, as peircing often become inflamed.

Magdalena - posted on 09/04/2009

The younger the easier!! I did my daughter at 2 months and I havent had and problem with her ears. if you wait til she gets older then you have to keep reminding her to do it before she goes to bed each night. And its only 6 weeks. it will just come natural to you to turn and clean them when you bath or even while your holding her.

Robin - posted on 09/04/2009

Quoting Tanya:

when they are old enough to make the decision themselves and understand the decision they are making. Earrings get lost, pulled at, by the child or others. And I agree with someone elses comment it looks a little trashy on really young kids

just my personal opinion stud only earings I dont think look trashy, Not trying to upset anyone, but dont you think that saying "TRASHY" could really hurt someones feelings here that has had it done, and offend them, instead maybe just say, I dont agree with it and leave it at that.

Robin - posted on 09/04/2009

Quoting Catherine:

Quoting Jennifer:

Why do we stop at the ears? Why not the nose or the navel. Really, whats the difference? Why do we want are baby girls to grow up so fast. I was amazed that so many people in here actually pierce their child's ears.

I totally agree!!!

You know for the longest time I was against it, but I think ear piercing has been acceptable for ages, even as adults in the business world it is acceptable to have one single piercing in the ear but not the nose or belly button or eyebrow, WHY whats the difference right?

Im not trying to start an argument, but after  years of being against it, I really thought about WHY am I against it? It really doesnt cause any significant pain to the baby, its something that can be removed if needed, or by choice of the child later, and doesnt cause any health problems, I have found it to be cute to have just a little stud on a baby ear,

I know you are both against it, but I was just wondering if you could share your perspective of WHY you are so against it.

Robin - posted on 09/04/2009

I dont know if Im really for or against, it, some one mentioned that its something they should decide for themselves, well if they have them done as a baby, if they dont want them anymore they can just take the earings out, simple as that. Its not like a tattoo or something that is permanent, lol, I dont mean to say that a baby or child would have one, but its not permanent.

Amber - posted on 09/04/2009

I say when they are really young or when they are more than old enough to take care of them. I got my daughters done when she was 3 months and she never touched them or knew they were there... my friend got her 18 month old's done at the same time and she had them out within two days and will not leave them in