Infant Ear Piercing.
This a touchy subject.
In my opinion, as a mom, only you know what is best for your children. When it comes down to infant ear-piercing, you can expect mixed opinions. This topic comes up because both of my girls have pierced ears. When my little one had just hit the two-month mark, we were happy to take her to get her ears pierced. Usually, the minimum age of 2 months is when most institutions will pierce baby’s ears for you.
With Gabs, my eldest, I pierced her ears at 6 weeks old and the response to that was pure and utter shock from most of my Canadian counterparts. Foreigners such as myself, didn’t really have an opinion.
So, everywhere I went people would say, “Oh my, she has her ears pierced already?” Mind you, these were the same type of people who used to say, “My! What an adorable little boy you have!” Or even worse, “Is your baby adopted?” But, that’s another can of worms!
Insert eye roll please.
Regardless, that’s hardly the reason why I pierced my daughter’s ears. On top of being super cute and feminine, there’s a deeper, more meaningful reason behind it.
To me anyway.
As a kid, my ears were pierced the day I got home from the hospital. And you better believe my mother offered to do the same with Gabs but I refused.
Either way, with Mimi, we decided to wait until she got her shots because now, being more knowledgeable, they can aid in the prevention of contraction of diseases such as Hepatitis, which is transferable through the often not sterilized tools of piercing.
So, why do it so early?
I think that no matter how old a baby is, whether a week old or months old, they still feel pain. I would much rather have my little ones experience that pain with me there comforting them. Opposed to a pain that may be traumatizing to them at an older age.
That is my reasoning.
It is also extremely important to do your homework before piercing baby’s ears. Find a clean, reputable and certified place to get the piercings done. If you’re not comfortable, have your pediatrician do it the old-fashioned way, like I had mine done, with a needle & thread. Ouch!
I have 7 Helpful Tips for Infant Ear Piercing aftercare, that a lot of people have found useful. Like I said, every mom knows best for their own kids, but should they shun or judge those who have different views?
So, did you pierce your daughters’ ears or are you against doing it because you think it’s cruel?
Let me know, til then–cheers m’deres!
Nancy
Yes, I pierced my daughter’s ears when she was a baby. I can’t remember exactly how old she was now (that was 20 years ago!). I know she wasn’t an infant, but she was still a baby. My mother pierced my ears when I was about 5 years old. In either case, there were no problems experienced and it all comes down to a matter of preference. As long as you’re willing to keep a good check on the ears (especially in the beginning) to detect any problems right away, everything should be fine.
Me and my sister in law took my daughter to get hers pierced about a month before her first birthday. Probably would’ve done it earlier but my husband wouldn’t agree to it until then. I think it’s adorable and as much as people like to make it sound like torture, it only bothered her for a minute. She didn’t even cry. My tips would be get both ears pierced at the same time, keep them really clean and if she starts touching/grabbing them, put bandaids over her earlobes when you’re at home.
I pierced my daughter’s ears at 3 months old. I think it’s less traumatic for them because it’s a pain they won’t remember being so young.
For me, I had mine pierced as a baby and they got infected and had to close. I got them re-pierced at 12 years old and… I recall the pain and the shock/jump from the gun going off! It didn’t stop me from getting another hole though a few years later.
The cleaning and care is so much easier for an infant who doesn’t pull their ears or jump around a lot.
I got the same comments of having a boy too… Unfortunately, earrings still didn’t stop people from calling her a boy!
Being an aunt of 4 little girls ages 5 and under, 2 received pierced ears when they were still infants, 2 will not have theirs pierced likely until they are teens. I can see both sides and reasonings but overall, I don’t see too much controversy. There are slight benefits and slight drawbacks either route a parent chooses. I think baby girls with pierced ears are cute! I also think it’s a wonderful “right of passage” for tweens or teens (as it was for me). Each to their own, I say!
By the way, your DD is adorable! 🙂
Thanks so much! 🙂
To be quite honest, I never understood why people went out of their way to point this out to me. KWIM? I can see both sides but, it’s always people poking their noses I guess. LOL, I rather do it young but, I can see why you would want to do it later on in age. 😀
Those are great tips. 🙂 I think the earlier the better but, I definitely wouldn’t give my opinion to someone who chooses not to. 🙂
Great tips! 🙂 That’s exactly how I feel, it was over before she knew it! 🙂
That’s definitely the way to go, keep em clean. 🙂
I’m making my daughters wait until they are old enough to take care of them. I was 13 when I got mine pierced. Sure there was a bit of pain, but my mom was still there to comfort me.
Was searching for my GF’s blog looking for photos of her dd. Came across your blog with great photos. Started reading and came to your post and pics about having both your dd’s ears pierced early. Love her little earrings! We did our dd at 1 month.
This was a perfect age to pierce her ears! I believe it is always best done early when she wouldn’t remember and have mommy care for them during the healing phase. When they’re older, they will think they are a part of them and won’t bother them. She’ll thank you later when all her little friends in preschool see her pretty earrings.
Our dd gets compliments on them all the time, However, once, I had a mom seeing Sandi’s earrings and was curious when to to them. I just told her she kept, “…asking and asking for little earrings. I couldn’t deny her any longer.”
You were a smart mommy for doing it. Babies and little girls with little pierced ears celebrates their femininity and femaleness.
Our ped encouraged me to do it when mommy could care for them. Also, she gave me some tips for moms helping them to find the right person, place and type of earrings to use for infants having their ears pierced.
Would be happy to share by e-mail with any moms wanting more info.
Angie
angietune@hotmail.com
I didn’t pierce my daughters ears but I wish I had. My husband was against it but now that they are 13 and 9 they want to wear them but will not go and get it done because they are so scared.
IT’s a tradition in my family, mainly due to our European heritage, that the girls get their ears pierced at 6 weeks.
I think people are slightly judgemental when it comes to piercing babies, but its okay to cut foreskin with no pain or freezing medication. I just don’t get the logic of some people….
I pierced my daughters ears at 6 months. I figured she would get used to them better at that age. I heard you shouldnt have done that, it should be her choice…My response to that was always, well when she is older and chooses not to wear earrings..she doesnt have to. I am the parent and the choice is ultimately mind..Those opinions dont have an effect on me.
I had also pierced my daughter’s ears when she was a baby. I should have waited a bit longer because she had very delicate skin and it gave her a bit of a skin reaction. Lucky for me it wasn’t anything serious.
I had Little One’s ears pierced when she was 8 months old. Hubby was against it. He said it was “torture” and “mutilation” and how could we do that to our baby? It’s tradition in my Filipino culture. I always thought it better to get it done when she’s young and won’t remember the pain. Hubs argued that it was better to get it done when Little One was older…if and when she wanted to get it done. He said that way it was her choice and she’d also be able to care for her own ears by then.
I ended up getting her ears pierced when I went to visit my family in Montreal.
2 girls: both pierced ears. One at 5 1/2 months and the other 7 1/2 months. I believe they’ll never know the pain…..or remember that anyway. Both stopped crying within minutes.
Im not a loud to. My bf says its her choice to make when she is older lol.
I have boys, so it isn’t an issue 😛 I wasn’t allowed to get mine pierced until I was 13. I hated having to wait so long! I still wish my parents had done them when I was really young, the experience made me almost pass out and I wound up sick the next day. I’ve had several more piercing since then and don’t regret any of them.
Ok I just have one negative things to say and that is in regards to this experience being traumatizing for older kids. It’s not. They actually understand what is happening and yes they anticipate it more but trauma is not even close.
My daughter will be older, as I was, when she get’s hers done (if she choses). I very much remember it being something I looked forward to, a small step towards growing up and I want her to have that experience.
Having said that, I have absolutely no issues myself with other parents having their child’s ears pierced whenever they see fit. This is really such a minor thing and I have no idea why people get so riled up about it!!
I don’t approve of child ear piercing, because it should be an experience that is shared with mother and daughter when they are older, You might as well get your favorite tattoo on them at the same time really its a child not a toy .Leave this up to them when they are older.
I got my ears pierced when I was 5 years old, I don’t think that there is any problem in getting ear piercing in that age.
We took both our daughters to have their ears pierced at three months old. I am absolutely certain it is best for all little girls to have it done when they are babies and in my circle of friends, all little girls have it done then. We have had no problems with them, unlike mothers who may wait until they are older before having it done. Husband was not keen at first but completely changed his mind when he saw how gorgeous they look wearing earrings. I say go for it !
I visided your website as I was searching things related to cartilage piercings and I think that I was extremely lucky for doing this.
I believe that this is a very exquisite blog
you have there! Do you approve if I share your page on my fb
including your link and the title of your page:”Infant Ear Piercing: Did You Do It?”??
Kisses!
www.cartilageearring.net
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There’s definately a lot to learn about this issue. I love all of the points
you made.