I hope this doesn't cause a debate, but how do you ladies feel about piercing babies ears? My DD is now 5 months old & several people have asked when I was going to get it done. I just wanted hear from you ladies before I made my final decision.

By Dmom on Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 12:01 pm:

Hey.
True story:
Only happened one time, though.

I was keeping the infant room and one of the babies had pierced ears. She was beautiful. But when she awoke, I noticed an earring was missing. She was not in any distress but I couldn't find the earring!! So, I filled out an "incident report" we called her Mom at work, and told her that the baby had awakened with only one earring and we could not find the other one!!

The Mom picked her child up at the end of the day and took her home. Again, the child showed no signs of distress. We thought perhaps the earring simply got swept or vacuumed up by mistake.

Well, the next day in the nursery, after lunch, I was changing the little girl's "poopy diaper" and yep, you guessed it, there was the little gold earring, still intact, right there in the poopy!!

The child had swallowed the earring!!

Of course, we threw the earring away with the diaper, filled out an incident report and called the Mom who took her child to the doctor and there was no damage. (thank God!)

The earring simply went right through the baby's system as "undigested food".

But, still it was pretty scary!

If you decide to do it, based on the previous experience, just get gold posts, don't get any gems, even fake ones. I have often wondered if the baby had diamond posts or fake posts made of glass, would the glass or diamonds have cut her internal organs? But best not to "make problems" where there aren't any--it was a simple gold post, it passed right through and the baby did not wear earrings after that.

But, to be fair, I have also seen babies in earrings and there has never been a problem.

I would not do it but then I had the experience of seeing an earring wrapped in "poopy" in a diaper!!! Kind of puts one off earrings, if you know what I mean???? :-)

By Kate on Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 12:16 pm:

I posted this topic on the debate board several months ago. You can probably find it. I, myself, am totally against it. I think babies look silly with things in their ears, and I think it's wrong to inflict something like that on a baby who can't give consent. However, that is just my personal opinion.

By Trina~moderator on Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 12:36 pm:

Here's a link to Kate's post.

Pierced Ears for babies

By Ginny~moderator on Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 12:49 pm:

I heard on my allnews station a few days ago that the Pennsylvania legislature is considering a law that no one under 18 can have a pierce or tattoo unless a parent is present. In Philadelpiha, many shops will not tattoo or pierce anyone under 16, parent present or not.

Personally, I understand that in some cultures and families it is customary to pierce little girls' ears in babyhood, but I think it is not wise in terms of potential risks and would always advise against it.

By Texannie on Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 01:13 pm:

Since you asked, I frankly think it is tacky.

By Amecmom on Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 01:42 pm:

Well, sorry to disagree - but in my culture it is customary to pierce a little girl's ears, usually in babyhood. As far as being tacky, it really depends on what you then put in your daughter's ears. Small solid gold posts are very lovely.

I will have my daughter's ears pierced before her baptism. (At this age, she'll be young enough not to remember any pain and I'll be able to care for the piercing properly so it does not become infected) My only question is do I go to the doctor, or have it done at the mall, where they are experts?
Ame

By Dmom on Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 01:45 pm:

THE DOCTOR

By Tink on Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 02:36 pm:

I don't like to do it either. I realize that she won't remember the pain but, unless it is a cultural issue, you are causing pain for the benefit of your child looking cute or more like a girl. I will wait until my daughter is old enough to realize that it will hurt but that she is making a choice and will be partially responsible for the care of them.

By Texannie on Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 02:43 pm:

Emily asked for opinions. I gave mine. Perhaps, I could have worded it better. I am sorry if I offended you, Ame. It is interesting on how our culture plays a part in the decision. Where my mother grew up, only the poor peirced their babies' ears.

By Amecmom on Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 04:36 pm:

I know no offense was meant, Annie, and none was taken. You have an absolute right to express your opinion in any way you like. We're Sicilian and it's customary to have a little girl's ears pierced as well as to give her gifts of gold.

As for as the pain issue, I had my son circumcised, not for a religious or medical reason, but because his father is circumcised and so are the majority of boys. I'm sure that procedure put him through more of a trauma than ear piercing will be for my daughter.

My mother waited until I was eight (why, I don't know). I remember having it done at the doctor's office and wearing black sutures. Of course I was a stubborn child, and would not let my mother clean them, because it hurt. Consequently, I developed an infection. My daughter will want her ears pierced (if only to wear some of mommy's earrings) so, I'd rather spare her the memory of the pain while I can.
Ame

By Karen~moderator on Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 05:12 pm:

I had Jen's pierced by her pediatrician when she was 8 months old. She wore only screwback, small studs until she was 5, then she got her first pair of very small hoops. I personally LIKE the way it looks on baby/little girls.

By Coopaveryben on Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 05:13 pm:

Would a doctor be willing to pierce ears?

My niece had them done when she was an infant and it was a hassle, they ended up letting them grow shut and she got them re-piecrced when she was about 5.

I think it is a personal decision, I probably wouldn't do it to my own child (if I had a girl) because I can't keep up with my own stinking earrings (I think they should sell them in packs of 3 for when one gets lost).

By Vbw1978 on Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 07:52 pm:

I pierced my DD's when she was a baby i had gold post with the screw back post was able to keep them clean. She still has them in & will be 8 in a week.
I think that it is cute in a way, cause I wanted my DD to be "girly" (she is my only girl).
I kinda understand some of you that do not like it.
But hey to each their own

By Rayanne on Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 08:09 pm:

I had my daughters ears piersed when she was 4 months old. They are little diamond studs. My doctor did hers. I will never have someone in the mall do it to any infant because I went to go see how much they charged and they said that I needed another adult with me to help hold my daughter that way they can make sure that they don't accidentally get her neck. I was like, I'm not using you, I was just wondering the price. I don't see anything wrong with piercings. The doctors use a cold liquid that numbs the lobes and that is what my daughter cried about, not the piercings.

By Amecmom on Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 09:59 pm:

For those of you that had it done at the Dr's office, did they use a gun, or a needle? Just curious.
Ame

By Karen~moderator on Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 11:29 pm:

My ped. used a gun. Jen didn't even cry. I took care of them, cleaned and turned them several times daily, they never got infected, and she never seemed to even notice they were there at all until she got older and noticed earrings in general.

By Dmom on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 12:49 am:

Hey.
Someone just informed me that typing in all capitals is bad manners and is considered yelling. I did not intend to yell at anyone, I am new at this and I did not know I was being rude. I apologize.

Also, my true story happened in 1994-earrings for little babies may have changed since then. Perhaps they do not fall out as easily.

By Karen~moderator on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 07:32 am:

Jen's ears were pierced in 1985, they made screw back earrings then.

By Melana on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 09:10 am:

I had my dd's ears pierced when she was 4 months, she cried, I had it done at walmart and they did a wonderful job. She cried for about 4-5 min. and went to sleep. She never has had a problem with it, and they are just so adorable, I change them all the time, I think it's all about personal preferance. I think they look cute.`

By Marcia on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 02:43 pm:

I had my girls done at 2 months, 6 weeks, and 18 months (just after she joined the family). I think they look great.

By Yjja123 on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 09:56 pm:

My daughter had her ears pierced as a baby. She is now 9 and loves changing them.
Her ears never got infected.
She never lost an earring.
She was not tramatized.
I on the other hand was not allowed until I was a teenager and remember it as a painful experience. One ear was done at a time while hers were both pierced at the same time (two people). The sound of the gun bothered her more than the piercing.
I think it is a personal decision but I am glad I did it when I did, as it worked out great for my child.
If you decide to do it make sure you go to a reputable place and do not get hoops or anything that hangs too soon. A child I baby-sit had hoops that got caught and tore through her ear. I think small plain studs are best until the child is old enough to take care of them themselves.

By Rayanne on Tuesday, June 1, 2004 - 08:51 am:

My doctor used a clamp.

By Bellajoe on Tuesday, June 1, 2004 - 10:05 am:

I"m against it . My dh wanted to pierce my dd's ears when she was a baby, i said no way! I also think earrings look silly in babies ears. Plus babies are beautiful anyway, people don't need to pierce their ears to make them look cute. And why would you want to inflict that pain on a baby, what if it gets infected?

My rule is that she needs to be 8 before she gets her ears pierced, then she can take care of cleaning and turning them herself. My mom did the same thing with me, took me to the mall on my 8th birthday to get them pierced.

By Babysitbarb on Tuesday, June 1, 2004 - 10:49 am:

I had both of my DD's ears done at the mall at age 3 months, they used a gun. Never had a problem with either one. I would kept the studs in for a long time and then always put them back in at bed time. They are now 11 and 15 and the 11 year old just started wearing her's again and 15 year old never does. I had them done for many reasons. I got tired of people asking if they were boys or girls(even though they were dressed in girls clothes), I thought they were cute, and my DH is spanish and yes, it's a cultural thing.

By Boxzgrl on Tuesday, June 1, 2004 - 06:26 pm:

Kaitlyn had hers pierced at 4 1/2 months old. I think they look very cute and make her look even more gorgeous. And BTW, you're talking to someone who paints her 1 yr. old DDs toenails. Were a bit on the girly side and thats how I like it.

Its all a personal decision, I dont think its right or wrong.

By Emily7 on Tuesday, June 1, 2004 - 07:16 pm:

Thank you everyone for all your opinions. I had to take my ds to the Doctor today & asked her opinion. She says it is actually better because I would be able to care for them. She doesn't pierce ears, so its Wal-Mart or just not do it. I was hoping to have some one with a lot of training do it...so once again I DON"T KNOW!

By Amecmom on Tuesday, June 1, 2004 - 07:50 pm:

Emily,
Ask other moms of little girls where they had their ears pierced, and if they were satisfied or not. If my doc does not do it (I have to ask), then that's what I plan to do.
Ame

By Boxzgrl on Tuesday, June 1, 2004 - 10:33 pm:

I had Kaitlyns pierced at one of the stores in the local mall (Claires Accessories) and it was very sterile and clean. Try looking around. Good luck!

By Echo on Wednesday, June 2, 2004 - 12:51 am:

I am Cuban and it is also customary in my culture to have a baby's ears pierced. I got my daughter's done at 3 months.
Gold posts work well, but I had tiny stainless steel body peircings put in. The hoops with the little ball. They are almost impossible even for me to get out, and there is no post to irritate her neck. We did hers at a tattoo shop, which some people find repulsive, but we're very close with the owners and that's what the guy does. Pierces all day long all the time. He knew what he was doing. They never got infected, and she only cried for a minute. I even took pictures of the whole thing.

By Mommyathome on Wednesday, June 2, 2004 - 02:08 pm:

My girls both had theirs done around 1 year old. My oldest (she's 6 now!) had to have hers re-done last summer because she/we had let them close by not keeping earrings in all the time.

Both of my girls love their ears pierced.
I don't think that I would do it under the age of 1 though. I think it takes away from the pure/precious/brand new look of a newborn baby. JMHO though! I *do* think it's adorable on older babies.

By My2girlygirls on Wednesday, June 2, 2004 - 03:56 pm:

We had both of our girls done at 4 months. It was quick and they barely cried at all. They never did really scream or cry, it was more of a Pi**ed off, "hey stop holding my head still" cry that anything. By the time we left the store they were fine. They have never messed with them. Both of the girls love the fact that their ears are pierced. They are now 5 and 8 years old. It is just a personal choice.