Piercing A Baby/Toddler's Ears Vent

That's actually kind of old. I know people usually do it between 3 and 6 months

I personally waited until my daughter was 3 bad idea I wish I did it when she was younger. She is 6 and her ears hole is closed

Honestly I've seen it done on girls much younger than that. I'm not saying whether is a good thing or not, I don't feel entitled to have much of an opinion since I don't have kids. But my cousin and his gf got their daughter's ears pierced and she's I think three months old now.

I'm not saying one is wrong or right just letting you know people do it much younger than that. (Maybe it helps that they have from an earlier age and they get used to it?)

I don't think you should worry too much, hopefully they gave her good instructions on caring for it and nothing bad will happen.

I know a lot of people who had theirs done since they where that young (or younger). Though I understand your concerns, I don't think it's wrong and it's definitely not unheard of.

I didn't get mine done until I was 12 (give or take a year, I don't remember exactly) and I wish that someone would have done it when I was younger. At least at that age they are used to having mommy clean them and such. Once your older it's harder to get the kid to take care of them. Plus since I got mine done so late they are prone to growing back in if I don't keep earrings in them.

I do have mixed feelings about it..on one hand I understand it's more common in certain cultures to do that when they are young. However, on the other hand, even though if super young the babies don't remember, but for that second they are scared..Plus they can't consent to a cosmetic adornment. I'd rather have them decide when they are older for themselves..I got mine done pretty late, I was 17 and even if you touch your ears slightly, it hurt..with babies rolling around, touching their face and everything, I wouldn't put mine through that (if I have kids).

I had my ears pierced the day after I was born. I never had an infection or anything happen to those holes. Now the other holes in my ear that I had pierced when I was 17, those did get infected. LOL

I think it is just a custom depending on ones culture.

I have an 18 month old daughter. I went back and forth with this when she was around 4 months, and I just kept coming back to how horrible of a mother I would be if the piercing became infected So I decided not to do it until she can tell me that she would like her ears pierced. I personally feel like if you don`t do them when they are really young you should wait until they are older, I would definitely not get my daughters ears pierced now because she would pull and play with them. My MOH just got her daughters ears done, she is almost 4 and she bugged and bugged and bugged for the entire week to get her ears pierced, so her mom finally took her to do it, and after they were done she kept asking to take them out because they hurt, it wasn`t until I went for a visit and she showed me her newly pierced ears and I told her how beautiful they were, and that they were just like mine, that she finally decided that she liked them and wanted to keep them in her ears

Piercing an infant girl is very common. Most of the mommies I know pierced their daughters ears before they were 2 months. MyLo and I don't have children (he has an adult daughter) but have discussed this. When we have children, we both agreed we would pierce our daughter(s) ears young.

All I can say, to each his own.

My ears were pierced before I was a year old (my mom thinks it was pretty much right after I was born, so I'll go with the 3 - 6 month range). And being that I was such a tomboy, those earrings were the only thing that showed I was a girl. I don't think it's that big a deal, I always thought it was odd when other people didn't get theirs pierced until they were older. At least I can't remember the pain.

I get you, Pan. Until my child is old enough to ask and comprehend getting her ears pierced and the responsibility of it, not happening. I don't understand why a baby needs her ears pierced. (MIL is 55 and just got hers pierced for the wedding!)

My God Daughters ears were pierced when she was 3 months (I think). Now days they won't do them until the child has received their first round of shots. IMO the earlier they get them the better because they don't play with them. She is now 18 months and still doesn't touch them (even when she had an ear infection), and we change the studs once a week. When my sister was younger she had her ears pierced at 1 and that was a bad idea cause she wouldn't leave them alone. AND if your child goes to day care that is a very big concern! Another child in the same day care as my sister had grab the stud and yanked it out (tearing her ear lobe). We had to let them heal up and she just got them pierced again (on her request) at age 14.

So in short, young & no day care = go for it... older &/or day care = wait til at least school age.

It should be done between 3 & 6 months...the earings don't bother the baby. and most drs now do it in their office. its the best time to get them done and there is less chance that they will ever close if they decide to take the earrings out

All of the baby girls I know also had their ears pierced before 1 year. My ears were pierced at 6 months of age. I am happy that it was because to be honest having your ears pierced is annoying. I got my second holes in my twenties and that mess hurt. LOL! I personally would have my daughter's ears pierced early to prevent her from fiddling with her ears and causing a possible infection or have her wait until she is old enough to handle it.

My ears have been pierced since I was an infant. It is a normal thing in my culture. Several times they were accidentally yanked out. Twice they were yanked in such a way that they tore the holes and they had to heal again. The second time was when I was 6. My brother and I were playing and somehow his sleeve got caught on my earring. It hurt a lot, and even though I did not want them put back in(I'd had enough at that point) my mom put them back in against my will because she wanted my ears pierced. I took both of them out when she wasn't looking, and didn't get them repierced of my own accord until I was in middle school. I guess that's why I don't like it. I just feel like it's all for the mom's gratification at that age common practice or not.

I wholeheartedly agree, Pan. You don't purposefully damage a child's body. Ever. This child's body was a perfect temple, and it's sad she has such a moronic mother, IMHO. I'm so grossed out when I see children with this particular "rite of passage" forced upon them. And I'm REALLY appalled that most of these other forum-posters inflict this ridiculous regime onto their own innocent offspring. Gross.

I wanted to add, that I don't mind other's opposed feelings on topics, as everyone has their own opinions, and are entitled to them. But don't come here calling people names, because their beliefs are entirely different than yours, and expect not to piss someone off.

I agree about the name calling being uncalled for, and definitely wanted a civil discussion when I posted this.

I have to disagree that piercing their ears at such a young age, and allowing a teenager to get a piercing are the same though. The teenager has the ability to choose. Their mind is at least developed enough that they can give consent. A baby cannot. Just stating my opinion. You can do whatever you want. That's why I'm not saying anything to SIL, and she's probably not gonna hear the end of it from MIL anyway so me adding to it would be too much.

I'm with you, Pan. Getting the ears pierced so young seems to me to be a) creating an unnecessary risk of infection, and b) imposing stereotypical sex roles onto a child. It's true that most of the time, the holes don't get infected, but why take the risk? It's not as though the child is going to get anything out of wearing jewelry at that age. For those who say it would be more painful later on, I had mine done when I was 40, and it was no more than a pinprick.

At the same time, I don't think you can really say anything to the mother. Mothers have enough trouble with everyone second-guessing whatever they do, so I personally try to avoid it unless you are talking about an immediate and serious issue.

I believe it is a personal decision. There are many things we do to very small children that could be considered cruel if they were not so widespread.

That being said, I did not have my ears pierced as a child and only got mine done before my senior year of college. I'm really quite afraid/intolerant of pain, so it was a serious decision for me, actually. That may seem like kind of a shock to some people on this forum, but I do think that every person is different.

I can understand the normalcy of piercing a small child's ears, especially if that was done to you, just as I can understand Pan's aversion. I also feel an aversion towards this, but I think it has something to do with the fact that I vividly remember the healing process for myself and feel my ears are still extremely sensitive four years later (I do have extremely sensitive skin though...I cannot wear band-aids due to sensitivity).

I would choose not to pierce my child's ears at a young age.

I had my ears pierced when I was an infant and still to this day have the same holes. I also got my daughters ears pierced at 4 months and shes now 2 years old and never bothers her ears. Its better to get them done at a young age.