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Original poster

Ears piercing

14 replies

nosleepforme · 22/10/2018 23:18

I know this is a very controversial subject, and I feel a bit confused and conflicted, so please share any advice or experience!
I have a baby girl of around 10 months, and I have been thinking seriously of ears piercing. I didn't want to do it until now and still don't until she is at least 1, as I feel she is too young. She is perfect in every way and I am not doing it to make her pretty! I've yet to meet a girl who has had her ears pierced though, and was upset about it. My thoughts are, if my daughter will anyway request and want it, why not do it at an age where there is no fear and fuss. On the other hand, I would feel terrible as a mum if she cried during the process as this is not something she told me she wants.
Some of my friends have allowed it to wait until their children ask (even at 2), some gave at newborn stage, and some mums have told me that they only allowed once their kid was a teen and understood.
I obviously plan on asking medical advice about this before I make a decision (like what's the best age and general opinion of Dr etc).
Any advice?

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Bishalisha · 22/10/2018 23:33

I don’t agree with it. If you’re going to do it, can you see if there’s anywhere that will do it with a needle rather than a gun?

PippilottaLongstocking · 22/10/2018 23:37

A 1 year old (or any child from as soon as they can control their hands up until they can properly understand about hygiene and have better impulse control) will pull at earrings, when tiny they could possibly pull hard enough to rip them out as they don’t understand, older toddlers will understand that that would hurt them but will still pull them and twiddle with them and maybe take them out just because they’re curious and it’s something new, and so they’re likely to get infected and not heal properly. I’d say wait until they’re at least 5/6 and probably closer to 7/8 when they can keep them clean and are able to understand and control themselves well enough not to mess around with them

LimpyLampy · 22/10/2018 23:40

Why do you wish to have her ears pierced?

Is it a cultural thing?

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ChintzTeapot · 22/10/2018 23:45

Ours all had their ears pierced as newborns so I'm not against babies getting their ears pierced but I think at your daughters age I'd wait another couple of years until she's old enough to not fiddle with them or pull at them if you tell her not to.

Bobbiepin · 22/10/2018 23:47

Honestly if you are scared about making her cry then leave it for a little while. It will hurt her and like PP have said she created a trauma or infection risk by pulling at them or touching them. If you wanted to do it as a baby I'm afraid I think you have left it too late.

Bigonesmallone3 · 22/10/2018 23:55

Of course she will cry, because it hurts, I have a boy who asked to have his ear pierced when he was about 7 and a 20 month old girl I wouldn't dream of doin it to. When she is old enough to say 'Mummy I want my ears pierced' then il be happy to take her

fannyanddick · 23/10/2018 00:10

I think it's a permanent body change and would be inclined to wait until the child is a near teen or older. I have a close friend who grew out infant ear piercings.

davisday · 23/10/2018 00:22

I am not doing it to make her pretty

Why are you doing it?

JosellaPlayton · 23/10/2018 00:28

Whilst I personally wouldn’t pierce my own baby’s ears, I don’t have anything against those that do. However OP, I think you’ve missed the boat on this one. A 1 year old might pull and tug at the earrings leading to extra pain, infection and possibly even having to have them redone at a later date. You’d be better waiting until she’s old enough not to do this- at a minimum I’d say about 4 years old, or better yet wait until she asks.

AssassinatedBeauty · 23/10/2018 00:42

I have no idea from your post what the point of piercing your baby's body is? Why do you want to do that to your baby? For who's benefit?

Just leave her be, don't cause her pain and risk infection and complications.

Original poster
nosleepforme · 23/10/2018 05:16

So interesting by saying I may have missed the boat, I definitely see the point!
I wanted to do them firstly because it's a cultural thing, but also because if it's going to happen anyway, I thought at this age it might be less fuss. Seems like people think otherwise, and I appreciate the way their opinion!

OP posts:
Starstruck2020 · 23/10/2018 05:30

Maybe the girls who havent complained about it, haven’t because they don’t know any different.
I personally believe it’s their body let them decide. DD1 is 13 and does not want her ears pierced. DD2 got her done just before she was 10. Both very happy with their decisions and I think it was an enjoyable experience for DD2. It was something she really wanted and decided for herself, we had a nice day getting it done too and she really looked after them healing. She was a big “toucher” so I made her wait until she was ready not to touch everything and understood the importance of why. It has helped with her being a “toucher” too. My only stipulation was that we used a piercer not a gun.

pretendingtowork1 · 23/10/2018 05:41

Wait til she asks for it. Of course she'll cry, it's painful! Why on earth would you inflict that on a baby?

LadyRochfordsSpikedGusset · 23/10/2018 06:06

Unless she's old enough to make the decision for herself why are you considering forcing your aesthetic preference on an infant, who has no clue what's going on, feels pain and then has an added risk of injury??

I'll never understand this.

She's not a doll, she's your DD.

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