If your DC had their ears pierced under the age of 2...

[doodlydooo]

How was it?

DC is 18 months and for about 9 months now she loves earrings etc. I feel like she is too young to have her ears pierced and won't understand and might tug on them. I wasn't planning on getting her ears pierced until she was about 5 really. But my mum said my sister and I had our ears pierced around the age of 2. SIL also had her ears pierced as a baby.

My mum had mine pierced mine as a toddler, i left them out from about age 5.
Have told my 8yr old she's not having them done until she's a teenager and can probably look after them. She has clip on's for now.

Wtf? Your baby was 9 months when she liked earrings?

I have a 9 month old, she does like my earrings but only in the sense she tugs at them and tries to pull them out my ears. At no point have I thought oh she would like to have her ears pierced. Sorry but I don’t understand how you came to that conclusion. If your daughter was a son would you be considering the same?

Even 5 is too young imo but 18 months she can’t consent and is morally wrong.

I had my ears pierced about that age, as I really wanted them. No issues and I've never done anything like pull them out or had them catch on anything.

Hair brushing is essential but having hair long enough to tangle isn't. But how many parents of little girls chop their hair to spare them the pain? Mine whine at me every morning while I do theirs. I wouldn't allow them pierce their ears yet for all the obvious reasons but I suspect like most of us in so many situations I'm a little bit of a hypocrite here.

Even five is pretty young. Unless she can actively request pierced ears, is able to clean them and look after them, then it's too young.
Babies can choke on earrings or they could get pulled when she's playing. It's just totally unnecessary. And it looks tacky I'm afraid.

You really wanted your ears pierced when you were 18 months old? 😂

@CatrionaBalfour I agree with you. Having your ears pierced is not essential. However that was I a choice I made for my daughter whilst she was little. I am also in agreement with you that having your hair brushed is essential. However, having worked for years in a primary school there are many, MANY parents who do not think so.

They are neglectful parents.

I'm a paediatric nurse, we absolutely do judge parents who have their babies and toddlers ears pierced. Not that we would say anything to you.

I really don't think that you can compare hair brushing with ear piercing. However, that's your opinion.

What is inflicting pain and distress on a baby to modify their body for aesthetic reasons chosen by a parent, without the consent of the baby, whose body is being modified, if it is not abuse?

I agree, I mean fgm is a cultural thing I places. It is still an abomination.

I always said I'd pierced my baby's ears as a baby but then I had a baby and thought no way could I do that to my tiny baby I find it uncomfortable to sleep in earings what if she did and couldn't tell me and cried because it hurt her, she's nearly 6 now and asked to get her ears pierced a few months ago and we did! She loves her little sparkling earrings now. So I think wait until she's ready herself to make her own choice

We said 12 was an appropriate age for our girls. They were old enough to make their own decisions then and be responsible for self care.

eldest is needle phobic and only wears clip ons. Youngest had hers done at 12 and has asked for a second piercing for her up and coming 14th birthday. I’ve said yes to this but I would draw the line at any other piercings while she is a child. She can do what she likes at 18.

It all depends on the way it is perceived and what role one's culture and traditions play. The 'pain' through ear piercing is minimal at such a young age, especially since the ear tissue is soft. It's not comparable to the pain experienced at an older age when children better understand and feel pain. I got it done as a baby and I have always loved wearing earrings. And if I didn't, I could just stop and the hole will close. It certainly is not a 'traumatising' event.

I didn’t say it was traumatising, and I don’t think anyone on the thread has? It’s still pain caused to the baby, with no benefit to them whatsoever. Most people try to avoid causing their child pain.

Why on earth would you look at your beautiful tiny baby and think: I know what would make her look better! Earrings!

Mine all did (yes cultural). In my culture, if i child doesn't, its seen as a way of saying that you didn't want the child or more often disappointment of the child being a girl. I dont think ill get my baby dds ear pierced until she asks.

Sorry accidentally pressed post. So because of that im not sure culture is a good reason, although i very much appreciate the pressure people face

I didn’t have my child’s ears pierced, simply because her body does not belong to me so it wasn’t my choice to make. Too many parents think they own their children’s bodies.

Yes, I take umbrage at the ‘your baby, your choice’ nonsense spouted on here. No, her body, her choice.

I think that’s a very good point. If we want to teach children - and realistically more importantly girls - body autonomy then we need to not be making none essential decisions for them and let them decide for themselves

Piercing is normal in my culture. The guidance is to do it before the baby develops pincer grip as they are likely to mess with it which can affect healing. Our pediatrician recommended between 3-6 months. We pierced both at around 5 months and they healed within a week. Based on how fussy/curious/active my DC were at 2 years I wouldn’t pierce their ears. Aftercare and ability to keep the piercing clean mean I would wait until your DD is much older.

Yes, I asked for them to be done. I don't know why that's funny.

Because no 18 month old has the ability to understand asking for their ears pierced.