Piercing baby girl’s ears

[PumpkinSpiceMuffins]

Has anyone pierced their baby’s ears? When is the best time to do it? Is it uncomfortable for the baby to be wearing earrings all the time? I’m interested in my daughter having a piercing that never closes even if she doesn’t wear earrings for years.

This is very helpful, thank you. I was under the impression that baby piercings were very stable. If that’s not the case, then that takes away the main motivation for me.

does anyone else have any insight/experience? Would love to hear.

My LG is 2 and has not got her ears done, why cause I call it child abuse, she can decide herself when she's older if she wants to put holes in her ears.

Yes, I had no idea about this! One of the reasons I love MN is learning about UK culture. Super interesting the small yet significant differences from the US.

It’s so nice for them to be able to get it done when they are a pre teen etc
It’s a nice milestone and can be for a birthday or something. And the their ears won’t grow so much that the piercing becomes wonky

Your main motivation should be your baby's safety and wellbeing, surely? Not if she can wear pierced earrings at some later date.

I had mine done at 13 when I chose to have them done, I was also old enough to look after them. I wouldn't pierce a baby and I'm surprised you'd find anywhere reputable that would. It's unnecessary pain and suffering for an infant there are all kind of risks with them getting caught/pulled etc and I also think jewellery on a baby/young child looks awful

Good. Don't follow the herd. Your baby is beautiful as she is.

Surely you won't be able to find anyone willing to mutilate a baby?

It's barbaric.

My mum had mine done when I was a baby, apparently my dad was furious!
I obviously don’t remember the pain as I was small - stopped wearing them during some time at junior school when I had to keep taking them out for PE and didn’t bother again for years. I do occasionally wear them now but not often.
Dds asked when they were teenagers to get them done, or possibly the summer holidays before senior school. I didn’t have them done before that because I think it looks really tacky on small children!!

Lots of places will (though I personally don’t like it)

OP for all the reasons said here I would never do it plus I read about the chocking risk. Earrings can easily come in baby’s sleep and baby might swallow it by mistake or choke on it.

In some circles this is considered child abuse because it causes unnecessary suffering & is really in fact only fone for the parents vanity. I'm really not a fan as many on here won't be.
And . just because others do this it doesn't mean this is the right thing to do for your child or you for that matter.

I’m wondering why so many posters think it’s “barbaric.” It’s perfectly safe for the baby. Is it because they think the adornment is garish? Do they think it’s wrong to take the choice away from the child?

Regarding the autonomy issue, in the US, 85% of women have pierced ears. The choice is pretty much a no-brainer. And if you decide you don’t want them later, you simply don’t wear any earrings and it’s very hard to tell if they are pierced. Are pierced ears much less common in the UK and something that many women choose not to get?

Tbf the US is fond of cutting entire organs off baby boys, it's fond of cutting toes off cats.. Not really a country to follow imo.

You're not understanding the point- most women, I suspect, have pierced ears in the UK. However, it's considered to be the woman's choice. Herself, when she can consent and is aware.
It's not a "no brainer". It is using a sharp instrument to make holes. There is always a risk of infection, plus other issues. Why do that to a baby when it's completely unnecessary?

85% might have pierced ears but how many were old enough to decide themselves?

Ear piercing is very common in the UK, but it tends to be when a child is old enough to decide. The summer holidays before secondary school is very common.

I find this really bizarre - I was on a baby app where everyone was talking about piercing their baby's ears!!! Couldn't work out why then realised they were American (I'm British). I don't know if you're American OP, but most countries find piercing babys ears before they're able to consent awful...

To me it's similar to other piercings/a tattoo etc... find once you're old enough to understand and consent, not fine to do it to a baby without their knowledge. It's their body!

It's piercing a hole and a permanent scar in a baby without their consent. I understand it's normal in the US but most countries do not agree this is OK

I've no idea of the stats but 85% in the UK wouldn't surprise me.

I don't really see why the fact that my child is likely to choose something when she's older would mean that I'd do it to her now. Especially since we're talking about something where there isn't an increased risk that comes from having it done when older, or any benefit at all from having it done younger.

It's considered barbaric because it involves mutilating an infant's ears for no necessary medical cause. Inflicting pain on a baby so they can wear jewellery. Unreal. Oh, and there's an infection risk.

In the UK I'd say it's common for girls to get their lobes pierced around the age of ten, when they can be sure they genuinely want it doing and have some understanding of the aftercare.

Using a needle to give vaccinations? Unpleasant, painful, but in the child's best interest. Using a needle to take medically necessary blood tests? Unpleasant, painful, but in the child's best interest. Inserting a cannula to give vital medication/fluids? Unpleasant, painful, but in the child's best interests. Piercing a baby's ears? Unpleasant, painful, of no benefit to the child.

@MsCactus I don't like it either but I would question your statement that most other countries don't think it's ok. Which countries are you thinking of because large parts of Asia, Africa and South America practise this.

Eeek, @PumpkinSpiceMuffins -I hope you're wearing your hard hat! Definitely not a cultural norm in the UK, apart from in some communities e.g. I have Indian and Roma friends who had it done as babies.

I think that (apart from not wanting to inflict pain on a baby unnecessarily) I'd be worried about the baby somehow taking an earring out and swallowing it. Or accidentally ripping it out. 😬

When my teenager got her ears pierced, they took ages to heal as they kept getting infected... probably because she kept fiddling with them.

It should be illegal in my opinion. Absolutely disgusting thing to do to a baby/child.