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.

Are you now living in the UK Op or still in the US? It would be very unwise to do this in the UK as the general standard is over the age of 12ish.

So only people who don’t care about acceptable standards would be willing to pierce a baby’s ears. And no one wants someone who doesn’t care about standards sticking needlessly in their kids!

this is a helpful perspective to hear.

US where it’s normal and widely available.

Yeah, and in Spain you torture cattle to death for public entertainment, so again not taking my cues for "normal" and "right" ways to treat animals or children from citizens of that country.

@MaidOfAle do you eat meat and drink milk by any chance?

I am not particularly fond of tauromaquia but whatever…

Let’s not forget the British slave trade since we are at it…

I got mine done as an older teen and they don't heal up despite not wearing earrings for years at a time.

The potential benefits are that it’s a very stable piercing, and less risk of infection when I can do the aftercare for her as a baby. And she won’t be doing any sports as a baby, so less risky than when she’s older and doing sports and can’t take them out for a time. But I’d like to hear if anyone has info about it not being stable and the placement shifting over time. Then there’s no benefit.

Helpful info!

Not first hand experience, but I remember talking to an older lady who said she resented her mother having had her ears pierced as a baby because the piercings were now "in the wrong place" I think she said they were too low down on earlobe.
My story (might have said this on MN before) is that I didn't get my ears pierced until I was 17, I looked after the piercings exactly as instructed and one ear STILL got infected, swelled up to 4 times its normal size and really hurt.
I had to go to A&E, and the whole earring had to be pulled out from the back of my ear, it was horrendous.
Bad enough when you're 17, pretty awful if it happened to a really young child (who'd be more inclined to fiddle about and tug at a piercing, so even more chance of infection)

Tacky as fuck!

had my ears piercers as a 4 mth old and did my daughters when she was 2 yrs old

Absolutely fine, you are right in that as no one touches the ears they don't get infected. I actually only cleaned my daughters ears twice then left them and no problems

It's a personal choice and both my daughter and I love our pierced ears

This is a country that also circumcises baby boys as standard…so babies are considered fair game in the US.

But I’d like to hear if anyone has info about it not being stable and the placement shifting over time. Then there’s no benefit.

You only care about her looks don't you? You don't care that you'll be causing her unnecessary pain and discomfort. That you be changing her body in an unnecessary way but having hopes put in it.

I honestly find your attitude shocking and sickening. A small baby and you want to put holes in her body and cause her pain.

Thank you for sharing. Helpful!

I was thinking at two she might grab them more than if it was earlier. Very helpful to know that your daughter did not, thank you.

Do you think the pain is such a big deal? I remember it being a momentary pinch.

It should be illegal to pierce a baby's ears.

Wait until she uses old enough to make an informed decision.

Do you think the pain is such a big deal? I remember it being a momentary pinch.

A good mother would not inflict pain upon her child without medical reason.

I've seen babies be pinned down and had their eats pierced. They scream.

1. It causes pain
2. It looks awful
3. It should be an individuals choice

Just because something is normal or cultural where you are doesn't make it OK

The best time to do it is when they ask to have it done, when they are not completely terrified and confused as to why a stranger is inflicting pain on them whilst their mother watches, when they can reasonably consent to having their body modified and when they are old enough to take care of the piercings themselves and keep them clean.

If you wouldn't get your baby's belly button or nose pierced, why would you get their ears pierced?

Why do you want to put holes in your baby’s ears? Let her choose if she wants them when old enough and she can consent.

You keep going on about 'stable' but you clearly know nothing about it.

babies rub their ears a lot, when they have an ear infection or even when they're just tired. Toddlers learning to dress themselves, wear dress up clothes, so many risks of getting them caught & ripped out.

wait until she's old enough to take them out for PE & until she's been asking for them for a good while. Delayed gratification makes them a much better 'treat/gift'.

you can still clean them daily.

Do them at the start of the summer holidays.

youre making her go through all the toddler years risking her or another child purposefully or accidentally ripping them out and splitting her ear lobe.

just WHY???

I was 7 when I had mine done. I had yammered on to get it done for a long time by then. I remember how much it hurt, a damn sight more than 'a pinch'.

it's barbaric & insane

On a practical level the piercings many close up or shift as she grows and might not stay in the right spot. There's also a chance of infection. More importantly though is the ethical issue. Her body her choice not yours. Do you want this to be your DDs first experience of body autonomy, that people can do things to your body without your permission and that's OK? Do you want your daughter to feel that making changes to her body is necessary to look good? Do you feel any pain doesn't matter because as a baby she won't remember? She will still experience it. Unless there's a medical need no one should be making any changes to a baby's body. There's no important cultural or religious reasons for you so you don't even have that to full back on as an excuse.

The one thing I always judge people for is esr piercings on babies, would you get her nose pierced for the same reasons? How about her belly button?

I had mine done at 7 in the summer holidays they were fine, it doesn't matter his long I leave earrings out for now, there's always a hole

I am in the US and it is not common here. That is a false statement and reputable piercing places won't do it. Only ridiculous places like Claire's, a cheap jewelery chain store, will do it. It is more common for children in grade school to get pierced when they are older.