Baby Ear Piercing-No Thanks!

Ok, first off – I know many loving, beautiful mothers that choose to pierce their daughter’s ears at a young age and they are fantastic parents - I don’t think any less of them as a person or as a parent if they choose to do so. I hope my choices in life don’t make them think less of me either – but here are my reasons why I say F-that to piercing my daughter’s ears.


1 - Numero Uno, Body Autonomy

Ok, I’m going to start off with my biggest problem with this – the issue of consent.

If you were to ask a baby whether or not they would like to get their ear’s pierced, the baby would most definitely respond with ‘NO’.

Now, parents do things to babies that they object to all the time, like changing a diaper or giving a bath – but the difference with these events and piercing a baby’s ear is that the piercing does not enhance the infant’s quality of life, it’s painful and carries significant risks over, say, just changing a diaper.

The decision to pierce or modify the body should be left up to the individual, especially if it involves pain and risk.

There is great benefit in waiting until a child is old enough to grasp issues of the cost, that there is pain involved and the required aftercare – they have the potential to learn personal responsibly!

Involving children in their own health care can teach them to be active participants instead of passive recipients of their parent’s desires.


2 – They Allow Guns in the Mall?  

Ok, I’ve had many, many piercing in my life (tongue, lip, eyebrow, nose, bellybutton, etc) and I know one thing – piercing in a professional shop with a needle is a lot different then at the mall with a piercing gun.

The piercing gun is antiquated and causes a different wound then a needle does - via a blunt end forced through the skin.

Not only is this much more painful, but it takes longer to heal and has a higher rate of infection. Infants have an immature immune system as it is. Why take the risk?

Piercing guns cannot be fully sterilized. Hello! These piercing guns are used hundreds of times – yuck!!



3 – Claire’s is for Accessories NOT Piercings

I’m sorry, but there is no way in hell I would take my infant daughter to Claire’s or some random kiosk on a Saturday morning, subjecting her to what a 17 year old girl’s weekend training certificate deems worthy of a piercing debauchery.   

Piercing should be done by a reputable expert who follows aseptic procedures. Period.


4 – Gender Recognition

Don’t give me this crap about how I want my baby to look like a girl. Babies are perfect and beautiful the way they are.

If you want your baby to look like a girl, use a head band. There are many fun and safe alternatives then a piercing.



Conclusion

A lot of my friends that are moms who have daughters eventually get their ears pierced before their 1st birthday – and I think these mothers are fabulous.

I just could not do it. It doesn’t make me right and them wrong – it just means I don’t get it.

Ear piercing of babies and young children cannot be claimed to be in the immediate best interest of the baby and causing unnecessary pain to a baby so they can look a desired way makes me scratch my head.

Ultimately, I exceedingly look forward to the day when my daughters come up to me and say, “Mom, I REALLY  want to get my ears pierced.” and then we can make a plan together to get it done.



16 comments:

  1. I agree 1000% with all of this! Which is why I told my husband "no way", when he wanted them done young. His rationale "she won't remember the pain" to which I replied "but she'll still feel it!!!" Foot down! No way. I got my ears pierced for the first time 2 years ago. I'm 30 lol. Anyways glad to know others think the same thing as me!! As always love your posts and look forward to the next one!!!

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  2. I agree! I don't look down on other moms who do this at all, but I don't want to do it to Lillian as a baby!
    I had my ears pierced when I was maybe 5 or 6 years old and loved it! I am thinking it'll probably be that age for Lillian as well.

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  3. I had to laugh when you mentioned Claire's, because I work there part-time and am currently training to pierce. I completely agree with your reasons for not having it done on babies. I think it's just as bad when a mom is trying to coerce her 7-year-old to get pierced, practically making a scene while the girl clearly does not want it done. That made me very sad to observe. I hope that no one ever asks me to pierce their baby's ears for as long as I work there!

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  4. Anonymous3/23/2012

    I had no idea ear piercing was such an issue of contention until I started having babies. I am from a culture where it gets done at a young age (6-12 months) and its that simple. This culture also does home birth, cloth diapers, baby led weaning (almost said baby wed leaning hahaha!) and the rest of the more crunchier things to do! Not that piercing has anything to do with being crunchy, its just funny how cultures categorise different things!

    Anyways, great points! I never thought about it before! I'll still do it on my 2nd daughter's 1st birthday though.

    Again, love your blog! :)

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  5. Anonymous3/24/2012

    YES! Exactly! My ears were pierced as an infant, and I don't remember that, but my mother used to tell me how I cried when it was done. Then, in my 20's I went to get a second piercing at the mall and the customer in front of me was a six week old. She screamed so badly that I decided to hold off on getting mine done. I waited over a year to try again, and it HURT! I have 2 girls and they can get their ears pierced when and if they want it done, not before. They are not my ears, I don't get to make that choice.

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  6. I agree. While I love the look of babies with earrings (they are seriously cute), I just didn't want to make that decision, no matter how seemingly innocuous, for my child. Plus, I remember getting mine done and LOVED it (though it was in the mall). I felt so grown and proud.

    My daughter is four now, and we just had a talk. She loves earrings and said she wanted to do it. When I then explained that it would be done at the doctor, she said, "You know, I think I'll wait until I'm older." Fine by me, kid. Fine by me.

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    Replies
    1. i agree completely! I'm glad to look forward to taking my daughters when they decide for themselves that its what they want. ; )

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  7. So does this mean you are against circumcision?

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    Replies
    1. you are absolutely correct in that assumption!

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  8. There is something about piercings that has always freaked me out. I am not sure if I would want to pierce my child's ear but my wife thinks it's a good idea. I enjoyed this article and all the comments.

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  9. Anonymous3/11/2013

    http://blindedbythelightt.blogspot.com/2012/03/baby-ear-piercing-no-thanks.html

    Needs Kenni response...

    Amanda,

    Admittedly, it is a personal decision, but like many other moms with little girls, I was unsure when to pierce her ears. When I was pregnant, I knew I wanted to do it early after I dreamed seeing my baby girl with little earrings soon after birth. I discussed with dh and he was okay with it.

    After she was born, and I got her sweet little earrings, but I was on the fence when to do it after seeing her precious, tiny, perfect ears. The idea of piercing this beautiful little babies ears all of the sudden seemed like something I could NOT do. How could I hurt my little baby? However, after seeing more and more babies and little girls with cute little earrings, I began warming up to the idea of doing it as an infant.

    Somewhere along the way I became one of those mamas who became all googly-eyed over other babies who had pierced ears saying how adorable they were. One day I put my diamonds in and held hers up to her ears in front of the mirror. She smiled and I knew it was time at two months.

    I asked our ped and she encouraged me to go ahead and do it after her first DTP shot saying it was best when mommy could care for them during the healing period. Also, she gave me some tips for moms having their dd's ears pierced. They included how to find the right person, where to take her and some OTC meds to minimize any
    discomfort. We did her at two months old and she did great.

    I had our dd pierced with some CZ's is about the same size as my diamond earrings. She looked adorable and I had so many compliements on sweet little earrings. I knew that I had made the right decision.

    However, if your thinking about it, then your mommy intuition maybe be telling sooner is best. Drop me an e-mail if you would like our ped's recommendations.

    Angie

    Angietune@hotmail.com

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  10. Piercing and tattoo has lead to a rise in number of piercing studios and piercing shops. However, they do enhance your looks but there is certainly a level of risk involved with it.http://piercingsforyou.com

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  11. I can't even handle when she has to get her shots. She looks up at me like "How could you let them hurt me mama?". It breaks my heart every time. So if she doesn't HAVE to have it. I will not force her into it. I'll wait til she is responsible enough to decide. I still think it's cute. Just not for us

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  12. I was pierced as a older child. I didn't really want them but was coerced until I went and had it done. It hurt and was really not something I ever cared about. Though I went and got my navel pierced on my 18th as well to "fit in" it just never was "me" I never showed them off or cared. Later when I became an parent I realized how much I didn't like being pierced. And so I took them out (I was a bit scared since I knew there would be questions from most people I know) and have never worn a piercing since. I guess what I am trying to say is that children can be brainwashed or ridiculed into getting something they don't really want too.

    I only have sons at the moment and you better believe that their bodies are 100% intact and as they were born. "right decision for my family" isn't really an argument to me.

    Their body their choice. Not mine or anyone else.

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  13. awesome,
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    ReplyDelete

Please be respectful. If you are about to say something that you would not let your child hear, then please refrain from saying it.