Pierced Ears?

[loulabelle]

I think tacky is a bit of a harsh word to use when you are talking about little girls.

I think the tacky has been used because that is what the op asked.
She said "do you think it's tacky"

[LimeSlice]

I think the tacky has been used because that is what the op asked.
She said "do you think it's tacky"

:yeahthat:

[MummaSue]

I'm against it, but for this reason: I worked in a jewellery store before I went to uni and once had to pierce the ears of a 3 month old baby.

I'm still traumatised. She screamed the house down. Seriously. I cried when she and her mother left the shop.

No way would I do it to my little one. She can have them done when she is old enough to ask me and know what is happening and what it means.

Each to their own though, they do look very pretty.

[Lulu]

Wow.

Why do people pierce babies ears so young?

[briggsy's girl]

Wow.

Why do people pierce babies ears so young?

for me, it was because we wanted to. plain and simple. it wasn't cultural, it wasn't due to pressure, it wasn't to make her more girly or anything like that. we simply wanted to do it. and we did. no different to a parent choosing to do anything else with their child - it's their choice, they do it. we chose to do it when she was young as our niece had been HARPING for earrings from the age of three til her dad said yes at 6. she fiddled, she pulled, she messed about with them - and she had infections for weeks. we decided to get DD's ears pierced when she was young enough that she wouldn't play with them - she was 12 weeks, didn't get a single infection, never showed signs of pain (and she was quite clear at letting us know when things hurt by that stage). she reacted less to her ears being pierced than she did to immunisations!

like immunisation, circumcision or anything else, it's all about personal choice

ZF - don't ask your DP's cousin to cover for you or get it done. the last thing you want is to have dramas within your family. if you and DP can't agree, you either need to keep working on him, or do it and cop the blame yourself. personally i think if he doesnt agree , let it slide. too much conflict there already.

[barney]

for me, it was because we wanted to. plain and simple. it wasn't cultural, it wasn't due to pressure, it wasn't to make her more girly or anything like that. we simply wanted to do it. and we did. no different to a parent choosing to do anything else with their child - it's their choice, they do it.like immunisation, circumcision or anything else, it's all about personal choice

.

couldnt have explained it better myself.that just how it was with us.

[mako]

I had mine pierced for the 1st time when I was 6 years old and tbh I'd never get my child's ears done until they asked to have them. Not long after mine were done my mum took my jumper off one night and my earring got caught in a loose thread and it pulled through ripping my ear lobe right through..I have my ears pierced several times and have to wear hoops in my lower ear to cover my tear..I'd really hate for that to happen to my child.
But each to there own and I certainly don't judge others who get their little ones ears pierced whenever they so choose too.
I also wouldn't do anything to our child behind DH's back as that would break all trust in our relationship.

[Glamourcide]

Wow.

Why do people pierce babies ears so young?

I haven't read all the responses yet so someone may have already answered this, but it's quite common for Drs and piercers who are asked about the procedure, to recommend that it be done either BEFORE 8 months of age, or then left until after the child's 3rd birthday, because that window in between is when littlies discover body parts and start to pull and tug at their bits and pieces, especially their ears etc, increasing the risk of infection. It's thought that piercing a baby's ears before they hit that curious and capable 8-month mark will decrease the risk of infection or damage to the lobes because they haven't yet worked out how to pull or touch their ears, and they can heal without interference, and it's easier for Mum to clean them as they are more likely to be able to sit still/be held still while it's being done twice daily.
I didn't want to get the DDs' ears pierced that early because I figured it was unnecessary, and FWIW when I took DD1 to get her ears pierced at 17 months (ish, I can't remember the exact age but it was when she started daycare so that's how I remember), she had been asking about 'getting pretties' for a while (DH and I are both tattooed and pierced and she is fascinated by them). I fully acknowledge that she was far too young to understand me when I explained that it would hurt and that she would have to let Mummy help clean them while they healed, but that explanation didn't put her off and she was really excited about getting her ears pierced. I would not have put her through it if I didn't think she could handle it, but this is the kid who never sheds a tear at vaccinations and jumps right back up and keeps going even with a skinned knee. Pain doesn't bother her much, and she was fine as soon as she saw in the mirror that she had the earrings she wanted.
Sure, I could have waited, and yes, I do sound like a hypocrite when I speak so adamantly against infant circumcision, but for me, the two procedures are very different things.

As for wanting to 'feminise' a little girl by getting her ears pierced, YES. I have often considered it for DD2 purely for that reason - I dress that poor kid in head-to-toe pink, frills and all the rest, and people STILL say, 'What a cute little boy, look at those curls!' Right now, that's not reason enough for me to get her ears pierced, she's not quite as advanced as DD1 was at that age and therefore wouldn't understand, so I won't force it upon her, but yeah, I can see why parents choose to do it if they're constantly trying to find ways around the awkward, '...but she's... a she?' thing.

[maz]

but it's quite common for Drs and piercers who are asked about the procedure, to recommend that it be done either BEFORE 8 months of age, or then left until after the child's 3rd birthday, because that window in between is when littlies discover body parts and start to pull and tug at their bits and pieces, especially their ears etc, increasing the risk of infection. It's thought that piercing a baby's ears before they hit that curious and capable 8-month mark will decrease the risk of infection or damage to the lobes because they haven't yet worked out how to pull or touch their ears, and they can heal without interference, and it's easier for Mum to clean them as they are more likely to be able to sit still/be held still while it's being done twice daily.

oh really...find that interesting but yep totally understandable. I gather thats why circumsision ( so cant spell sorry) is done so early, off track I know but another understandable thing to a degree.

I dont know how my lot would have gone getting their ears done that early though, mine all threw their hands up around their head alot and loved tugging at their ears.

Never less I still cant justify doing it to my babies no matter how cute it might look but hey, each to their own