BellaOnline Forums Beauty and Self Body Art Ear Piercing and Children

I sifted through the postings and looked a the article on ear piercing, but have some questions. What is a good age to have a child's ears pierced (or is there a "good" age). I've had some people tell me they do children as young as a day old and others say it would be better to wait until the child was 4 or older. Thoughs/comments? I have a 15 month old and am considering having her ears pierced.

There is no "good" age, or "right" age either.

In some states, there are now laws passed due to body piercing that effect even ear piercing, so depending on where you live, they might not consider it legal to pierce pre-teens, even with your consent. Check on that.

Otherwise, I know people who grew up with cultural practices of having baby girls get their ears pierced and girls who couldn't do it until they moved out of their parents house.

What I'd like to ask you is why do you think your baby girl should have her ears pierced?

I have two girls and a boy, one of the girls and the boy are my stepkids. My oldest daughter (step) had her ears pierced around a month old, my youngest daughter has not had her ears pierced. I have no problem with my kids getting piercings at all. My husband and I both agree. Of course they would have to be of an age to be able to clean and take care of their own piercings, and I will make sure to warn them of possible side effects if something goes awry, but I feel it should be their choice. Thats why my youngest daughter does not have pierced ears. When she decides she wants pierced ears, I'll take her to get it done at a suitable, clean place, until then, she can go without. She's only three, she doesn't care whether her ears are pierced or not, it's obvious that she's a girl, and always has been obvious, even as a baby.....again, when she decides we'll do it, until then she's fine the way she is.
Tanya

Its a bit of a cultural thing for us. We're catching a LOT of flack from family and friends about not having her ears pierced. The state allows parents to sign for a child to have his/her ears pierced, but most places won't do it. Our pedi said she'd do it if we were absolutely sure that's what we wanted.

I never do anything because someone is pressuring me to do it. I'd be frank with them about it. Tell them it's not really any of their business, if they're really going to be that up in arms about whether or not YOUR daughters (notice the capitals, not their kid) ears are pierced then they obviously have a misconstrued sense of whether that is their business or not. If you give in because of people pressuring you on that issue, where will you draw the line on other issues? breastfeeding? luvs or huggies? which preschool to attend? Honestly this is a choice that you as a parent get to make, it's part of that whole parenting thing. Not to sound rude, but I don't like it when people give me unsolicited advice.....
JMHO....
Tanya

In my personal, un-scientific opinion, I think that you should either pierce them when they are very young--under three months, or wait until they are around Kindergarten age or older.

I think older babies and toddlers will mess with them, risking infection and choking.

My ears were pierced when I was a toddler. Not sure when but fairly young. I don't remember it being done, but I had no infection, and wore the little gold studs for many years constantly.

I'm glad my parents did it, but one thing - as I grew, my ears grew, so my holes are a little higher on the ear than those who had it done as adults. This causes some types of earrings to sit a little funny.

Since I usually wear dangly types, however, it doesn't affect me much.

Peer pressure?? I don't agree with putting holes in the body of someone who can't consent to it anyway. Doing so because "someone else thought I should" is even worse.

Just my opinion, I think you should wait until they ask. I have sons and my older one had his ear pierced at the age of 10 and the younger one had his ear pierced at the age of 5. I don't give in to every whim my children ask me for but I can usually tell when they REALLY want something so the older one (who is 14 years older than the younger one)went along with the younger one. I signed and gave consent and then walked around until it was done. I think it was sort of a brother bonding thing.

I'm not sure what kinds of backs are commonly included on the studs that are used in children's ears at the current time, but I would choose the earrings very carefully!
My friend's daughter (5) had had her ears pierced for several years. Then one night for some reason she was playing with the earring after she was put to bed and dropped it into her nose. I'm not kidding! This could have been a disaster. As it was mom was able to get it out but it scared them both pretty badly.
Those little stick on earrings would be a REAL no no!