Infant ear piercing -- where to do in the District?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what culture (and where is "back home") that the PPs are referring to? Genuinely curious, not throwing stones.

It's called Charles County, MD

[Anonymous]

I'm from Miami, where there are piercers available in the hospital maternity wings. I don't think I knew a girl in kindergarten without pierced ears. It really is a very normal thing in some cultures to pierce a baby girl's ears. My aunties were all shocked I waited so long to get my own daughter's ears done (I waited for her to turn 6). I originally planned on using a body piercer at a tattoo parlor for the reasons mentioned above, but when I spoke to a place near our house they said they didn't work with kids. They did recommend a Piercing Pagoda at the Fair Oaks Mall where they said they had sent other kids and heard very good reports back. So that's where we went. It was a great experience, they used all new equipment and were very patient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:there's no allergy to gold. the Allergy Is to the crap they mix into the gold sold in the US.

back home every little girl leaves the hospital with earrings and we never hear of allergies. the gold there is at least 18k.

The allergy is usually nickel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what culture (and where is "back home") that the PPs are referring to? Genuinely curious, not throwing stones.

Italians pierce their infants' ears.

done all the time

I think I was the exception - as is my daughter.

[Anonymous]

The 14k gold they sell in the US is practically costume jewelry. It is mixed with other metals (including nickel) that causes allergies. It blows my mind that people spend thousands on diamonds and then set it in 14k gold.

Anyhow, I have contact dermatitis and can't wear 14k gold. I haven't tried 18k; 22k is fine.

I was the poster that said that I had my ears pierced early, so I won't pierce my baby til she's a bit older. If ear piercing does trigger allergies, that's all the more reason to make my kid wait until she's 18 - I think earrings on little girls are super cute (I'm Indian, it's common) but I think that considering my family history of allergies, she should be able to consent to the risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The 14k gold they sell in the US is practically costume jewelry. It is mixed with other metals (including nickel) that causes allergies. It blows my mind that people spend thousands on diamonds and then set it in 14k gold.

Anyhow, I have contact dermatitis and can't wear 14k gold. I haven't tried 18k; 22k is fine.

I was the poster that said that I had my ears pierced early, so I won't pierce my baby til she's a bit older. If ear piercing does trigger allergies, that's all the more reason to make my kid wait until she's 18 - I think earrings on little girls are super cute (I'm Indian, it's common) but I think that considering my family history of allergies, she should be able to consent to the risk.

I meant, if piercing triggers allergies at ANY age, not just as infants, then that is a reason to wait til 18.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what culture (and where is "back home") that the PPs are referring to? Genuinely curious, not throwing stones.

Italians pierce their infants' ears.

done all the time

I think I was the exception - as is my daughter.

DH is from South America and they do it there. I am from the US and this has been a topic of controversy between my MIL, SIL and me. Ultimately, she is my daughter and won't be getting her ears pierced for a long time. They are free to do whatever they chose with their daughters. I do worry that MIL will just pierce them when I am not around but I hope she has enough respect for my wishes (plus she wants to see dd in the future).

[Anonymous]

OP, I had my daughters' ears pierced at Claire's. I am very happy with the results. They spend a great deal of time getting the positions symmetrical and actually getting the holes symmetrical which was no mean feat with my wriggling babies! I went beforehand to watch them piercing other babies' ears and felt comfortable taking my girls there.

I'm so happy we got it done finally (at 15 months) as it had been hanging over me since they were born- like something was missing. They look very cute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what culture (and where is "back home") that the PPs are referring to? Genuinely curious, not throwing stones.

Italians pierce their infants' ears.

done all the time

I think I was the exception - as is my daughter.

DH is from South America and they do it there. I am from the US and this has been a topic of controversy between my MIL, SIL and me. Ultimately, she is my daughter and won't be getting her ears pierced for a long time. They are free to do whatever they chose with their daughters. I do worry that MIL will just pierce them when I am not around but I hope she has enough respect for my wishes (plus she wants to see dd in the future).

I'm curious why it is a controversy - do MIL and SIL think she won't be pretty without pierced ears?

[Anonymous]

Both of my girls had theirs done at Claire's. But they were older. I wanted them to be old enough to decide for themselves. They were both around 10 when they had them pierced.

Claire's does it all the time. They are very good

[Anonymous]

jeez people are mean.

Capitol Medical Group says that they do it on their website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:there's no allergy to gold. the Allergy Is to the crap they mix into the gold sold in the US.

back home every little girl leaves the hospital with earrings and we never hear of allergies. the gold there is at least 18k.

i got my ears pierced at 16. 36 now and still allergic to any/all earrings, even pure 24k gold with nothing mixed in. even if i wear those for a day, my ears will be sore/red for a month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what culture (and where is "back home") that the PPs are referring to? Genuinely curious, not throwing stones.

Italians pierce their infants' ears.

done all the time

I think I was the exception - as is my daughter.

DH is from South America and they do it there. I am from the US and this has been a topic of controversy between my MIL, SIL and me. Ultimately, she is my daughter and won't be getting her ears pierced for a long time. They are free to do whatever they chose with their daughters. I do worry that MIL will just pierce them when I am not around but I hope she has enough respect for my wishes (plus she wants to see dd in the future).

I'm curious why it is a controversy - do MIL and SIL think she won't be pretty without pierced ears?

I can answer for the Italians. Gold is pretty much the norm over there. They appreciate good jewelry. So you'll see plenty of chains (sometimes more than one), bracelets, rings, and earrings on both men and women. Anything 18K and above is what they wear.

OP - If you're looking for some great 22/24K jewelry, there's a shop in Langley Park where you can possibly bargain down prices. some gorgeous items there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:there's no allergy to gold. the Allergy Is to the crap they mix into the gold sold in the US.

You are incorrect. It is rare, but not impossible. My dad (a physician) did my ears, and all my cousins', and he always insisted on 24k gold for the first pair of earrings. One of my cousins had a nasty reaction to the gold, and learned that she can only wear stainless (I think that's it... won't swear to it).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what culture (and where is "back home") that the PPs are referring to? Genuinely curious, not throwing stones.

Italians pierce their infants' ears.

done all the time

I think I was the exception - as is my daughter.

DH is from South America and they do it there. I am from the US and this has been a topic of controversy between my MIL, SIL and me. Ultimately, she is my daughter and won't be getting her ears pierced for a long time. They are free to do whatever they chose with their daughters. I do worry that MIL will just pierce them when I am not around but I hope she has enough respect for my wishes (plus she wants to see dd in the future).

I'm curious why it is a controversy - do MIL and SIL think she won't be pretty without pierced ears?

Yes, they think it is pretty. I think it is just a norm in their culture. They think I am weird because I refuse to even entertain the idea. I haven't explained the class implications here because it will only insult them and cause a huge fight.