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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

I would do exactly as you have done. Refuse to do it. Refuse to explain the class issue.

[Anonymous]

This is a Hispanic cultural thing too. My daughter's great grandma (Ecuadorian) asked as soon as she was born, "when are you getting her ears pierced". I replied, "When she is 16".

I personally think it's tacky and you shouldn't put holes in your baby. When I see a little baby or little girl with earrings (or even more gold jewelry) I cringe. But, to each their own.

[Anonymous]

i really can't believe anyone would take an infant to get their ears pierced at at claire's, which is essentially a mall kiosk. i'd NEVER pierce a baby's ears anyway, but if i did, i'd do it at a doctor's office, for sure.

[Anonymous]

I'm the poster from Miami and I can tell you that my Cuban aunts all were upset because "how will people know she's a girl?" It's just one of those things that you grow up with and while I understand it seems weird from the outside, it's their normal. I held off until kindergarten for my daughter because I knew that it would seem odd in this area to do it younger. Had I stayed in Miami, I may have done it earlier.

[Anonymous]

I can see why people think it's strange, but since I'm used to adornment as beauty (I'm Indian) I think baby girls with earrings are absolutely lovely.

[Anonymous]

On a baby, it is a form of mutilation. And child abuse. Sorry - that's my opinion. On a todler too for that matter. No pierced ears until they are old enough to consent and can keep them from being infected all without mommy's help.

[Anonymous]

In my neighborhood, it is commonplace to see toddler BOYS with a pierced ear. And a gold chain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On a baby, it is a form of mutilation. And child abuse. Sorry - that's my opinion. On a todler too for that matter. No pierced ears until they are old enough to consent and can keep them from being infected all without mommy's help.

child abuse?

You must have CPS on you speed dial.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the poster from Miami and I can tell you that my Cuban aunts all were upset because "how will people know she's a girl?" It's just one of those things that you grow up with and while I understand it seems weird from the outside, it's their normal. I held off until kindergarten for my daughter because I knew that it would seem odd in this area to do it younger. Had I stayed in Miami, I may have done it earlier.

I am Cuban and its very common in our culture. I had mine pierced as an infant and I turned out fine. That being said I did not want to pierce my daughters ears and I never heard the end of it. She is three now and I still hear about it. She also received a azabache bracelet ( to protect her from mal de ojo or evil eye) and diamond cross necklace for her baptism. I don't let her wear jewelry but I sometimes have to put in on her when I am around my aunts just to avoid insulting them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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).

please do your research, sweetie the allergy is to nickel and sometimes rhodiu
mixed into the gold.

[Anonymous]

I had my daughters' ears pierced at the ENTs office (a friend and colleague). He would not do it before they turned 6 months because he felt the lobes would be too small and it would be more difficult for him to make the holes symmetric (and he didn't want me bugging him about it every time we did tonsils together!!). Ideally, you should do it before the age of 9 months or so, so that she is not really aware of her ears (body part awareness comes later) and thus will not tug on the earrings. I would NEVER do it at Claire's or some other mall piercing place for the reasons already stated...the guns are not fully sterilized between clients and your child runs the risk of infection (including Hep C!). The ENT used single use piercing "clips" that were very quick. DDs did not fuss. Make sure to follow all the instructions in appropriate cleaning and turning of the earrings to reduce the risk of infection or scar. BTW...the cost was $50 per kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had my daughters' ears pierced at the ENTs office (a friend and colleague). He would not do it before they turned 6 months because he felt the lobes would be too small and it would be more difficult for him to make the holes symmetric (and he didn't want me bugging him about it every time we did tonsils together!!). Ideally, you should do it before the age of 9 months or so, so that she is not really aware of her ears (body part awareness comes later) and thus will not tug on the earrings. I would NEVER do it at Claire's or some other mall piercing place for the reasons already stated...the guns are not fully sterilized between clients and your child runs the risk of infection (including Hep C!). The ENT used single use piercing "clips" that were very quick. DDs did not fuss. Make sure to follow all the instructions in appropriate cleaning and turning of the earrings to reduce the risk of infection or scar. BTW...the cost was $50 per kid.

I just don't get why you would want to stick a piece of medal through our infant baby's ear. Jewelry is for adults, and jewelry involving body mutilation is definitely for adults. would you give a baby a tattoo?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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).

please do your research, sweetie the allergy is to nickel and sometimes rhodiu
mixed into the gold.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make her not stupid.

[Anonymous]

Our doctor at Northern Virginia Pediatrics in Falls Church, VA does it. I grew up in the deep south, where it is totally normal to get a baby's ear's pierced. All of my friends and family down there get their baby's ears pierced. I've been told it's easier to take care of the newly pierced ears when your child is a baby because if you wait until they are older they may not take very good care of their ears themselves.. or let you take care of them either. Or so I've been told...

[Anonymous]

I went to Dr. Kaftarian a pediatrician at Providence Hospital 202-448-4091. I took both of my daughters there at two months old now a 17 and 9 year old. Both turned out fine if it's for you do it if not wait. My mom did mine at home 43 years ago. I used the earings they gave me and switched to studs at six months.