Are there any benefits to piercing your kids ears when they are a baby?

[Anonymous]

This was an issue when I was born. My Cuban relatives were absolutely shocked, horrified, and appalled that my (Irish hippie pierced) mom did not have my ears pierced before I left the hospital. It was a touchy issue until I chose to pierce my ears when I was 12...only to discover I have super-sensitive ears and could not stand the earrings. I haven't worn them since I was 15 or so.

Then it was an issue when my daughters were born, and my Indian in-laws, all doctors, were shocked, horrified, and appalled that (well, that I dared to have daughters at all, but that's a different issue) I did not pierce their ears immediately. They are all teenagers now, and I would let them choose for themselves, but so far, they like their ears as they are. My in-laws badger them every time we get together, but somewhere along the way, they picked up their mother's anti-authoritarian streak.

I can respect cultural norms, but I also can't help but want to buck them. And OP, there is no medical benefit, none, to piercing early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I can tell it will confirm, or make people wonder if, you are poor or Hispanic.

People might think I'm poor?!? OR HISPANIC?!?!

I think my brown skin, surname and high heels pretty much give it away....maybe the fact that DD's ears are not pierced throws people off for a second though?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I can tell it will confirm, or make people wonder if, you are poor or Hispanic.

People might think I'm poor?!? OR HISPANIC?!?!

I think my brown skin, surname and high heels pretty much give it away....maybe the fact that DD's ears are not pierced throws people off for a second though?

[Anonymous]

huh. irish catholic here and mine were pierced as a baby and so were my mom's. i guess i'm white trash. oh well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was an issue when I was born. My Cuban relatives were absolutely shocked, horrified, and appalled that my (Irish hippie pierced) mom did not have my ears pierced before I left the hospital. It was a touchy issue until I chose to pierce my ears when I was 12...only to discover I have super-sensitive ears and could not stand the earrings. I haven't worn them since I was 15 or so.

Then it was an issue when my daughters were born, and my Indian in-laws, all doctors, were shocked, horrified, and appalled that (well, that I dared to have daughters at all, but that's a different issue) I did not pierce their ears immediately. They are all teenagers now, and I would let them choose for themselves, but so far, they like their ears as they are. My in-laws badger them every time we get together, but somewhere along the way, they picked up their mother's anti-authoritarian streak.

I can respect cultural norms, but I also can't help but want to buck them. And OP, there is no medical benefit, none, to piercing early.

I like everything you wrote but the last line is not accurate.

When they're little you'll care for it and they don't have the body awareness to touch it. If you do it later they'll touch it. And if you do when they're toddlers they will rip it off and won't let you clean. If you let them do it when they start school they will forget to clean... well, I got mine done when I was 18 and i was not good about cleaning it up..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was an issue when I was born. My Cuban relatives were absolutely shocked, horrified, and appalled that my (Irish hippie pierced) mom did not have my ears pierced before I left the hospital. It was a touchy issue until I chose to pierce my ears when I was 12...only to discover I have super-sensitive ears and could not stand the earrings. I haven't worn them since I was 15 or so.

Then it was an issue when my daughters were born, and my Indian in-laws, all doctors, were shocked, horrified, and appalled that (well, that I dared to have daughters at all, but that's a different issue) I did not pierce their ears immediately. They are all teenagers now, and I would let them choose for themselves, but so far, they like their ears as they are. My in-laws badger them every time we get together, but somewhere along the way, they picked up their mother's anti-authoritarian streak.

I can respect cultural norms, but I also can't help but want to buck them. And OP, there is no medical benefit, none, to piercing early.

I like everything you wrote but the last line is not accurate.

When they're little you'll care for it and they don't have the body awareness to touch it. If you do it later they'll touch it. And if you do when they're toddlers they will rip it off and won't let you clean. If you let them do it when they start school they will forget to clean... well, I got mine done when I was 18 and i was not good about cleaning it up..

Because you were irresponsible, everyone is? I had mine pierced for my tenth birthday and I took excellent care of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was an issue when I was born. My Cuban relatives were absolutely shocked, horrified, and appalled that my (Irish hippie pierced) mom did not have my ears pierced before I left the hospital. It was a touchy issue until I chose to pierce my ears when I was 12...only to discover I have super-sensitive ears and could not stand the earrings. I haven't worn them since I was 15 or so.

Then it was an issue when my daughters were born, and my Indian in-laws, all doctors, were shocked, horrified, and appalled that (well, that I dared to have daughters at all, but that's a different issue) I did not pierce their ears immediately. They are all teenagers now, and I would let them choose for themselves, but so far, they like their ears as they are. My in-laws badger them every time we get together, but somewhere along the way, they picked up their mother's anti-authoritarian streak.

I can respect cultural norms, but I also can't help but want to buck them. And OP, there is no medical benefit, none, to piercing early.

I like everything you wrote but the last line is not accurate.

When they're little you'll care for it and they don't have the body awareness to touch it. If you do it later they'll touch it. And if you do when they're toddlers they will rip it off and won't let you clean. If you let them do it when they start school they will forget to clean... well, I got mine done when I was 18 and i was not good about cleaning it up..

Because you were irresponsible, everyone is? I had mine pierced for my tenth birthday and I took excellent care of them.

No need to be a bitch, PP. Just because you were an OCD pre-teen it doesn't mean all the pre-teens are also anxious and sick in the head.

[Anonymous]

I just had my eight month old daughter's ears pierced. I did it not because it is cultural but because, I had my ears pierced when I was about 12 years old and had a horrible experience. I wanted to spare her any pain or horrible recollection of having her ears pierced. I had a doctor do it and made sure he put in sterilized gold studs. He put numbing medicine on it prior to piercing. She cried only because the nurse was holding her. She was fine within minutes of it. I have been cleaning them as instructed but it really does not bother her. I don't like the look of earrings on her little face but I just wanted it done for her sake. I don't think its trashy or representative of a culture. It's a choice more and more people are making for their kids. Of late I have met a number of baby girls in the DC area with pierced ears and half of them are white and not trashy. Each to his/her own!

[Anonymous]

One glaringly obvious benefit is that the pearl-clutchers on this site will be able to recognize you as a) trashy, b) ethnic or c) all of the above and will steer clear of you, lest someone think they are like you.

So that's a plus, in my book.

Personally, I got mine pierced when I was about 6, at one of those kiosks in a mall. I took care of them per the instructions, wee rule-follower that I was. In high school, I pierced second holes myself at home and they were fine as well. Then after that, I got the cartilage done on one ear and it hurt like hell and didn't heal right and I let it close because it was just so awful. My DD, age 2, does not have hers pierced. When she asks, we will talk about it then.

[Anonymous]

My daughter was born in Spain. They do it before the baby leaves the hospital. I had to firmly tell them multiple times not to pierce her ears. Then for the next two years I had to explain to everyone that the all pink wearing bald child was indeed a girl despite the fact that she didn't have earrings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are guido or Latino it is a cultural thing possibly. Otherwise you are trashy

Indian people do it too. So do black people. I know that on DCUM, behaviors that are common among non-white people are often considered "trashy" or otherwise unacceptable, so I am not surprised by your comment.

OP, I am Indian and was pierced young. I understand that it is more culturally acceptable in some cultures than others. However, I am not piercing my daughter until she can give consent - 18 - in large part because early piercing increases the likelihood of developing contact dermatitis with respect to metals. I had my nose pierced as an adult and it hurt for a couple seconds - no big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was an issue when I was born. My Cuban relatives were absolutely shocked, horrified, and appalled that my (Irish hippie pierced) mom did not have my ears pierced before I left the hospital. It was a touchy issue until I chose to pierce my ears when I was 12...only to discover I have super-sensitive ears and could not stand the earrings. I haven't worn them since I was 15 or so.

Then it was an issue when my daughters were born, and my Indian in-laws, all doctors, were shocked, horrified, and appalled that (well, that I dared to have daughters at all, but that's a different issue) I did not pierce their ears immediately. They are all teenagers now, and I would let them choose for themselves, but so far, they like their ears as they are. My in-laws badger them every time we get together, but somewhere along the way, they picked up their mother's anti-authoritarian streak.

I can respect cultural norms, but I also can't help but want to buck them. And OP, there is no medical benefit, none, to piercing early.

What kind of circle do you run in? I have a huge Indian family from all over India (DH and I are from different parts of India; different religions) as well as Indian doctors. No one was shocked, horrified or appalled that I had a daughter. If that is the experience you have, your DH's family is *exceptionally* backwards. No way in hell I would have married into that family.

[Anonymous]

Wow, I never knew how racist people were on this site. This is the worst.

[Anonymous]

I'm AA and my mom has my ears pierced when I was 3 months old. I have a DD who is 5 and I have not had her ears pierced. I dont think it looks trashy or anything like that. I simply think that the only reason I'd be getting her ears pierced as a baby would be because I wanted to see them pierced and I just dont care. When she asks to get her ears pierced, I'll take her to get it done.

[Anonymous]

All the generalizations are nuts..so let me feed into it upper class AA family, from the South...I had my ears pierced at 6 weeks...DD pierced at 8 weeks. Its normal for my family and we don't even think twice about it. They are adorable...DD never bothers them. They are small, simple pearl studs that were given to her by her God father.

Oh and the pediatrician did the piercing and she didn't even cry. Don't regret it and will do it with 2nd DD.