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

[Anonymous]

I had mine done as a baby. Where I'm from it's done at the hospital before the baby leaves (boys are circumcised and girls have their ears pierced). My daughters' both had theirs done at 15 months at Claire's. They are perfectly fine and look so very cute. Very happy with the results.

One if mine is at a funny angle (loop earrings hang at a right angle rather than forward) and I attempted , as an adult, to correct it. It never healed properly and I eventually took the earring out and let it close.

Hope you

[Anonymous]

This is a hot topic for my family!

I am Cuban and Irish, and my Cuban side never forgave my mother for not piercing my ears when I was a newborn. I did decide to have them pierced when I was 12, but a combination of a severe reaction to anything but 24K gold and a revulsion over the thought if poking anything through my ear led to letting them close by the time I was 18.

When I married my South Asian husband, his family died a thousand deaths over the thought of my not wearing enormous, heavy earrings for the Hindu ceremony. The dreadful clip-ons they rustled up were horrifically painful, and my ears were so red and swollen after just a couple hours! And they stayed that way through the Catholic ceremony the next day--so sad.

But the real war was reserved for my daughters. I will let them all choose for themselves once they are 13, but with full knowledge they could have inherited my sensitivity issues. I, too, expect my MIL to pierce their ears when my back is turned sometime. It is a HUGE deal to my in-laws.

But I have a whiff of my mom's Irish stubborness and hippie sensibilities. No mutilation of my babies' ears.

[Anonymous]

I'm amazed there's so much emotion and controversy in such a mundane topic. Implant-grade titanium, surgical-grade stainless steel, or high-purity (22 - 24kt) gold is all that should be used for piercing at any age.

As for piercing baby ears? Yes. Do it and be done. Avoid ALL the drama. Honestly, it's just a tiny hole that's really not noticeable if earrings aren't worn. Piercing at 6-mos is safe and the holes will be very well healed by the time baby is older. Soon this will be fully accepted for ALL babies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a hot topic for my family!

I am Cuban and Irish, and my Cuban side never forgave my mother for not piercing my ears when I was a newborn. I did decide to have them pierced when I was 12, but a combination of a severe reaction to anything but 24K gold and a revulsion over the thought if poking anything through my ear led to letting them close by the time I was 18.

When I married my South Asian husband, his family died a thousand deaths over the thought of my not wearing enormous, heavy earrings for the Hindu ceremony. The dreadful clip-ons they rustled up were horrifically painful, and my ears were so red and swollen after just a couple hours! And they stayed that way through the Catholic ceremony the next day--so sad.

But the real war was reserved for my daughters. I will let them all choose for themselves once they are 13, but with full knowledge they could have inherited my sensitivity issues. I, too, expect my MIL to pierce their ears when my back is turned sometime. It is a HUGE deal to my in-laws.

But I have a whiff of my mom's Irish stubborness and hippie sensibilities. No mutilation of my babies' ears.

So funny - my daughter has not one, but TWO sets of Indian grandparents (one set living in India) and we haven't heard a peep about getting her ears pierced.

Your ILs sound a bit bonkers. Being Indian doesn't explain that nonsense.

[Anonymous]

dr. nicole lang's practice does piercing. they are on 19th street.

[Anonymous]

Piercing a baby's ears is DISGUSTING and vile. It's selfish b/c it's not for the baby, it's done for the parents only. Do you think a baby really wants her ears pierced? it hurts! TERRRIBLE

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Piercing a baby's ears is DISGUSTING and vile. It's selfish b/c it's not for the baby, it's done for the parents only. Do you think a baby really wants her ears pierced? it hurts! TERRRIBLE

is your son circumcised?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Piercing a baby's ears is DISGUSTING and vile. It's selfish b/c it's not for the baby, it's done for the parents only. Do you think a baby really wants her ears pierced? it hurts! TERRRIBLE

This. I still don't speak to my parents because they pierced my ears as a baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Piercing a baby's ears is DISGUSTING and vile. It's selfish b/c it's not for the baby, it's done for the parents only. Do you think a baby really wants her ears pierced? it hurts! TERRRIBLE

is your son circumcised?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm amazed there's so much emotion and controversy in such a mundane topic. Implant-grade titanium, surgical-grade stainless steel, or high-purity (22 - 24kt) gold is all that should be used for piercing at any age.

As for piercing baby ears? Yes. Do it and be done. Avoid ALL the drama. Honestly, it's just a tiny hole that's really not noticeable if earrings aren't worn. Piercing at 6-mos is safe and the holes will be very well healed by the time baby is older. Soon this will be fully accepted for ALL babies.

???

Do you mean soon it will be accepted for all boys and girl babies? Where do you live?

FWIW, the main reason I decided not to pierce my DD's ears as a baby-- despite the fact that it's culturally commonplace among our Indian family-- is because of the whole gender issue. It's the same reason I don't dress her in frilly clothes and Mary Janes (most of the time-- sure, it's adorable occasionally!). I know some people get really upset about it, but I let strangers believe she was a boy if they wanted. It's an interesting thing-- people really DO treat babies differently based upon their sex and how "pretty" and "doll-like" the little girls are. Obviously ear-piercing is a small part of this.

I do know a little boy with pierced ears, but not well enough to ask his parents about their rationale...

[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.

Which ENT? The pediatrician who pierced my DD1 no longer pierces kids who see other pediatricians, so I'm looking for someone to pierce DD2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
???

Do you mean soon it will be accepted for all boys and girl babies? Where do you live?

FWIW, the main reason I decided not to pierce my DD's ears as a baby-- despite the fact that it's culturally commonplace among our Indian family-- is because of the whole gender issue. It's the same reason I don't dress her in frilly clothes and Mary Janes (most of the time-- sure, it's adorable occasionally!). I know some people get really upset about it, but I let strangers believe she was a boy if they wanted. It's an interesting thing-- people really DO treat babies differently based upon their sex and how "pretty" and "doll-like" the little girls are. Obviously ear-piercing is a small part of this.

I do know a little boy with pierced ears, but not well enough to ask his parents about their rationale...

I totally agree with this -- our constant need to "gender-ify" our kids is harmful to them. I also do not dress my daughter up in Mary Janes and frilly clothes. I dress her in unisex clothes that are practical. She is a human being, NOT A DOLL. Piercing a babies ears is for vanity only and is only for the adults to somehow "enjoy". Not sure WHY adults enjoy this, but I know it's not for the baby b/c it hurts. If your baby could talk, I am sure she would say "Please don't pierce my ears". What's the big deal about waiting until she is old enough to decide to do it (or not do it) on her own?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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?

this is absolutely not the same as a tattoo. if she decides she doesnt want to wear earrings the hole will close and is barely noticable. As for OP's question, I got mine done with a gun at a jewelery store (a private place, not a claire's type) and have had additional holes done with needles- I would recommend the needle over the gun for the same reasons as mentioned before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Piercing a baby's ears is DISGUSTING and vile. It's selfish b/c it's not for the baby, it's done for the parents only. Do you think a baby really wants her ears pierced? it hurts! TERRRIBLE

You're the type who makes me want to post a picture of genital piercing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Piercing a baby's ears is DISGUSTING and vile. It's selfish b/c it's not for the baby, it's done for the parents only. Do you think a baby really wants her ears pierced? it hurts! TERRRIBLE

You're the type who makes me want to post a picture of genital piercing.

there is nothing wrong with genital piercing if it's on a consenting adult!