Piercing your baby’s ears… this is one parenting choice I’ve never understood. I simply cannot think of one single reason why piercing your baby’s ears makes any sense.
If you would mentioned me taking my teeny tiny preemie daughter to a — what, Claires? Is that where you get babies ear’s pierced? Or is there a special baby ear piercing place? I don’t know.
Back to the point.
If you would have suggested I take her to such a place, marked a purple dot on her little, precious, baby earlobe and then shoved a needle through it, I might have slapped you right in the face. I mean, look at her…
Why on earth would I do that? So she looks cute? So she isn’t mistaken for a boy? So… what’s the reason, again? Because none of them make much sense to me.
My mother pierced my ears when I was a baby citing the people-thought-you-were-a-boy defense and although I love her anyway, I never understood that logic. Why do I care if people think my bald baby is a boy when they’re actually a girl? I could care less what others think.
And oh by the way, there are always bows and pink dresses.
I’m pretty soft, I admit it, and the thought of any pain coming to my kids makes me cringe. (I’m the mom who cries every single time they get a shot.) I’m sure most moms are this way and I just cannot fathom for even a second electing to do something that will make my little one scream.
But it’s ok, Ear Piercing Mom… This doesn’t mean I’m judging you and talking about you behind your back. Why? Because you could totally judge me all day long for one thing or another and I don’t like to make it a point of throwing rocks out of this glass house of mine, you know?
I like my little girl’s naked ears and even though she is lacking in the hair department and may on occasion be mistaken for a boy, I don’t mind. If she wants to pierce her ears and succumb to the pain on her own accord when she’s older then I’ll take her.
Until then, we’re going earring-less.
Liz is a just a mom trying to keep it real about how little she sleeps, how often she gets puked on and how much she loves them. You can find her here every day writing about real-mom moments.
Sandi. says
I’m with you! Madison’s ears are not pierced & will not be until she is 1. Old enough to ask for it. 2. Old enough to take care of them. Same will go for the little girl still in the womb.
chris says
One is not old enough to ask for your ears pierced. At least not to undertsand what you are asking for.
Au says
Yeah, I’ll be honest…. I judge the sh** out of parents who pierce their little girls ears. There is literally not one reason I have heard that justifies it. It’s just cruel. Whenever I hear a little baby screaming while I walk past Claire’s because they are being forced to get their ears pierced, I want to go slap the mom until she cries so she knows how it feels. But no, I don’t feel strongly about it all 😉
Liz says
LOL – no you don’t! 🙂 I just couldn’t imagine doing it. I would feel terrible.
Amber says
I didn’t pierce my daughter’s ears and she is 9 now. When she does decide and I feel she is responsible enough we won’t be heading to the Mall, Claire’s or Wal-Mart. They don’t use a needle – they force a blunt ended earring thru the flesh with the force of that gun (that can’t be sterilized in an auto-clave). The correct way to have any piercing done is at a piecing salon with a trained professional. I had to wait and even after I made the choice at 9 years old, I don’t wear earrings as an adult.
Liz says
Gosh, I never thought about that point. I just always got mine pierced at a a Claire’s. I suppose it makes sense that the administrator should be trained!
Sher says
I took you to get your ears pierced because you were bald (like your kiddo), and because everyone pushed and pushed and so off I went.
Paid for the piercing and then absolutely could not go through with it. It was too awful.
Betsy @ BPhotoArt says
I got mine pierced in middle school. We went to the salon to have it done. For years I would have issues with inflamed piercings (just the single pair of holes)… and finally figured out I can’t do nickel or most of the hypoallergenic metals. My husband got me platinum earrings and …wow. It’s finally worth it to wear earrings!
No judging here… but personally, I wouldn’t want to put a young child through ear piercing, especially due to the continual care required, and possible allergic reactions to the studs.
Mel says
I think these comments need a little flavour so here goes … I pierced bith my babies ears very young (both also premie) although very hard to watch we decided to do it 1. It is part of our culture to do so (I was 1 week old when I had mine done .. its how they do it in egypt) 2. From experience obviously having had mine done so young … the pain is never remembered … nor worried about by the baby … my babies hardly made a noise when they had theirs done (3months & 8 months) and never fussed over them afterwards …I was able to keep them clean very easily afterwards and theyve both got pierced ears now …. I didnt do it to make them look pretty or so people would know they were girls (because they still got mistaken for boys all the time) … so yeah theres my story!!
Liz Nieman says
Thank you for sharing! I totally get that others have a different opinion from mine and I appreciate you sharing!
Erin says
Although I just have a boy and am definitely not sure if I find any reason behind getting a baby girls ears pierced I am however interested in if any of you have sons and if you didn’t circumcise them? Isn’t this sort of the same thing? Many people now are opting out of a circumcision for their sons these days. This procedure is even more in depth than a simple ear piercing. Like I said I don’t have a daughter and am not even sure I would or wouldn’t pierce her ears as a baby but I was just curious how many Moms out there have opted to not circumcise their sons for similar reasons a mom wouldn’t pierce a baby girls ears.
A Winter says
I didn’t circumcise either. I had to have an extremely overwhelming reason to put my baby boy through that and no one could give it to me. My family doctor actually thanked me for my decision because he hates doing circumcisions.
chris says
Haha sorry mis read.
Thiese says
Agree! I would also add that there are these things called magnetic earrings that look just like real earrings. They fulfill the same purpose without the need to hurt your child for vainity’s sake. Still risky though because some babies may want to put them in their mouths, but a painless alternative for picture taking purpose for those bent on having their baby girl’s ears pierced. This is also a cool option for those of us who would like for our girls to grow into young ladies first and then allow them to make this permanent decision on their own….since it’s their body, not our’s. Last, I prayed many long years for my child… who first and foremost belongs to the Lord. So, I feel convicted in more ways than one about my decision to not pierce my daughter’s ears. I actually have a beautiful 2 year old who has never been mistaken for a boy (well except for a Burger King drive-through attendant who called her a boy although she had a bow in her hair and dress on?? I didn’t get that one??) Regardless, why mess with perfection??
Mayra L Hernandez says
That’s exactly how i feel. My daughter is almost 4 years old and shes earring less.
Alisha says
I have three daughters, 15, 12 and 6. None of their ears were pierced as babies and only one of them has chosen to get hers pierced since. I got a lot of backlash as it is more of a cultural thing in my husbands family but I stood my ground because, you know, I’m the actual mother and my husband had my back.
Brandi says
Hi Liz-
I wanted to give you a little of my insight to the ear piercing blog. You did say you weren’t judging, yet you did speak down too and negatively about the choice to pierce ears— to stick a needle through your baby’s ears— as if those who decide to pierce ears actually enjoy it?
When I was 5-1/2, my mom took me to the mall to have my ears pierced. I was so excited- scared, but excited! When the gal pierced my right ear- I can just remember the awful sound of the “gun” and my ear being really hot. Did I feel any pain? Not that I remember- but the sound of the clicking ear gun was scarier than anything I could have imagined.
Cringing and terrified- the gal got ready to pierce my left ear and the anticipation was horrendous. Just as I thought she was going to click the ear gun, I winced and pulled away. The earring had started to go through just at the same time that I managed to freak out and pull away… now let’s talk about pain. And freaking out. And crying. And blood. And a huge fear of anything sharp for the rest of my days.
So as I held my 10 week old baby girl, nervous for the ear piercing, but also so thankful that she would never have to experience the fear and possibility of going through what I experienced, I had tears for the anticipation but also relieved that she would have this done and could make there choice as to whether or not she wanted to engage in earrings.
The lady aligned the dots, quickly did each side and my baby girl barely even moved. There was no screaming, no crying- she didn’t even have a paci. I was beyond traumatized by my experience and only wanted the best- as we ALL do- for my little girl. She was not phased in the least.
My research- as YES- many of us moms actually do our research- explained the nerve endings and cartilage and ears are best done before 3 months of age. Also, at which time babies will start to notice and pull on their ears anyways. Prior to 10 weeks, babies are still on their mom’s immune system, so again, another reason to do it then- or wait until they are at least 5 years old. So I made a conscious and educated decision, to not subject my daughter to the emotional fear and potential pain that I experienced.
So when you ask “WHY in the world would ANYONE ever want to hurt their daughters”? My answer is that it is in an effort to love and protect from pain- not administer.
I would appreciate your blog to be less judgmental and stick more to facts and your OPINION rather that accusations- when you truly have no idea what you are speaking about.
Thank you-
B
E says
You’re over hear talking like you’re doing some life-saving, medically necessary procedure instead of just piercing your baby’s ears.
E says
Here*
Liz says
Good thing everyone gets to make their own choice for their own kids on this issue😀. But for those of you judging other moms on this choice perhaps you need a bit of understanding that this is often an issue influenced by culture. I am Indian and having your ears pierced as an infant is culturally normal. And as for the pain aspect, western custom of circumcision of male infants could be viewed as just as unnecessary.
E says
Yep, circumcision is out of vogue, and highly scrutinized now. Ear piercing for the same reason.
Jennifer says
My kiddos got pierced ears when they asked for it to be done. Usually at the age of 6-8 years old and after the process and the after care of having it done was!