Why I Wouldn’t Have My Baby Girl’s Ears Pierced
Because baby girls are gorgeous without any jewelry. Because I think it’s something that is a permanent alteration and is something that your daughter should be able to decide to do for herself. Because it could even be dangerous.
I’m not anti-piercing, I have 8 in my ears and a stud in my tongue. But I had every one of them done because I wanted to.
I had my ears pierced for the first time when I was about 8. My mom, my sister and me had a “girls day out” to have it done. My sister and I both picked out the earrings we wanted, and got our ears pierced together. Then, I think, we went for ice cream. Very corny, I know. But it’s a nice childhood memory.
I know a five-year-old who’s ears were pierced as a toddler and while she loves wearing earrings, she’s a little sad that it wasn’t something she chose to do. I got a new piercing last week and she wanted to get one too. It seems like she wanted to have been involved in the decision to have her earlobes pierced.
I’ve heard moms say they get their daughter’s ears pierced to make them look more feminine. Strangers tell moms of girls that their son is adorable all the time. Strangers told me what a pretty girl my baby son was all the time too, it’s a little grating but ultimately not something to be upset by. Actually it’s quite hard to tell small babies apart. But if you don’t like strangers thinking your baby is a boy, isn’t that what pink outfits, dresses, hair bows and barrettes are for?
Piercing, while fairly safe, does have risks like infection and allergic reactions. If you have to have your baby’s ears pierced, wait until she is at least 3 months old and better able to deal with any possible complications. And have the piercing done hygienically at your doctor’s office. Not the mall. Why? Here’s a video of a typical mall ear piercing. How unhygienic does this look! First a superficial cleaning. The women doing the piercing aren’t wearing gloves, and goodness knows what kind of germs and dirt are lurking under the first woman’s nails? It makes my skin crawl. At least your doctor will use sterile equipment.
The American Association of Pediatricians recommends “postpone the piercing until your child is mature enough to take care of the pierced site herself.” Then you can treat yourself, and your daughter to a mom-and-daughter day out and have her ears pierced done then, and make a memory for you to share.
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Tamsen Butler says...
I’m with you on this one. I first got my ears pierced when I was five, and I remember getting a nasty infection and eventually letting the holes close up. My daughter can wait until she’s around eight or nine before she gets hers done.