"When is the best age to get my daughter's ears pierced?" Was the question a woman was telling me she posted on a blog somewhere and was stunned by some of the emotional replies. So, now I am curious what are the thoughts on this blog about when is the best time?
I got mine pierced at 7 years old and that worked for me, my daughter was 6, and that worked too.
Lovemy4 is a discussion leader for North Central Phoenix, tired mother of 4 great kids and wife to one great husband.
This is highly personal and
This is highly personal and there really isn't a best answer, just a lot of opinions.
I had my ears pierced by my grandmother a few months after I was born. It's a tradition in Mexico, and that's where she's from. I too wanted earrings for my daughter, and my husband didn't say no. So I took her to my pediatrician's office when she was about a year old and they did it for her. She loves that they are pierced.
Arizona Moms Editor Yvette Armendariz shares stories about raising her kids and tips for busy parents in her Time-starved (goddess) Mom blog. She and her husband are raising two children, ages 8 and 11.
I had to beg to get my ears
I had to beg to get my ears pierced when I was about 10. My dad was stationed in Okinawa at the time, and my mom, brother and I were living in New Zealand. My mom said I had to get my dad's approval, so every other sentence in a letter I sent said, "Can I please, please, please get my ears pierced?" He said yes, and I had my ears pierced at a doctor's office.
I say, let parents decide, depending on their family traditions. If I had a daughter, I would probably make her wait until she was old enough to say whether or not she wanted it done.
I'll be interested to hear the response to this question: What about sons? My 9-year-old has no interest what-so-ever in getting his ear pierced, but the boy across the street got an earring when he was 9 or 10. If a girl can get her ear pierced at 6, can her brother?
Karina Bland is raising her 9-year-old son in Tempe with a lot of love, humor and support from her friends and family. A longtime journalist covering child welfare and education issues for The Arizona Republic, she blogs about raising good kids.
What about sons, what about
What about sons, what about sons...hmmmm. I know it isn't fair, but I think we'd make him wait until he was older (15? 16?) just to make sure he understands that unlike girls getting their ears pierced, people will have pre-conceived notions about why guys would pierce their ears. I don't mind it on men, but would be happy if my son passed on this fashion statement.
Lovemy4 is a discussion leader for North Central Phoenix, tired mother of 4 great kids and wife to one great husband.
It was tradition in my
It was tradition in my family (mexican) to have our ears pierced when we were 1 month old, so I took both my girls to Merle Norman's to have them done. I don't know if they do them anymore there, but they were done at the time by adult women who knew what they were doing and that was the one on Baseline and McClintock, I don't even know if they are still there. They have one at Chandler Mall, but I don't know if they do them. Claire's does them, but the girls are young teens like 17 or 18 and they look just as scared to do them as the kid that is having them done. I would be cautious nowdays.. Ask the doc would probably be the best thing.
" just my Opinion"
Both of my girls had theirs
Both of my girls had theirs done when they were about 6 months old and we do not even have a hint of Mexican in us. Done by their doctor. My mom did freak out about it because it was a "mexican" thing and I was like whatever! I told her it would be better at that young because I couldn't remember the pain when getting the shots through infant, toddler stages but did remember the pains from ears pierced when I was about 10 years old!
H~
Mom of 2 Daughters - Kelly (3 yrs) and Skylar (19 mos old)
zoostationu2@hotmail.com
We pierced our first
We pierced our first daughter's ears shortly after birth and never had a problem with them. although growing up she didn't really care about wearing earrings and would often lose them.
With our second daughter, (born 18 years later) Somehow, I just didn't have the heart to cause her pain, so decided that it would be nice to get hers pierced as a puberty ritual when she starts menstruating (if she wants to). We have a ways to go, though, since she's just 5.
I'm not sure what we'll do if she asks to have them pierced before then, though.
Jenny David
Doula, Childbirth Educator, Breastfeeding Counselor
www.valleychildbirth.com
It looks like I am in the
It looks like I am in the minority here, but I believe you should not pierce an infant's ears. It is a personal decision regarding what is done with your body, and should be made by the child when the time comes. The kid might not want earrings. I also feel that it should not be done until the child (boy or girl) is old enough to take care of the ears in the healing stage, put the earrings in and out on her/his own, and keep track of them.
If you do decide to pierce a young child's ears, it should be done by a doctor, not at an earring store.
I agree with you NSMom. I
I agree with you NSMom.
I think the child should be able to decide what they want on their bodies. I know I have seen before comments about how if they don't want them when they are older they can just let them go. Well, the hole still looks like it is there.
My Mother's comment when requesting to get our ears pierced (my sisters and myself) "you have enough holes in your head." Thanks Mom! I waited until I was 18....
KarilouMomof2 is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com living in Tempe. Her daughters are 9 and 6.
I wanted to pierce my
I wanted to pierce my daughters ears when she was born, but i just couldn't stir up the courage to do it. I did not want to see her in pain. PLUS and most importantly, i wanted her to have all of her hepatitis B immunizations before piercing her ears.
I too went to Merle Norman in the mall and they told me they wouldn't do it on such a young child. I also did NOT want the young girls at Claire's doing the piercing for my daughter. I am hesitant to ask my doctor if it's something they do, because my daughter already cries at the doctors office even when they are just putting her on the scale. I don't want her to fear them even more. Probably sounds silly i know, but every doctor office visit my daughter cries and doesn't want anyone (but me) even close to her.
I figure we will wait until she's around 5 and see if she is interested in having pierced ears. This is the age when i first had my ears pierced.
just~me
Ya, I didn't know if Merle
Ya, I didn't know if Merle Norman did them anymore, i guess they don't. Both my daughter were asleep and didn't wake up from it, and so I don't believe they felt it or at least it didn't hurt enough to bother them. And it was easy for my to keep them clean, so they didn't get an infection. I do know some of my 11 yr-olds friends getting them done now, and they don't take care of them the way they are suppose to so they have red painful infections. As moms, we take care of every little thing when they are babies to keep from this happening, and when your child gets older, if they don't want to wear earrings they don't have to. Mine don't wear earrings all they time, but when they want to it's alread been done, so it's worked out.
" just my Opinion"
Wow I begged my father when
Wow I begged my father when I was younger for years to get my ears pierced. I had to wait until I was 10 according to my dad and my mom and I went to the mall to have it done.
On the flip side of things I have an 18 month old daughter, and my HUSBAND of all people wants to get her ears pierced. I want her to make that decision when she's old enough and wants to have it done. That way it's her responsibility to take care of it.
She doesn't have to be 10 if she wants to get it done, but I want her to make that decision for herself.
Lisa - Mom to her spunky little Scarlette
I would wait until my
I would wait until my daughter asked for pierced ears. The only thing I have ever wondered when I see infants with pierced ears - don't you worry about them tearing or pulling them out? Maybe that's not a concern, but I'm the mom who always finds something to worry about.
I just recently had my first
I just recently had my first girl. She is now almost six months old and I got hers done at three months old. We went to claires. She doesnt even know they are there.
I love working from home =) makinmoneyeasy.com
It sure is helpful as a clue
It sure is helpful as a clue during the stage when babies don't yet look like boys or girls.
Lovemy4 is a discussion leader for North Central Phoenix, tired mother of 4 great kids and wife to one great husband.
My oldest daughter got her
My oldest daughter got her ears pierced when she was 4. She asked for pierced ears and I explained that there will be some pain and she still wanted them pierced, so I figured she's ready. I'll wait to get my 17 mo old's ears pierced until she asks for them pierced.
I remember I was 4 when I got mine pierced. My brother got a BB gun that day so I picked to get my ears pierced:)
jesshod is an arizonamoms.com discussion leader living in Surprise.