ear piercing.. what are your thoughts??

My doctor really doesn't want to do her ears until she is 1 year old.  He said they have less chance of infection.  Not sure I understand that but anyway.   He did say he would do them if I insisted.    I don't know what to do now.   I thought getting them done when she was younger would be easier and less likely for her to play with them. 
What is your opinion? 
Thanks!

I've been asked about 100 times when we are going to have Amelia's done. We are waiting until she is old enough to ask for them to be done. I know a lot of people do them on tiny little babies - I think that's asking for trouble, but that's just my opinion. I always think that an infant would be more likely to pull on them or hurt themselves on them. It's all personal choice though.
Good luck!

Liz

My sister and I have 6 1/2 year old daughters. We brought them to get their ears pierced when they were 6 months old.  My sister also has a two year old that had her ears pierced when she was 6 months. Neither of us had any problems with infections. 

My daughter didn't touch her ears for over two years. But once she did noticed the earrings, she wouldn't leave them alone. To this day she does not want to wear them. Because of this, I've decided to let my youngest daughter decide if/when she wants them.

On the other hand, my sister has had no problems with her daughters wearing earrings. They both love it!

Personally, I think they have less problems with infections if they are pierced as a baby because they seem to leave them alone. But, my Dad's girlfriend is a nurse and has seen the skin on the back of the ear lobe start to grow over the earring when the ear and earrings weren't looked at and taken care of on a regular basis.

Melanie

I had both my girls done at the same time. Bella was 4 months old and Bailey was 2. I have had no problems with Bella's ears. She lets me turn them, clean them, change them out - she is fine. Bailey is ok about it - however she did accidently tear one out and it got infected. We let it heal and it is fine.

Honestly - if I were to have another girl I would do it at 4 months again. She is used to them and the care they require, I think getting them in the habit at a younger age is best.

Just my 2 cents :)

Im a new mom to be.....so I dont have any personal experience in this yet...but IMO

I am a body piercer....and its easier for babies to heal from this than children heres why...

infants heal quicker (if they dont already have a weakened immune system)
you are allowed to care for the "wound"
they dont remember the "pain"

If you are trying to find someone to pierce her ears....please OH PLEASE dont go to some jewelry store like "claires" to have them done, reason being is they use a "gun" mechanism that shoots the stud through the ear and then retracts...this has a potential to pull particals of blood into the machine used....which passes on person to person because the machine on the inside has no way of being cleaned and sterilized

walmart is GREAT about using NEW machines every time....GREAT!!!  remember you can buy the kits from Sally beauty supply also or have a piercer at a local tattoo shop (i know that sounds horrible to load ur baby into a tattoo shop) to do the piercings with 22 guage needles.

Just my opinion.

I agree - don't go to a mall store! My peditrician did them, and he was AWESOME :) Even though he was $65 for each kid, he uses a new piercing gun on each child, he spent well over 30 minutes on each marking and double checking their ears to make sure they would be just right!

People need to do what's right for them but I can tell you...

Getting my ears pierced as a child was one of the most proudest moments of my life.  It was a true milestone for me.  I'll wait til DD can ask, earn and respect the moment.

It does look cute on babies though!

I took both of my daughters to Claire's in the local mall and had their ears pierced at 3.5 months old. I was required by the store to show them proof of immunizations and the kits they used were one use and sterile. They got 2 clerks to do both ears at the same time so there was only one sting. I dosed them with Tylenol 30-45 min prior just like I do for their immunizations.

I'm a nursing student and was very picky about their sterility. The store we went to used 2 clerks. They both used an alcohol gel, used new clean gloves (like the kind used in hospitals), they opened the pre loaded 1 time use 'guns' in front of me, used new cotton balls w/alcohol to clean each earlobe, took their time to get the 'dots' even, and then on the count of 3 did both ears at the same time. Then everything, gun, cotton balls...all of it...was thrown away.

I won't lie...both girls cried...for about 2-3 minutes...if that long. Less than 5 minutes afterwards both were smiling like it never happened. Cleaning care of the new piercings was easy as well and not once did they cry when I cleaned the earrings.


My cousin had her oldest daughters ears pierced at 9m and she pulled one out shortly after they were pierced so they had to take out the other one. Neither of my girls have messed with them and act as if it's just part of them.

Ideally though it's up to the parents to decide...GL with your decision.

i got jaylyns done about 2 weeks ago.. she was 2.5 months... she hasnt messed with them once... and lets me care for them she cried for about 25 seconds... plus she looks so purdy!

I was in 4th grade when I had mine pierced, and I cried.  Not because it hurt, but because it shocked the hell out of me because the gun was LOUD!!!

My cousin had her baby's ears done when she was about 10 months old.  She wanted to have it done because her daughter is blonde and has super-fine, almost non-existant hair.  She just turned 2 and her ears are fine, and she hasn't noticed the earrings, yet.