Wednesday, June 29, 2011

To pierce or not to pierce

I never thought I'd be considering piercing my little baby girl's ears. Growing up we could get ours pierced I think when we were 8. Or maybe it was 12. Either way, we were older. But Justin has mentioned it a couple times. He thinks it's the cutest thing. And I do too. When I see a baby girl with sparkly little pink studs in her ears I think it's adorable. So why do I have such hesitations? I'm not sure. Somehow thinking about making holes in her perfect new little skin seems awful, yet I'd be fine with it in 6 years. Why would it be any different to do it now if I'd be fine with it in 6 years? I think it really comes down to the thought mentioned above. I don't care if she's not old enough to take care of them on her ownand I don't think I'm taking a "choice" away from her by not waiting till she's old enough to decide on her own if she wants them (I don't know a little girl that doesn't want their ears pierced) so it's not because any of those things. I just don't know if I could bring myself to do it. Once it's done, there's really no undoing it. What to do, what to do.

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5 comments:

  1. Kent and Krista StevensonJune 29, 2011 at 6:42 PM

    I am the same way. Used to think it was so cruel to pierce baby's ears, but lately I notice how cute they are. It is really just up to you and justin. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks!

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  2. Jessica J.June 29, 2011 at 7:56 PM

    I'm all for the piercing, but I must admit that I had the option to pierce mine when I was 12, but didn't want to until I got married... and I like having that choice. With that said, I think I might pierce my girls' cause I can't believe what I was missing out on for so long.

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  3. LivJune 29, 2011 at 8:35 PM

    I never wanted my ears pierced badly enough to actually do it. I'm still too chicken. That being said, whenever Aspen wants hers done, she can, but her dad will have to take her!

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  4. Jones'June 30, 2011 at 7:59 AM

    I had mine done when I was a baby and then redone when I was four because I didn't always have them in those first 4 years. Doubled up when I was 13, belly button when I was 16, and did my cartilage in college and that's the only one I always have in. I wanted so badly to do Winter's ears when she was still in her orangutang stage but Cory said 'no.' He wants it to be some kind of reward down the road. I think he sees how many wholes I have and how few I actually wear anything in and decided waiting would equal fewer for Winter :)

    Whatever you decide she'll be beautiful!

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  5. AnonymousJuly 2, 2011 at 10:29 AM

    Shaylee,

    Was searching for my GF's blog with same last name and came across yours. Read your interesting question to others about whether or not "to pierce or not to pierce your dd's ears.

    Admittedly, I know a lot of people have strong feelings when to pierce a child's ear. "Let them decide" is being replaced by parental decision when mommy intuition knows, "earlier is better" from either personal or friend's experiences of unpleasant childhood ear piercing. I think it just depends on your own personal choice whether or not you wish your baby or little girl to have pierced ears.

    Some feel perceived gender of their child is important while others find it a cultural tradition where all infant girls have pierced ears. I pierced our oldest daughter's ears when she was two months old and our youngest at just days old. We found an experienced individual where they specialized in infant piercing.

    My advice is to do them one at a time to insure they are perfectly centered. This may take 15 seconds longer, but will make sure they are not crooked later in life.

    Our oldest daughter just turned two and has never had an infection, pulled them out, and she's never even played with her earrings (which is amazing in my book). My mom pierced my ears when I was 2 weeks old and I've loved it....I think earrings on little girls are adorable!

    If you don't know how she'd look at any age, then hold up a pair of your studs to each ear and decide for yourself. Many moms including myself like the look of earrings on babies and little girls for no specific reason, but like how light plays off a simple gold ball on a bald baby girl or small gold hoop poking through the hair of a toddler.

    Cerebrally, as mothers of girls of all ages, we know it celebrates their femaleness and femininity. After all, they are little girls, right? Growing up I remember many of my little girlfriends were not allowed to get their ears pierced. I could never understand it...but when their parents did finally let them, it always seemed they'd get infected because they were constantly touching them or trying to change out the earrings before they were supposed to. Many said it was painful, but all cried having a great deal of angst leading up to and including the actual ear piercing.

    To each their own but I think the earlier the easier. If we have another girl, I will pierce her ears early as well. I took my youngest DD at days old after I asked our pediatrician and she encouraged me to go ahead before she aware of her surrounding or developed a pincer grip to play with her ears. She gave me some suggestions for moms having their daughter's ears pierced. They seem to apply to all ages.

    Just when is the best time to pierce your daughter's ears? It is when you are ready to care for them during the healing phase. They are very easy to care for. If you decide to do it as a newborn or infant, then I promise she'll thank you later!

    If you'd or any other mom wants our ped's tips, then don't hesitate to write me an e-mail.

    Amy

    amyswor@hotmail.com

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