Ok. There were a couple of us talking about wanting to pierce our daughters ears. Since I was able to think about having my own kids, I have told myself that if I had a girl, she needed earrings immediately upon birth. And, as some of you may know, I had my ears pierced at a young age as well (just before I turned 2). My lobes were punctured so people would stop asking my parents how their 'son' was (but earrings didn't change that... I was called a boy up until age 13... I think the parental enforced mushroom cut had something to do with that). I wanted to pierce Isla's ears because it is simply adorable and would only enhance her perfect femininity. However, it was not that easy. Cam took some serious convincing, and still he was reluctant (but clearly, I won that war). He felt she was as cute as she could be and didn't need to be harmed in the name of beauty (clearly, he is not a woman and does not understand this). After some discussion, his sensitive side was exposed and he deeply felt that piercing her ears made her grow up too fast. Amber, Erin and myself had discussed doing this with our kiddies for a while and finally made a family date to get them done. I made appointments for us (which were cancelled 30 minutes prior to due to the woman's stupidity). We quickly changed locales and met up at Merle Norman in West Ed. We were all so excited... and nervous too! Isla was up first. I had to hold her head and arms still and after marking the spot... she was pierced. At first, there was a delay... AND THEN... the screams and tears. The left ear was done quickly afterwards and 3 minutes later, she was an ear pierced beauty. Amber's daughters, Kyla and Kinley were next. Amber is a hairdresser and her client had told her about Emla cream. She bought some Emla patches, slapped those bad boys on her kids ears and as a result, both girls were the champions of the night, shedding a combined total of 0 tears. Next up, Luci. Luci was so pumped about this... she was telling her mom, my friend Erin, how excited she was to have '"eeeings". Luci did super well too! A few expected tears and.... poof... all 4 girls sporting some cubic zirconias. We all headed down to the food court, Daddy's too, and enjoyed a lovely dinner of greasy fare. All in all, an amazing time that we will remember forever... and our daughter's will too!
Showing off her ears.
Was searching for my GF's blog and came across yours. Like you, I had our YDD ears pierced early too at 6wks. This was a perfect age to pierce her ears. I admit that I love the look of little pierced ears on babies and little girls.
ReplyDeleteI think you’re were a smart mommy for piercing your dd’s ears early. 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.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 so ingenue!
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 too.
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 anyone wants our ped’s tips, then don’t hesitate to write me an e-mail. Also if you have neysayers about how pretty your dd looks with earrings, write me for some rebuttal quips my sister and I put together
Amy
amyswor@hotmail.com