Saturday, October 18, 2008

Tough Decision:: Ear piercing

I have been on the fence weather to get Norahs ears pierced or not. When I was pregnant I was dead set on waiting until she got older and asked for them to be done. Its almost like a right of passage, not to mention I could use it as leverage when it came to behavior/grades ect. I had always hoped to make a "girly" day out of it. Lunch, manicures, shopping and then getting her ears pierced. I definatley know there are varying opinions about when, or even if this should be done. But, like every other thing in life, as a Mother, its up to you to hopefully make the best decision possible. You wont always please everyone but ultimately, you have the final say.

For instance some women, co-sleep, practice extended breastfeeding, eat only organic foods, homeschool, choose not to vaccinate/ circumsise, cry it out, cloth diaper and avoid pacificiers...while I dont believe any of this are right or wrong, they come with strong opinions from other moms. My point is that there are so many different degrees of parenting, you cant please them all.

That being said, after asking many women about their experience of either having their ears pierced at an early age, or piercing their childs ears at an early age, 95% of the feedback has been positive. Most have said that their baby barely cried, and when they were picked up, they were fine. At an early age, babies cant reach up and grab at them which gives them time to heal. (and personally, I think they look adorable, others do not) On the other hand, it was also brought to my attention that as they grow up and reach toddlerhood, other kids will notice the ears and may try and pull at them...I dont know if thats true or not, but its definatley something to consider. I hate to sound so selfish by saying it will put an end to her "boyish" look (2 more people at the mall yesterday thought she was a boy...even with her 2 pink blankets and pink outfit...grrrrrrrr) and I know most of you are laughing at me right now, go ahead...maybe this isnt a big deal to anyone but me (hehe) I think Steven and I will just go check out Claires today, talk to a Manager and see what her experience has been, if shes a pro, we may consider it but I will take many things into consideration and its not final...we'll see.....


I'd love to hear if any of you have had your childs ears pierced and how the experience was...
or
Why you're choosing to wait...

PS: On another note, we are venturing to Trader Joes for the first time ever today...I'd love to hear you're favorite TJ food item is.....

*Thanks!!*

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ok so when they are babies I can sort of understand the whole boy/girl thing...but seriously, people here are not used to boys with longer hair. I don't know how many times Julian's been called a girl!

As far as ear piercing it's not for me. I've heard that when the child grows up the earrings could be crooked? I dunno! I don't judge those that have it done at all, I just won't do it :)

PS the Orange Chicken at TJ's is good as is pretty much everything there. Barry likes the proschuitto.

-Christia

Anonymous said...

It's totally your decision obviously... don't let what others think affect your decision to wait or to go ahead and pierce her ears... Just stay strong and confident knowing that your decision was the right one for your family :)
Michelle

Anonymous said...

Oooo, though one. Obviously I don't have to think about that with Jaxon, but the only experience I had, was with my own. My mom had my ears pierced as a baby, and by the time I was 5ish, they ended up getting infected and closing up. I do remember getting the earrings caught on stuff like clothing or a hairbrush and it hurting really bad, so I asked my mom to take my earrings out and that's why they closed up. I think all your concerns are valid, and it would make me nervous about other kids pulling on them too. Overall, it's a tough call. Good luck with that ;o)

Alicia

Anonymous said...

I would definitely say wait. Not only will it be such a fun bonding experience for the two of you (I still remember my 6th birthday when I got "pokey back" earrings and the day my mom took me to go get them done) but who knows if Norah will be the type of girl that will want to get her ears pierced.
Then there's also the sanitation side. With babies, 99% of the time a piercing gun is used, as their ears are too tiny for clamps with a hollow needle. A hollow needle is the ONLY sanitary way to get ANY kind of piercing. There are many crevices in piercing guns that are physically impossible to clean, causing a breeding ground for bacteria. Go to safepiercing.org (official website for the Association of Professional Piercers) and go to the FAQ's. There's a whole section that talks about the risk of using guns. Although it may be very cute, in my personal opinion the risks do not outweigh the benefits, but that's just me! :) Whew, am I glad I'm having a boy!!! :)

*Brooke*

Anonymous said...

This is a tough decision for you Keren. Ryan and I have had this discussion if we ever had children would we get our daughter's ears done. I want to because I had mine done when I was very young 4 or 6 months old. Ryan wants to wait till she can decide for herself. And for having a bonding experience, I know mine were done when I was young, but when I was 13 my mom took me again to get my second piercing. And so you can always look forward to that. My mom was with me when i got all of my piercings. (all of them are in my ears). She never has swayed my vote to do it or not, I would come to her when I wanted it done. And I believe when I got my top hole done in the cartilidge, she got her's done as well. So you can always look forward towards that, especially when she is in middle school and her friends are getting theirs done. So whatever decision you decide you'll make the right one. And for the trader joes, they have a really good tillapia in the frozen fish section. And good selections of wine.
-Shelly

Anonymous said...

Well, I'm planning on getting Lucy's pierced unless something unforseen makes me change my mind. But I got mine pierced when I was in 2nd grade and I never felt like it was that special. I just didn't like being one of the only girls in my class who didn't already have them pierced so I forced myself to go through with it eventhough I was really scared. I do remember that it hurt and bothered me at night. from what I understand it doesn't seem to bother an infant, I've been told they don't really notice. So I am going to do it just to spare her later on. But the waiting does make complete sense. I definately wouldn't say this is a back and white situation here. The joys of being mommy... there are sooo many little desicions to make :)
-Mandi

Anonymous said...

Heya girlie!

I saw GO FOR IT! My mom had my ears pierced when I was a baby and over the years, I'd done a second set and also cartilage as I'd gotten older (6th and 10th grades) but to this day, I only have my ORIGINAL set in. The others ended up growing back. I had Madison's done at 4 months, because I was so glad that my mom had done it for me when I was little. We went to Claires, camera in tow, and it was done and over with in a blink, she cried LESS than when getting her shots! And I had a bottle ready and she was just happy to have that. On a side note though, some people are just oblivious or stupid, because even WITH her ears pierced, dressed all in pink, people STILL think she is a boy!! Grrrr! My own 89-year old Grandma is one of them, but in her defense, she has Dementia, so she barely remembers that I had a baby sometimes! LOL Let alone that SHE is a GIRL!!!! LOL Today she said "Oh, he's got such a cute smile!"...haha. Poor Granny!

As for your question on Trader Joes...my faves are their frozen meatballs! YUM!!!!!!

-Kellie

Anonymous said...

its up to you my dear!!!!! my mom let me decide when i wanted my ears pierced, and i never wanted them done so im kinda glad she let me make that choice. im going to be doing the same thing with brookelle ill ask her if she wants them done and if she says yes ill take her...... if you need them done my mom does them at her doctors office she very good with small children, and since small children are prone to infection she uses a plastic stud it helps them heal faster ive heard, and with a CZ stone there very cute....
-Bree

Anonymous said...

We've decided to do it for Makenna. I had mine done at a really young age and of course I don't remeber it and NO one ever pulled on them! They heal quicker and I can now leave them out for months and slip in a pair without having to worry that they might close up. My 2nd hole I had done as an adult, and I have to put in a pair of earings at least once a week. Baby's are adorable with earings, and it's a Mommy's right to have her daughter's ear pierced if she wants them to. Good luck on your decision!
-Shannon

Anonymous said...

I had mine done when I was a baby...a few months old. My Dad did them for me (he's a jeweler) and I guess he didn't do the best job, because they're both too low on my lobe (one is so low that Phil gets grossed out when he looks at it). I'm guessing they didn't start off that way but as I grew that's what happened. Now I can only wear studs until I bite the bullet and get surgery to correct them.

BUT, I also just have smaller than average lobes...if you both you and Steven have decently sized lobes, probably no need to worry about Norah. I'd say if you do decide to do it, really do your research on who would do the best job...
-Katie

Anonymous said...

We had Brooklyns ears pierced when she was 9 months old. It was her dads decision, not mine. I agree that she didnt cry but for a moment. I remember when I was young, I got mine done at 9 years old, I messed with them so much, seemed they were infected and gross for years. So with that being said, there is definately less room for infection, but I had a bad expierence at Claires, because, yes they did pierce one of her ears really crooked. I thought I should take it out, because I wouldnt want her to have a lop-sided earring her entire life, and it was really hard to do, and then take her back in a few days later to have it re-pierced. I think the people who do it, get nervous about doing little ones ears. Its all up to you, but I dont regret it, and Im happy she wont be hounding me for it when she is 6 or 7, and then have to deal with the infections being spread to both ears from the little ones picking or messing with them!

I wouldnt go to claires at the southhill mall though..........lol, and I know thats really the only place around that does it.

-Krista