Is it right for a parent to pierce their infant's ears?

An infant that cannot say whether or not they want the body modification done, yet all these mothers concerned with vanity are wanting to get it done because they believe it's their child so it's their decision. However, one parent in particular caused an infection because the pediatrician that pierced her infant's ears did not tell her how to clean them afterwards. Is that right? And some parents getting their child's ears pierced as early as 2 weeks old when the child has yet to receive a tetanus vaccine, are they putting their infant at unnecessary risk?

"Piercing guns are made of things like plastic, aluminum, or steel with plastic parts. These "machines" can not be sterilized to kill hepatitis. Alcohol wipes, often used between clients, do not kill any of the hepatitis nor HIV or Aids although, hepatitis is the most common. An autoclave is needed to heat the "gun" to appropriate temperature to kill hep, Aids, and HIV." http://blog.pennlive.com/babyblog/2007/0...

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Please feel free to comment on this question from a mother who got her child's ears pierced and then didn't know how to take care of them afterwards risking infection to her infant.

I believe that it is wrong to pierce a child's ears because the child will eventually grow up and decide for themselves if they wish to have pearced ears. The procedure is irreversable. If it was a medical procedure required for health reasons, then I would agree to it. But I do not think that a child's body should be ultered by the parent unless it is for medical reasons. You would not give your child a tattoo so why would you pearce your child's ears. Your making an irriversable decision for the child and it is not required for the child's well being or health. I personally don't think that is fair to the child but I know some parents will disagree with me.

i agree. it isn't right and could constitute child abuse. besides, it's stealing a child's innocence. children are most adorable when they're natural and unadorned. earrings are just making them grow up faster. Report It

why would any parent inflict an unnecessary wound in their child? it's torture. if, when the child is older, it wants to cause pain to itself, well then it's their choice, isn't it? Report It

I wouldn't recommend it. I would wait till they are old enough to decide if they would like to or not.

If they aren't old enough to say whether or not that they want that then i don't think it is right.

I think it's child abuse.

I don't think it's right, the kid should be old enough to voice their own opinion before they get pierced.
Just because they are young doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt, they just won't remember the pain when they are older.
I remember once seeing a new born baby with HUGE gold hoops, it didn't look cute at all, just trashy!

Of course not!

WOW! i never thought of that. But parents don't want to damage their kid's. They just want them to look cute.

the person mite wnt 2 pierce their ears wen they get older....if they're an infant it will hurt less and the person wnt remeba the pain..

No,
just add tattoos that say -- please don't be gay

Better that Tattoos

yes i think it is putting their child at an unneccessary risk.

I cant understand why they would want to do it anyway. It doesnt look good. I dont understand it. Its not fair.

of course it is their right, that is why they are their parents, the are babies, they cannot think for themselves, so its their their parents responsibility to take care of them and make baby girls look pretty by piercing their ears, but as a good parent they would not do this in a fragile stage.

I waited until my daughter asked to have her ears pierced. I wouldn't have done it any other way.

I once saw a teeny tiny baby getting her ears pierced. It was one of the saddest things I've ever seen. She screamed and screamed while her mother held her down. Just because she won't remember the pain doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt. Babies are babies, not a fashion statement.

Actually it is a primitive form of body disfigurement and to me as bad as a tattoo.
i prefer my women natural and holes in them that don't naturally occur turn me off.
What if your child grows up to be a natural type of person and hates pierces as much as some other people do?
Not fair to alter a person's body, there will be time enough for that when they are old enough to decide for themselves.

Yeah i agree. But my parents didn't even give me those shots at all (i was born in a birth center) and i turned out unusually healthy nowadays. i have no opinion about the shots i just find my own circumstances interesting.

DEFINITELY a risk.
Piercing guns are horrible things- it wouldn't be as bad as if they went to a regular piercing shop. Piercing guns pierce by blunt force trauma, besides the fact that they're dirty and unsterilized.

It is wrong, also.
Of course even if as a child they made that decision them self, they might regret it later also.

But it's ridiculous to get a tiny little babies ears pierced.
Completely unnecessary.

Where I live girls have their ears pierced at birth. No biggie

Yeah, and their belly buttons should also be pierced...perhaps also their eye brow.

in many countries they do it before the baby leaves the hospital

some people are stupid
the mother was the stupid one here and a little neosporin
will fix it up
don't freak out
it is cute

When I see a baby with pierced ears my thought is poor baby, stupid parents.

I think getting a child's ear pierced is wrong, especially if they are very young. I think at about the age of 10 the child can responsibly say whether or not they want their ear pierced.

They have the right; but it seems stupid to me to have it done. Tribal communities have always done strange things to infants; why should we be different.

Parents have the same right to do this as to get circumcision done, or some other procedures not medically necessary. With that being said, parents need to make sure they are informed on the procedures and how to clean the ears, and when to get the piercing done.
With that being said I have a 7 month old girl and chose not to get her ears pierced. My decision was based on the fact that I want her to get her ears pierced when she can remember the pain. Hopefully she will remember the pain and it will influence her not to get piercings for a while after that.

I hate it when parents pierce their children's ears! When the child is only a few weeks old, how are you supposed to know if they'll like it or not? Kids have personalities, hobbies, and interests, but at 2 weeks old, an infant isn't going to know what they want and it's not up to the parent to decide. It isn't fair to pierce someones ears if they can't raise their voice to object.

Piercing an infants ear is a custom in some countries. Many thinks that when someone's ears are pierced when they're young it won't hurt much. Yes it is one's decision whether they want their ears pierced or not but some parents make that decison on their own. Ear piercing on an infant is a normal thing but you wouldn't find a parents piercing tattoos on their child.

I've not seen anyone get them done that early, I believe NY state law prohibits it that young, but I'll take your word on that it happens in other states.

I guess if a pediatrician does it I'm not sure how much cleaner a process it could be, and there are so many parents who feel it's better while they're little and can't angst over it it's common practice now.

My girls I made them do it themselves when they were old enough to want it. One did, one didn't... better that way.

My mom didn't allow me to get my ears pierced until I was 13. Honestly I don't think I was old enough even then to take care of it because I got an infection and had to wait a year to get them repierced! The second time around I was much more careful! As a parent I think I would be most worried that the baby would touch their ears to much and could get an infection from that, that's just my opinion but I think I'm going to make my children wait as well...just so they really want it and its not me making the decision as to what looks cute or not!

Better than female circumcision!

i do not consider ear piercing as a child endangerment issue; so i won't consider it any of my business whether a parent pierces their child's ears, nor will i pass judgment on the parent for choosing to pierce the child's ears.

as for the ear infection i would consider the pediatrican/piercer negligent for failing to inform the parent about proper ear care after piercing (which i highly doubt was the case); i would consider the parent more negligent for failing to clean the child's ears--even without instruction, it's common sense (well at least to me) that a wound i.e. the piercing should be cleaned regularly.