Should It Be Legal to Pierce Your Infant Child's Ears?

I had my ears pierced when I was just a few months old. When I was about four or five, my dad took a red hot needle and stuck it through to reinforced the piercing. Since I'm Filipino, my scars don't fade or go away so the burn permanently scared that piercing open. Now I'm 16 and my first piercings are really crooked/uneven and too close to the tip of my lobes because of just growing with age. So now I have these permanent holes that are all wonky and I can't pierce too near to them or it'll ruin them.

I used to work in a Claire's Accessories store, where I was trained in ear piercing. As far as I remember, the age limit was 6 months, and on one occasion I had a woman come in with a three month old, looking to get her ears pierced, which I had to refuse.

From the perspective of someone who had to hold the gun to a child's ear, watching them squirm and then cry in pain, I think it's horrible to inflict that pain on a young child. There was one occasion where a very young child, about 18 months old or so, ended up ripped her ear, because she pulled away in pain and fright. She probably has a permanent scar because of it. Things can also go wrong, such as the gun getting stuck, or the earring not going through fully, which causes more distress to a child that's already in pain. There's no logical reason for you to inflict that kind of pain on a child, and there's no benefit to scarring your child at such a young age.

If a child cannot sit still on a chair while getting pierced, or understand what's happening and make the choice for themselves, they shouldn't be getting their ears pierced.

@ Lyra
I always appreciated my stepmother not getting mad and letting me change my mind in the piercing chair, which I did, but then I went back two years later.

@ dru is beautiful.
I never understood why someone would force a child to get it done. It's scary enough when you want to get it done, and I've had kids sit on the chair, see the gun, and start crying because they're scared. Of course, most parents will just cajole the child into getting it done since they've paid for it to get done. I always hated that part of the job, when a child is crying and trying to get away from you. Honestly, I always felt a monster but I had to do it. At least your stepmother was kind enough to not want to put you through a scary experience. If I ever have a child, I would wait until they could make their mind up, and if they're on the chair and then get scared, I wouldn't have a problem with them changing their mind. Guarantee, they will go back and get it done eventually if the desire is there. In my opinion, if they're scared of the pain enough to change their mind, they're not ready for it, so let them go back when they are ready. I had to beg my mother to get my ears pierced, but she thought I was too young at 8 years of age. I was able to convince her that I was ready, because I was, in fact ready, and able to do the after care myself, so she let me get it done. If a child can't explain how much they want it, and is unable to clean the wound to keep it from infection, they really shouldn't get it done. In my opinion, anyway.

One of the things that upsets me most is walking through the mall and hearing a small baby/child screaming and crying and then I look over and see them desperately trying to get out of the ear piercing seat. I agree with Lyra, if they have to be held down, they shouldn't be getting it done. Wait until they can make the decision and take care of it themselves.

It also teaches girls from a young age they have no body autonomy or control and that someone bigger or stronger can literally hold them down and force them into submission.

@ dru is beautiful.
I have to disagree because I believe males go through similar things such as getting their hair cut because really there is no reason to cut a child's hair; it's pretty much all cosmetic purposes. Also, I believe ear piercings can be temporary and easily changed. For me all I have to do is not wear earrings or just get it closed with stitches which only cost about ten dollars with insurance. Forcing a child to wear the earrings is one thing, but just having them prepared for it (if they choose to wear earrings) is another. I'm really just speaking from someone who has had their ears pierced as a baby and I don't remember the pain, for one (plus the pain is really minor) and I'm perfectly fine with having had them pierced.

For me its more important to let the child choose whether they want to keep things the way they are or not.

@ Ayana Sioux
Cutting hair isn't painful. Additionally, you can't hold a child down that is kicking and screaming and give them a haircut. It isn't safe, you won't get a decent cut, it just isn't feasible.

I think it's very important to start teaching consent culture, including bodily autonomy, to children at a young age so they understand they ALWAYS have the right to say no when it comes to their body.

@ dru is beautiful.
I mostly agree on this, and I wouldn't go as far as to say that It is still okay to pierce your child's ear if they are kicking and screaming but if that not the case I also don't think the ability to do so should be taken away either.

I didn't think it was illegal! But really if you would want your daughter to wear earrings when she's older then yes you would want to get them pierced when she's still young because she won't pull on them at that age (I don't think places like claire's or walmart will pierce them before their a month old though)

@ Ladypurdy
It isn't illegal (that I'm aware of). The discussion is whether it should be legal, which it currently is.

Actually, babies can totally pull on earrings at that age and either infect their ear, tear their ear, or choke on it. The American Pediatric Association recommends waiting until your child is old enough to care for the piercing themselves.

Also, I don't like the way the statement is worded like "well, obviously if you want her to have earrings, you should want this". Shouldn't your daughter /want/ to wear earrings?

Good point! When things become illegal it is quite often do to safety reasons and you have pointed out some ways in which this might not be a safe choice for our infants. Lead paint has been banned due to what the ingestion of it can due to them. Now I have never been one to allow my children to gnaw on woodwork or eat flecks of paint that they might find hanging around but if banning it can protect my children from something I might miss then I'm all for it. I doubt that I kept my eyes on them 24/7. If piercing a child's ear has the potential of being a hazard to their safety then it is something to think about as to legality. I choose "yes" it should be illegal! When a parent decides to have their child pierced in any way is that for the child or the parent? The child is to young to voice their opinion yet a potential choking hazard is being added to their bodies.

I had my ears pierced as a child, and I'm thankful for it even though I don't wear earrings much now. I don't remember the pain at all, and I have the option to wear earrings if I choose now. My ears haven't closed, either, which I'm super happy about so that I don't have to get them re-pierced. My sister also got her ears pierced, and never once touched them or tried to pull them out.

I think it's fine to get a child's ears pierced at a young age, although I do understand that it's difficult to hear a child screaming.

I never really understood why people got the kid's ears pierced when they were babies. I have a cousin (who is now 6 I believe) and she had hers pierced when she was just a baby. (not sure how old). She never really pulled on them or anything that I'm aware of. I've actually seen a lot of babies with their ears pierced and was amazed that they never really tugged on their ears.

As for the pain, well I find it normal since I actually cried when I first had my ears pierced when I was 8. I'm sure it may be worse the younger they are. (note: I have never seen a baby have their ears pierced so I don't know how any of them act).

I think it's alright to do so though.

All my sisters and I had our ears pierced when we were fairly young and none of us ever had any problems because of it. I took my earrings out as soon as I was old enough to figure out how to because I just don't like the look of them on me. The holes never closed up but I didn't care and I'm actually kind of glad they didn't because I started stretching my ears a few years ago and I didn't have to have them re-pierced.

I'm really on the fence about the issue. If things go well then I see nothing wrong with it however it's not necessary to pierce a child's ears and things can go wrong. It's probably better to wait until they're a little older so they can at least have a say in the matter.

As long as the child isn't upset about it, I don't see a problem with it. If there is an incident where the child seems absolutely frightened, then no, you shouldn't do it. As for pain when it comes to small children, they are all always easily pained but they are also quick to get over it and are not likely to remember the pain. Each to their own is what I say, but making it illegal is a bit ridiculous.

I'm with what others have said. If you have to hold the child down because they're frightened and don't want to have it done, it shouldn't be done and should be left for when the child understands what's happening. I got my ears pierced when I was about five or so and it's because I wanted them pierced, not because I was forced to get them pierced. My sisters' don't have theirs pierced because they never showed an interest in getting them done. My youngest sister is now nine and wanting to get them done but before that, my parents left that to her.

When the child is screaming and squirming, heightening the chances of something going wrong, no. I don't think it should be done at all.

My aunt is a firm believer of this because of the 'cute aesthetic' and never fails to encourage a new or expecting mom to consider it. Maybe it's because I've been terrified of needles for the longest time but I can't imagine any why a parent would sit there and allows someone to pierce the child/infant. Not only because of the lack of consent/understanding but also because no amount of cleaning solution is going to guarantee 100% that the kid won't have any problems. You could watch it like a hawk and and they could still wind up with an infection or worse. I just don't see the point in risking it and I apologize if this makes little to no sense.

Long story short, 0/10. No support over here.

While it may look incredibly cute, I don't believe it's right to force something of yourself onto your child. A piercing is permanent, whether it closes up or not, and leaves a scar. What if he or she grows up and doesn't like having pierced ears? That choice of scar-free earlobes has been taken from them. It's kind of selfish on the part of the parent to make that choice for them.