re: Piercing babys ears

I think it is tacky as all hell.

I got mine done with a gun when I was two months.

I don't know if this has anything to do with that, but when I wear earrings, my ears swell up very badly and hurt. The holes are also not leveled, which sucks, but I don't wear earrings in the anyway.

Quoting Momma Chiclette {2WW SUX!:" My daughter's about to be 3... and they won't be done until she's old enough to ask for it, and only ... [snip!] ... http://tattoo.about.com/cs/psafety/a/piercing_guns.htm http://nomorepiercingguns.tumblr.com/"

I read the article, but that wasn't at all how they did my daughter's. They come in a sterile package, with the little guns attached. They are a 1 time use thing, not reusable. And her earrings are really lose. The posts are locked into place, but there is a lot of room for them to breathe. And they give an antiseptic to clean them, not just tell you to turn them. I wouldn't allow my daughter to have hers done if they did it like the article explained.

Quoting Rhiannon Deason:" I read the article, but that wasn't at all how they did my daughter's. They come in a sterile package, ... [snip!] ... them, not just tell you to turn them. I wouldn't allow my daughter to have hers done if they did it like the article explained."

Maaaaannnnnyyyy people do though. Not everyone knows about guns.

A one time use gun still is a blunt force instead of pierce, possibly damaging tissue.

Quoting Rhiannon Deason:" I read the article, but that wasn't at all how they did my daughter's. They come in a sterile package, ... [snip!] ... them, not just tell you to turn them. I wouldn't allow my daughter to have hers done if they did it like the article explained."

A piercing gun -- originally designed for tagging the ears of cattle -- cannot be sterile (except rare metal guns, which are only sterile if autoclaved after every single use). It carries the risk of passing blood-borne diseases such as Hepatitis and even HIV (alcohol wipes are NOT sterilization), in addition to any dirty hands or machinery that touched it in packaging, if it's a flimsy one-time-use gun. They are inaccurate at best, and use blunt force to actually rip a hole in the ear (yes, even the "sharp" piercing studs are still considered blunt). It also shoves a back on too tightly, which doesn't leave room for normal swelling, doesn't allow for airflow, causes too much pressure on the surrounding tissue, and often can even swell and prevent any healthy drainage. Ick.

http://thestir.cafemom.com/big_kid/129361/dont_pierce_your_daughters_ears

Quoting BoogerBear's Momma:" A piercing gun -- originally designed for tagging the ears of cattle -- cannot be sterile (except rare ... [snip!] ... even swell and prevent any healthy drainage. Ick. http://thestir.cafemom.com/big_kid/129361/dont_pierce_your_daughters_ears "

I read all that already, and as I said, if they did my DD's like that, I would have NEVER allowed it. She used a one time use gun, with the earrings already in the gun, and they are loose, but locked. By no means are the backs snug against her ears. I understand the tissue tearing part, but it's not like they putting giant holes in the ears. I had my second holes in my ears done at 12 by a gun, and my little brother hurt me more from pinching my arm. The gun didn't hurt at all.

Personally, I would wait. I HATE that my mother had mine done as an infant because the holes have been there my entire life and I don't care for them.

Quoting Mama to William + 1:" Personally, I would wait. I HATE that my mother had mine done as an infant because the holes have been there my entire life and I don't care for them."

This too. Mine weren't done right and I hated them. I didn't wear earrings and I hated the scars.

Years later I repierced them and stretched them... and have issues because of the scar tissue. I should have got them pierced over again a little bit over before trying to stretch...

Quoting Rhiannon Deason:" I read all that already, and as I said, if they did my DD's like that, I would have NEVER allowed it. ... [snip!] ... holes in my ears done at 12 by a gun, and my little brother hurt me more from pinching my arm. The gun didn't hurt at all."

If you would have read it, you would see it would be impossible to have a completely sterile gun and earring at the mall.

Those people don't have training like you would get at a parlor.

I don't understand why someone would trust a minimum wage store clerk with the task of putting a hole in your child.

Quoting BoogerBear's Momma:" If you would have read it, you would see it would be impossible to have a completely sterile gun and ... [snip!] ... parlor. I don't understand why someone would trust a minimum wage store clerk with the task of putting a hole in your child. "

Did I say I took her to the mall? Dr. offices pierce also. With one time use guns. And the OP was asking if anyone had their daughters done at a young age, and if they had complications. I had also called tattoo parlors and they refused to pierce my daughter either time she had them done, and my friend owns his own tattoo shop with a piercer there. They didn't feel comfortable piercing a child so young. I heard the same thing from a couple of tattoo shops I had called. They didn't want to be liable for anything happening if she moved since using a needle takes longer, and it would obv have to be done twice.

Quoting Rhiannon Deason:" Did I say I took her to the mall? Dr. offices pierce also. With one time use guns. And the OP was asking ... [snip!] ... to be liable for anything happening if she moved since using a needle takes longer, and it would obv have to be done twice."

See thats what has me worried. I had mine done with a gun, and didnt have any problems, but i get the not sterile thing. Both my ears were done at the same time.

Quoting Rhiannon Deason:" Did I say I took her to the mall? Dr. offices pierce also. With one time use guns. And the OP was asking ... [snip!] ... to be liable for anything happening if she moved since using a needle takes longer, and it would obv have to be done twice."

Wouldnt that raise a red flag if tattoo parlors wouldnt piece them that young though?

SO is completely CONVINCED that piercing her ears will cause her to get gang green  

Quoting Chelsea Dawns Mama:" SO is convinced that piercing our daughters ears as a baby/toddler is a bad idea. When did you pierce your DD's ears? Were there any complications?"

My eldest was 4 when she got her ears pierced, And my youngest was almost 2 when she had hers done, My boys have one earing in one ear, And where 5 and 2 when i got those done. No infections, No problems, And my youngest boy is demanding to get his other ear done.

Personally i wouldn't get a small babies done, Only because i would be worried about her/him grabbing them or them catching on things, But if looked after properly, It's up to the parent.

Quoting BoogerBear's Momma:" Wouldnt that raise a red flag if tattoo parlors wouldnt piece them that young though? "

couldn't tell ya, but if my friend wouldn't do it, who is a professional piercer, who worked in one of my best friends shops that he owned, I would be sketchy towards any other shop. They said it wasn't allowed. I think they have to be 16 with a parent there signing off, and even then, they don't do lobes. Just cartilage and all the strange places on the ear. I get the mall thing, and the guns that get reused, but plenty of offices will pierce now, for an out of pocket cost, and its the Dr that does it, not a nurse or MA

Quoting Chelsea Dawns Mama:" SO is completely CONVINCED that piercing her ears will cause her to get gang green  "

I would check and see if your pediatrician's office does it. If not, and you still want them done, I know FOR A FACT that Claire's in the mall uses the 1 time guns. and the backs lock in a loose position, not tight up against the ear. DD lost an earring at school a few weeks back so I had to get her a new pair ASAP. Claire's sold me the earrings, but they had to be "pierced" into a piece of the package and the guns got thrown out. this way I wasn't buying them just to go pierce someone. And I've had a couple of different piercings in my day. The only ones I still have jewelry in are my first holes in my lobes, which I got when I was 8 weeks old (and slept through apparently). All of the ones I had done with the needle wound up getting infected and I took them out. I had my cartilage done twice, nose done twice, and I just didn't wear earrings enough in my second lobe holes, so the backs closed up. my body isn't a big fan of piercings tho I guess. Of course, there is always a risk of infection,and it is the parents job to make sure they are cleaned daily. But no, I think there would be A LOT more news reports of gang green if that were the case. Plenty of kids get their ears pierced young.