Circumcision/ear piercing

I've seen many posts on here about circumcision and all the responses both for and against it.

I was just curious about ear piercing with little girls. So many are against circumcision, and say to let them decide as they get older...but what about piercing a baby girl's ears? Or a little boy's ears. Although the reasoning behind the two differ, are you not still altering your child's appearance for yourself?

***Let's keep it clean ladies, the last post I had up that had any kind of ability to stir up conflict went well. I hope we can keep this one the same way!***

[smjmekg]

I personally have a son, who IS circumcised. Now 28 weeks pregnant with a daughter, but I would not pierce her ears. I was allowed to make that choice at 12 years of age, and chose to do so, but I wouldn't make that decision for her.

[Sunkissed19]

I think its really up to the parents on this one, its whatever you feel comfortable with as a family. No one should be ridiculed or condemned on either account...whether it be circumcising or not....ears pierced or not. There is no "right" or "wrong" answer to this post. To each there own. Tomato, Tamato.

Personally my 4.5 month old is circumcised because his daddy is, that's what worked best for us as a family. With the ear piercing i think its dang cute when baby girls have their ears pierced but i think i'll wait until my little girl is old enough to decide if she wants it done.

[Clysta]

I personally do not want to pierce my daughters ears because it should be their choice if they want that, but DF is obsessed with the idea so we probably will. If I ever had a son, he wouldn't be circumcised just because I've done enough research on it and have found it to be unnessesary in my family. If he wants it done in the future, he can make that choice. He might remember the pain, but it hurts the same as an infant or adult and if we can subject a baby to it, I believe an adult can easily go through it as well.

[penswriter]

I think it's cute but if I had a daughter I'd wait till she was older (7 or 8, like I was when I decided I wanted my ears pierced.) to get her ears pierced. (Dh and I did get our boys circ'ed though. From what we were told and have read it's 10 x's more painful to get circumsised as an adult than an infant.)

[5n1]

I personally could care less either way, I dont think it makes a big deal or not to do the boy as an infant or making him wait until hes an adult...I did however have my son circumsized..
As far as the ear piercing goes, ah either way, I had my daughters done as an infant, but, my DH made his daughters wait until they were older..I think it is totally up to the parent on that..I will tell you the main reason I did my daughters that young. is that way it would be healed and she wouldnt mess with them. And, I do plan on piercing my newest daughters ears as soon as she gets a little older...

But, like I said I kind of like this subject...and dont worry SMJ it shouldnt stir up any controversy, I feel that to each his own on this..

[brigadiva]

Personally, I used to feel very strongly about waiting to have my daughter's ears pierced unitl she was old enough to understand that it would hurt and still make the decision to do so herself.  I WISH I had never backed down on that!  I succumbed to a friend of minewho convinced me to do it when she was a baby because she wouldn't even remember it.  Her ears were pierced when she was one-and a-half.  Well, my daughter had one snagg on a crocheted pillow a little over a year ago :o( We didn't think any harm was done (and maybe it wasn't then, we're not sure). Then last year she came back from visitiation with her dad and I noticed that it looked like the thing was embedded in her earlobe, like sunken-in in front. So I took it out and it looks like the earring gradually tore down, so instead of a small hole she had a slit with the top part already healing over. Now her earrings are not symmetrical... the one is (and probably always will be) lower than the other :o( Poor thing.  That confirms my decision that my second baby girl will NOT be getting her ears pierced until she is much older!  I feel awful.

[alaysha]

I'm letting my daughters decide if they want their ears pierced once they turn 8. I think it would be something special that they decide they want and the excitement of getting it done is something I wouldn't take away. Not to mention I've seen so many ear piercing jobs on babies that were crooked later in life.

[Momo1409]

God stupid phone! I've type to long comments twice so here's the short version.

Circumcision- me- no he shld choose after he feels how it is sexually(bad ik) DB- says yes he isn't says its a pain.

Ears- up to them at age 5 let them get personality first!

[tiredbuthappy]

I say wait with the ears as well, for several reasons.

~Some daycares do not allow them for safety reasons.
~They are a choking hazard. A poster on the MC forum described finding the earring lose in the crib by the sleeping baby's face.
~The baby won't remember the pain, but that doesn't mean she won't feel it :( Can you imagine if we used that excuse to justify doing other things to babies?
~She may not appreciate it when she's older! I have a hole in each ear that I do not use nor would have put there if I had a choice.
~They often have to be redone when older, as in the case of my sister.

[jessmoss626]

I don't have a son (I have 1 daughter and I am pregnant with my 2nd daughter), but if I ever do he will definitely be circumcised. That is our personal preference. I know a lot of people these days who are anti-circ, but I don't know any of them personally.
My daughters will be allowed to get their ears pierced for their 5th birthdays. This is just a family tradition. I believe a 5 year old is old enough to help take care of their earrings and I think that is important!

[LauraB78]

I don't have a little girl. However, I have 2 sisters, and between the two of them ,they have 5 girls. All of my nieces ears were pierced when they were between 1 month and 3 months old. They don't play with them (much lower risk of infection), and not one of them was angry with my sisters for making this decision. My nieces are now 22 years old (twins) 16 y/o, 12 y/o, and 13 y/o. I think it is a personal decision and really all about what your comfortable with. Another reason I know my sister had the twins ears pierced is beacause they were bald, and she was sick of people asking if they were boys or girls. =)

[LauraB78]

Oh, and for the circumcision question. My son is circumcised, and if I ever have any more boys, they will ABSOLUTELY be circumcised. I am Jewish and it is part if my faith.

[SunWorshiper_26]

Boys will be circumcised bc of our religion (Jewish) and as for ears when they are old enough to care for them themselves but bc of private Jewish schooling prefer they didn't at all.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I'm not reading all the responses, I will just tell you how WE handle things.  

We have had BOTH of our sons circumcised...their dad is and we also didn't want to set them up for ridicule in locker rooms.  We feel that a circumcision is not only easier to maintain hygiene wise but is also more aesthetically pleasing.  That's probably going to p!ss some people off that I said that but oh well.

As for earrings, well I think girl babies with pierced ears are darn cute but I prefer not to pierce my girls ears until they are atleast 5 years old.  This gives them the opportunity to make the decision for themselves.

I have no problems with other people piercing their sons ear(s) but I personally do not want my sons to have it done.  

[crysandjeff]

I am amazed by how many people believe in their girls right to choose but do not offer the same consideration to their boys.  Babies both male and female are born perfect and need NO altering, be in ear piercing or circumcision.

[smjmekg]

The reason why I'm curious mostly is because I see so many people knock down others because of circumcision, even for religious purposes...I'm just curious as to what the people against circumcision say about ear piercing.

[Momo1409]

Ya. With ear piecing(now that I'm not working)

I said they should have the right to choice BUT I see the reasons ppl do it. Like I sister got my oldest neice done as soon as she was old enough bc ppl thought she was a boy. And ppl think it'll be easier on them when they are young(like circumcision) but what if your girl isn't girly? I think they should be allowed to get their own personality first. As for if my boy wanted it done. Again that would be his choice but I'd pry make him wait till he's a little older to prevent him from getting made fun of.

[gokuangel]

I dont have kids yet but the circumcision I think should be the hubbys choice he understands more as a male and whats going on me personally my hubby is Hispanic doesnt believe in that so i wont be do it if and when the time comes i Ear piercing however i think should be done young i have allergies to earring and yes i know every1 has said why put ur LO through that but me i would want it to be cleared and done with then if they choose NOT to wear earrings then thats fine but i wouldnt want them to suffer as i did! i already read the comment yes im allergice to earring NO wouldnt want my daughter suffering but if i now know the problem i can take care of it now and not make them suffer if they do want them!

[Ambrelynn]

I'm all for circumcision. In fact they can't really make that decision as they get older as it's far too painful and the skin is too thick that nearly all doctors will not touch it after about 6 months. As a baby the skin is so thin that it doesn't hurt. However I'm currently 35.5 weeks pregnant with a girl and I'm not sure if we are going to pierce her ears. I would love to but I think it might be painful and I'd hate to see my baby girl in pain even if it's a quick process. I think we will let her decide when she is old enough.

[Spiket77]

No and No

El Naturale.

[CYW]

im against circumcision and ears im not sure.. my mom got mine done at 3 months...i was with my friend to get her daughters done at 8 months and it was sad-i wouldnt wanna hurt my baby that way but while i was at the hairdressers they were piercing a lil girl.. about 7-8's ears.. it was her bday and she had wanted it for years.. she was soo excited...After they did the first one however.. she cried soooooo much and did not want the second hole done...its tough decision and i think comes to each their own..i think its cute seeing a lil girl with lil earings but i dont know if i would...

[becca_3456]

I totally agree!!! NO and NO

[Ashelen]

I agree with goku..our husband has a better understanding than we do so I think that the choice to circumcise should be up to them. my husband DID decide to circumcise our son which I'm fine with...he knows better than I do what it feels like to be a my-parents-chose-for-me male...who am I to act like I understand?

at any rate...I got my ears pierced when I started my period as a coming-of-age rite-of-passage...my mom said it would mark me becoming a woman. I think that's such a cool way to do it and I plan to do the same with my daughter if she wants hers done.

[smjmekg]

Ivy that's an awesome idea for a getting ears pierced.

[ammanda]

I don't have a daughter, just a son, and I DID get him circumcised just like Losing said for the  benefit of hygiene and ridicule. and if I had any more boys id do the same.

As for the ear piercing, If I get lucky enough to have alil girl I will pierce her ears when she is a baby.  Like someone else had mentioned, when there babies you can make sure your the one taking care of it during the healing process, so it heals right.  My sister pierced my Nieces ears when she was like 1 month old. (it was so cute as a baby) and now at 2 years old, she loves them.  She loves when my sister takes her to the store to buy her earrings, my sister uses it as a bribe sometime to get her to pick up her toys or use the potty. tells her she will get new earrings.  she loves it.  She's a really big girly girl and got her mothers love for shopping. lol..  

My mom pierced my ears when I was like 7 or so.  But me on the other hand, I don't like wearing earrings, I never wear them, and my ears WILL NOT close up. They have stayed open for 13 years without earrings.  So I feel like if they don't like them when there older then can just take them out,  thats what I did. And it still works for my benefit cause even though I don't wear them on a regular, when I have to go somewhere nice or get dressed nicely for something I have that option to wear pretty earrings, but I don't have to wear them all the time..

[Cassandrajane]

Personally I am not against or for it...

I think that it will hurt less when they are little, and they will get over it..
But it is also a personal choice whether you want peircings or not, so i'd wait untill their older and give them the choice and or wait untill they mention they want them peirced. As I had many peircings me and John have both agreed that our children wont get any other peircings other than their lobes and one in their cartlidge before they are 16. Because thats the legal age for many of the peircings over here in England... and tattoo's are 18.
And if they ask why, I will show them the 2 holes in my face from my lip peircings and be like thats why... and tell them my experiences and regrets from getting them underage. (Had to take them out to get a job, and at school and it was annoying)...


But then again, its up to you. If you want to get them done so be it. But at the end of the day its really up to you at the end of the day. :)

xx

[frank_noahsmommy]

I have 2 sons and they are from different fathers which made a big part in my decision to circumcise. My 1st DS's father is Mexican and so am I and most of my family and his are not circumcised, so we did not circumcise our son. Like  said he is 10 and he has NEVER had any problems with hygiene. You can have have problems in that area whether circumcised or not, you need to teach them the proper way to clean. My 2nd DS is circumcised just like his father who is Caucasian and if it was my choice I would not have done it. Hearing him cry the way he did was heartbreaking and a moment I will never forget!!! If I have another Son I will not be present when he is circumcised.

With ear piercing I would let my daughter decide when she was ready.

[Limonada]

I only have boys, but I wouldn't personally have gotten my daughter's ears pierced, if I'd had a girl.  

MY ears aren't pierced and I'm 32 years old!  I've gotten along quite fine without having pierced ears and have never had any desire whatsoever to get them pierced.  If I'd had a daughter, I would have let her make this choice when she was older, like 13+.

We didn't circumcise either one of our boys.  DH isn't circumcised and wanted his boys to be the same as him.  I won't get into any other "pro" circumcision arguments on here because they just tend to stir things up ;)

[bluegenie2003]

I only have a boy, and he is circumsized, mainly becuase his daddy is.

I think little girls who have their ears pierced are really cute, but I'd probably wait until she was at least 5 or 6. My reasoning unlike a lot of others has nothing to do with the pain associated with ear piercing, but becuase I still remember how excited I was when I got to get my ears pierced (I think I was around 7)  I hurt, but not for long, and I thought I was SUCH a "big girl". Its something I still remember now over 20 years later as being a really exciting part of growing up for me

[julianovak]

Au Natural... Nope and NOPE! I wont go onto any reasons.

Boys and girls are equal to me, I think a boy/man has to know how to take care of himself to not get infections. I think its all bull.... as to boys that are circumsised dont get infections..... Well the men i know of arent and there has never been any infections. If you are jewish then of course its a religious tradition.

And girls, i think thats as silly as letting your daughter sleep with a necklace on, chocking hazard hello. And its too sad I HATE when my child cries from shots.... What makes you think id want to alter my childs perfect little body.?? My Opinion.

[mom2ariana]

i didn't read all the posts but i am not getting ariana's ears pierced. i do not think there is anything wrong with it, thats just how i feel. i was allowed to get my ears pierced when i was twelve, and i chose to do so. but it was an exciting birthday and memory for me and i want her to have the same choice.
i went with a friend to have her babies ears pierced (she is 2 days older than my daughter) and it was the most horrible thing i have seen yet. *i* cried, and it is not my baby and in fact it was only the second day i had ever spent with her daughter. i think the doctor's office will numb little girl's ears, but at claires they obviously do not, and you have to put the poor little baby in a headlock...omg...it was just awful. i just held ariana i couldn't go through that with her i am not strong enough.
also i do agree it can be a safety issue. little children can pull it out at school/daycare/church nursery or what have you. plus if you do it when the child is a little older and she decides she doesn't like it, she can take it out and it will regrow. if you have it done as a baby it wont regrow because it will have been too long if she doesn't want it.
plus, i dont want to have to clean her ears. i have enough things on her i clean lol, and just simply for my convienence i'd rather not have to do it.

[30something13]

first fir anyone who said that circumcision is not painful to an infant becasue for what ever reason is wrong. I watched my first get done:( POOR thing! It does hurt them, and the drs go abck and forth about numbing not numbing it.

But I like I said I had my first done but not my little one know becasue of things I found out, you just make the best desicion for your baby with waht you  know and feel. I have my opinions but they are just that mine. LOL so I won't eleberate.

Now for the girls I have two and decided to get them done when they were older and they knew what was going on and could take care of them on thier own.
I will say that my second her dad went and had hers done and she had problems with it. She came back from a visit with it imbeded and oozing in just a week.

really to each their own, it takes many to mke the world go round

[vacuumprincess]

hmmm.  tough one. I think babies & young kids with pierced ears look cute.  I never pierced my kids ears cause I wanted it to be her choice.  (that coupled with the fact that I saw someone piercing a baby's ears in the mall & I felt sorry for the wee one).  I still almost cry when my kid gets shots...

My daughter is VERY girly and now wants pierced ears, but she is afraid of the pain...  So she would have been better off to have it done as a baby.

I was also worried (when she was a baby) that she may end up with more male tendencies and resent the fact that I pierced her ears.

Its a tough call...

Circumsision.  ohh boy....  I think that kids & young adults have enough self esteem issues.  It is more common in my country to be circumsised than not.  I wouldn't want my son feeling like he is diffrent or embarased of himself.  Locker room trauma, or fisrt time sex nervousness can be bad enough.  I wouldn't want to throw that in the mix too.  So, I guess yes.  I would circumsize.  (if I would ever get a son already)!!

[amandamae1126]

Circumsicion - yes, I will do it for my sons. It's a promise made to God in the Bible and from my understanding that is where it originated.

Ear piercing - In my family it was "law" LOL! At the age of 3 the girls got to choose if we wanted pierced ears. At age 9 we got a second piercing if we wanted it. And age 13 allowed for the top of the ear to be pierced. Any other piercings would have to wait until after 18!

Mom had 4 girls (and one boy). We all chose to have the first and second piercings. Only two of us chose the third one. I plan to give my daughters the same options.

If moms want to pierce their kids, go for it. If you want to wait and give them a choice, go for it too. My sister chose to have her daughters ears pierced at 2 months of age. I think some of it was to help strangers tell the differnece between he boy and girl twins - appartently pink dresses and football shirts don't give it away! LOL!