Should babies have their ears pierced?

Gina (No)

Infant ear piercing began as a ritualistic and cultural tradition but today is widely recognized as a fashion statement. Individuation is defined as 'the process by which the self is formed by integrating elements of the conscious and unconscious mind.' It seems quite narcissistic, however, to assume that making such a near-permanent 'style' decision for someone who has yet to develop is right.

Each individual’s personality traits, including likes and dislikes, cannot be expressed until they have developed the ability to communicate, which can take years. Likewise, a child's stylistic choices change as they grow up and continue to evolve through adulthood. It's immoral to force our desires on another person without knowing what their desires will one day be. Not until a child is old enough to express their personalities and can verbalize them should parents make any unnecessary body modifications on their behalf, no matter how small.

The AAP recommends postponing ear piercings until the child is mature enough to take care of the pierced site themselves. This allows the child to practice responsibility as well as communicate if they are experiencing any kind of pain or discomfort, greatly reducing the risk of infection. There are many stories in which even older children have experienced immense pain caused by their ear piercings. It is tragic to think young babies have experienced similar pain they cannot communicate. 

Ear piercing is a traumatic experience, especially for a child who is too young to understand what is happening. Traumatic events like these can have long-term effects. Where parents can limit such experiences in their child's life for merely cosmetic reasons, they should. 

Bethany (Yes)

Piercing a baby's ears can sound like a stressful and painful event, but this is not the case in many instances, as most children will not remember this event at all later in life. Conscious memories begin at the approximate age of two and a half at the earliest. It is ultimately the parent's decision and an easily reversible one at that.

In any circumstance, when babies have their ears pierced, it is almost always done by a professional. Even in mall stores, ear-piercers provide a sterile environment, accurate aftercare instructions, and there is little to no trauma to the ears at the piercing site. All of these things will greatly reduce the chance of infection or other complications after the fact. The only medically relevant recommendation is that one should wait until the baby has had its first round of vaccinations. This also allows for the piercings to be removed with little to no scar tissue later on in life, should the individual decide to remove them.

Several religious and cultural factors can play a part in babies having pierced ears, meaning, too, that this is a decision that should come with the free exercise of religious beliefs without the fear of facing societal judgment. For example, part of the Hindu beliefs involves having a female child's ears pierced within the first year of her life. Many Latin cultures pierce baby girls' ears to distinguish them from baby boys, and is considered a 'mark of feminine beauty.' Admittedly, while other parents only do this for cosmetic purposes, it should be no more of a moral issue than giving a child a haircut.