Mexican/Latino taboo about not piercing baby girls ears? - Page 2

[umsami]

We just had our first daughter after two boys. DH is Egyptian, and we've gotten tons of gold earrings for her already. It is expected that we pierce her ears, but we haven't yet. DH says that even the poorest people pierce their daughters ears, and will just keep thread in them until they can afford earrings.

Personally, I got my ears pierced around 12 (right before my first concert... the Go-Go's/Flock of Seagulls ). I sort of liked how it was a special treat to go to the mall and get my ears pierced with my friends.

[FondestBianca]

Interesting topic. My husband's father is from Mexico. My husband is actually a first generation citizen on his dad's side. My sister in law had her daughter's ear's pierced before she was 2 months old and my husband's aunt is planning to have her daughter's pierced soon (she is 3 months old now). His family still asks me when we're going to have our daughter's ears peirced (she is 2 1/2). I've always found it odd the way they put it, "WHEN are you gonna get her ears pierced!?". They say it like it's so crazy we haven't yet. My husband assumed she would be getting them done early but, I convinced him otherwise.

I have a metal allergy and my ears (pierced when I was 16) took nearly a year to stop bleeding and being infected. I used every non allergy metal I could get my hands on but, even with all the antibacterial and healing agents as daily ritual they still did not heal properly. My ears have scar tissue in them for that reason. I had them pieced (second hole in each ear) when the first finally healed. I have since lost one of those because I went a week or so at some point without putting anything in it.

I tell everyone my daughter can choose to get her ears pierced (if SHE wants and we deem her responsible enough) when she is old enough to deal with the infections and daily pain. Perhaps I'll think about it when she is in middle school, if indeed she wants them. If she has the same problem that I do with piercings I don't want her to be miserable as a small child. Babies and children tend to rub, scratch, and pull at irratation.

Odd. Not sure where that tradition came from or if it is limited to Spanish and South American decent.