Earrings on baby girls make me swoon! I think it’s the perfect accessory for every outfit. But, I cannot bring myself to pierce my daughters’ ears. I know parents do it all the time, and I don’t judge. Personally, I just can’t bring myself to inflict that pain on them. I also can’t bring myself to make that permanent choice for them. Shouldn’t it be their choice? Not to mention the initial maintenance.

I got my ears pierced when I was five or six. I wanted to match my older sister, and I asked my parents to take me. It was something that I really wanted, and I knew the responsibility that came with it. My mom took me to have it done, and I have worn earrings almost every day since. I took great care of my ears during those first few weeks because that was the deal. If I chose to get them done, it was up to me to keep them clean and rotate them to prevent scar tissue.

When I had my first baby girl, she got mistaken for a boy often because of her twin brother and bald head. Bows didn’t even stop people from thinking she was a boy. I can’t explain that one. But I never got the mix-up when she wore her earrings. But our secret is…she doesn’t have pierced ears.

What did we do instead? …stickers!

Yep, those little rhinestone stickers in the scrapbook section at the craft store make perfect stick-on earrings! They are pain-free, inexpensive, and come in any shape or color you can imagine — making it easy to match any outfit. I’ve even been lucky enough to find whole packages for a dollar in the clearance bins. I don’t have to worry about them hurting her or getting infected. They usually last a few hours, and if we lose one it’s no big deal!

I can’t tell you the number of compliments that my girls receive for their little earrings. I had to share our secret so mamas out there, like me, who are too afraid to pierce baby’s ears can rest easy with stickers for now. My girls can decide when they’re ready to pierce their ears. I hope that they wait until they’re old enough to understand how to take care of them, so they can do it themselves! Taking care of your own body and living with your choices is a lesson for an older age. Stickers are maintenance-free and cheap, so it’s a win for now.

If you do decide to pierce your baby’s ears, please do a little research first. You’ll want to pick the most sanitary place to have it done. Many pediatrician and dermatologist offices pierce ears. You’ll also want to find out if a numbing cream will be used and what type of earring will be used. Surgical-steel posts are the least likely to cause an allergic reaction.

What are your thoughts on piercing your baby’s ears?