Ear Piercing - Richlands,VA

I am the mother of a 5 yr old girl and a 3 yr old boy. I got my daughter's ears pierced when she was 1. It is very common for girl's to get their ears pierced at that age!!

I used to pierce ears @ one of the retail stores in the mall. We always hate doing babies and youg children. They scream & cry and dont understand. Sometimes it is hard to get the other ear done. When they are really young babies, it is a lot easier because they dont through as much of a fit. But the down fall to that is, there ears grow every day when they are little. So sometimes they are crooked when they grow older.
I have an 8 year old daughter. My mil was the opposite, she wanted to pierce my daughters ears all the time. My personal opinion is, they are my daughters ears and she can decide when she gets older.

I waited until my daughter asked. It was very special for her and she took good care of them. She was so young, she doesn't remember now, but I remember the joy in her eyes. It is still a special memory for me.

I say don't do it. My baby girl is 15 months old and I am waiting until she says she wants them done. There is alway that chance that your little girl won't want it done at all. Does you little girl like to wear hats? What about a bracelet? Try those one her if you havent b/c if she takes it off and messes with it alot you may just be asking yourself for me trouble. If she pulls at her ears she is going to cry and cleaning them. And you certainly dont want her to get them out and swallow one of them. she is at the age she is aware of her body and probably will mess with them.

My thing was I wanted to wait to get my daughter's ears peirced until she asked to get it done. She was 4 when she asked so I took her. They popped them in at the same time and she didn't shed a tear. I gave her a little motrin for the discomfort and she was fine. I think that if you want to get them peirced go for it. The "PAIN" is little to non existing. A little motrin before you do it will do the trick. I don't think she is too young at all. It's a personal choice. Remember when getting advice on a website to take each comment with a prayer for understanding and disearnment.

Hi A.,

No offense to you but do you realize that you will be intentionally inflicting pain on your daughter? Why do you want to pierce her ears? What difference does it make?

I would never cause physical pain to my child on purpose. That's so cruel.

I don't think anyone should have their childs ears pierced until that child is old enough to ask for it. What if the child's ears get infected? That's just more pain for your child.

There is absolutely no reason anyone should do this. The child doesn't give a damn about her ears being pierced so why should you? Because it looks cute to other people? Please. Don't do it.

My mom had mine pierced around that age, I don't see a problem with it. I've had to get my ears re-pierced because when I was a little older I went thru my tom-boy stages and the holes grew up but I don't remember it hurting at all. I guess it depends on who and where you have it done at. I think the scary part for kids really young is the clicking sound when someone got your ear. But it doesn't actually hurt, at least it didn't for me.

hi i agree with everyone else its you and your husbands decsion and no one elses...i got my daughters done at 3 months and had no problems and she has no messed with them but i do have to change them while she is sleeping or other wise she wont let me...good luck on your decsion and let us know what you decide to do..

I had my youngest daughters ears pierced when she was about 10-11 months old and my eldest daughter was about 3. Neither had any problems or even remembers having it done and they are now 19 and 20 years old. I personally think the younger the better, because then they seem like a natural body part and not something new they pick and pull at; not to mention if there is pain it is soon and long forgotten. I also agree with the other responses as well; it is ultimately yours and your husbands decision. But I would make sure that whom ever does it, has plenty of experience, not just piercing, but piercing's on little ones.

A.,
I am not a good one for this one either. I think she is too young if she can't take care of them with the alcohol and changing them herself. Personally I just don't want anymore responsibility than I already have and that would be an extra something that I would have to take care of and if it were my daughter I would rather wait till she can ask for it and take care of them herself.

A.,

I do not think your daughter is too young. We got my daughter's ears pierced when she was 4 months old. To this day (she's 16 months), she has never lost an earring or even paid them much attention and they've never been infected. This is your child not your mother in laws. Don't let her get in the way of the decisions you make for your child.

I have 2 girls, one is almost 4 & the other is almost 10 mos. old & I got both of theirs pierced when they were young babies, the oldest had hers done when she was 5 mos. & the youngest at 3 mos., & I've NEVER had a problem with the oldest one messing with them or trying to take them out if ur worried about that. The younger the better because they forget they r there practically, BUT, it's a parent's choice as ALL things are & if u & ur hubby want to get it done, go for it, if u have any doubts of UR own, not from someone else, then don't do it, listen to urself, u know what's best for ur children before anyone else

A.,

HI there. My Daughter was 5 months old when we had her ears done. We had it done at wal_Mart. They were the only ones that did both ears at once. She has done really good with hers. She has not messed with them. She is 3 now and she lets me change them. As far as been to young well. I asked Kasey's Dr befor I had hers done and He told me that the younger you have them done the easer it is on the baby. Also give her some Tylenol befor you have it done just like you do befor shots that way it will not hurt her as much. But Kasey only fussed becasue we were holding her arms and she could not move. After we let her go she stoped crying and was playing. But its all up to you. Good Luck and I hope that has helped you in some way.

K. K.

I really think that this should be something that your daugther should decide when she gets older. I agree with Kari B why do you want to put your child through any additional pain even if it is for only a couple seconds, and I remember getting my ears pierced it definately hurt for longer than a couple seconds.

I do not think you should get them done until the child asks for them to be pierced. I have two girls, on is six the other is 4. The four year old requested ear piercing for her 3rd birthday, so we obliged. She cried a little (as it does hurt), but she is very happy about them. She has her own earring that she asks me to change for her, and she gets to have mommy make her earring as well. My older daughter does not want her ears pierced. She prefers bracelets and necklaces. I ask her periodically, but she has told me that she does not ever want her ears pierced. This is fine with me. Ear piercing should be a decision left to the person receiving it, not to their parents or others.

Hope this helps
C.

I had my daughters ears pierced at 5 months and she screamed for 5-10 min and that was all. Personally I would not get them done at Walmart, Claire's (or Afterthoughts or the piercing Pagoda because the Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) says that the guns used cannot be sterilized since they are plastic and the guns have been known to spread diseases since they are used over and over. Also the operator of the gun is usually there for a pay check and does not take pride in piercing. My friend pierced at a store in the mall and she watched a video and punched holes on a piece of foam before she was allowed to pierce a persons ear. That's it ! A video and foam, scary. I called around and found a piercing and tattoo shop in M'boro ( Fast Eddie ) who had been piercing people for over 10 years. It may not seem like a desirable place to take your kids, but the people at tattoo shops are very nice people and they take great pride in their work. Tattoo and piercing places are also regulated by the state but for some reason places that use the gun are not.
Anyway, my daughter is almost 8 months and is perfectly fine. My sisters and I all got our ears pierced before the age of 1 and we've been fine too. Many people I've talked to who have waited until their daughter asked (7 or 8) and a hell of an ordeal. One side would get pierced and the girls FREAKED out. After the major freak out meltdown they had to go through it again with the other side. To a baby, it's like getting shots. So I preferred to get hers done early.
Good luck and remember never substitute any persons judgment for your own. If you want to get her ears pierced and someone else says it's terrible, do what you know is best. They aren't raising you child. I had a lot of people freak me out at first. Once it was done I realized she was perfectly fine by the time we walked out of the shop. That wouldn't have happened with a 7 year old.
Good Luck, J.

Hi A.,
I've seen numerous babies with their ears pierced shortly after birth, and it never hurt any of them..So I personally don't think she is too young..I didn't get my daughters ears pierced until she was 4 but that was only because I wanted her to be able to decide if she wanted them pierced..But I don't think she is too young..

C. G

Hi A.,
I got my daughters ears done when she was just barely three months. My mother did the same to me and my sisters and weve never had any problems.If you do it young enough than you can be sure to take care of them and by the time there old enough to know that their there, they wont touch them bcause they'll be used to them. In mexico they do it in the hospital. I actually went to walmart to get hers done but I decided I was more comfortable doning it myself, so I bought the gun and the earrings and did it at home and she's always been fine.
E.

We got my daughter's ears pierced when she was 6months old. She cried for a few minutes and then was fine(way easier than shots @ the doctors'). We've never had any problems w/her piercings and she doesn't pull at them at all. We've had tons of people come up to us and tell us they loved her earings.. we've also had people who clearly disliked a baby w/earings. Bottom line, you're not going to please everyone. If you're going to do it, do it soon.. toddlers tend to pull @ earings because they're more aware of them. And make sure that when the piercing is done that they do both ears at the same time, less crying and squirming that way.

You and your husband is fine with getting her ears pierced. Your and your husband are her parents.She will be fine. She's not too young.

after my daughter had her first shots i got her ears pierced. i don't see anything wrong with it. i say go for it. now she kept pulling them out and eating them. they were plastic. but other than that i had no problems with them. gl to you!!!

Kim

Hi, A..

I used to work in a pediatricians office and they would do it as long as the baby was at least 6 months old. So, I assume if a doctor would do it at that age, it would be okay for your 12 month old daughter. Hope this helps.

A.

I won't have my 14mth old daughter's ears pierced until/if she decides on her own that she wants it done. In my personal opinion, little babies with pierced ears just look totally out of place and is sort of on the same level as putting makeup on them or something. But, that is MY opinion...I have nothing against mothers who decide do do that..I think you should do whatever you feel is best for her. Just keep in mind that there is maintenance and care that you must do in order to avoid health issues and you are taking that small risk of a choking hazard or a torn ear lobe if the baby pulls at them. I just think it is better to wait until they are old enough to decide on their own and understand what is involved in the care of piercings.

I had my daughter's ears pierced when she was 2 months old. She didn't have any problems and doesn't mess with them at all!

I had both of my daughter's ears pierced when they were two months old. It was much easier to clean them and they were not old enough to mess with them. Plus, they do not know it is going to hurt to worry about it, and my daughters each cried less than when they got shots at the doctor so it was great.

Hi, A.! This was a huge decision for my husband and I also with our 20 month old daughter. We had her ears pierced at six month old. The one thing I recommend is only doing this if you have them done at the same time. And, make sure they get them even! I really had mixed emotions about having her ears pierced because I felt like she wasn't old enough to decide for herself. But, she loves her earrings and they look really cute, so I have no regrets. I completely respect my mil and my own mother, but remember, this is your and your husbands daughter, so do whatever makes you both happy!!! Best wishes! D.

I had my ears pierced when I was 2 weeks old. Haven't had any problems.

She's way too young. What's the rush? Why not make it more special later on - say when she is around 7 or 8. My parents said that I could have mine pierced for my birthday in the second grade. It was really special, a big deal and I still remember it. It also was a great way to start teaching me responsibilty as far as taking care of my newly pierced ears and not letting them get infected. It seems to me that it will make it uncomfortable for your baby to sleep and besides that, little girls are being made to look "older" way too soon. I agree with your mil - wait.

i say do it -- i would have done it to my kids but i have all boys . i know that mine and both my sisters were done just days of us coming home from the hospital however thats been some years ago .

Hi A.,

I worked at a jewelry store for many years and we were always reluctant to pierce ears of children under 3. The reason isn't because of the initial pain (which is very brief), but because the post earrings used to pierce ears are too long- the part that sticks out behind the earlobe pokes the tender area behind it and that can be very uncomfortable for the child. Just something to consider.

T.