Ear Piercing Age

I had my ears pierced at age 12 as a rite of passage, and really looked forward to it for much of my childhood as a transition to a new time in my life as I started Junior High... that time in a girl's life can be so intimidating, so I think it's really nice if she has something 'womanly' she can look forward to to take the focus off all the awkwardness of puberty!!

Dear A.,

How about: Let the Daughter grow up and decide when she is old enough?? My Parents would not allow me to have pierced ears
until I was 16. I thank them for it!
C. S.

Hi A.,

I'd wait til she's older. At 19 months, she's still a little baby. What's the rush? My mom didn't get my ears pierced until I was about 5 yrs. old. Some moms wait even longer. I think it's something she'll enjoy and cherish when she's older. It's a little milestone for you and her =)

I watched an episode of Rachael Ray where they had a doctor on that answered the SAME question. He said: Between the ages of 7 and 12 is the best. That is when there is the least about of pain involved and/or trauma.

I took his advise, and my daughter was 8 years old. She said it hurt more when the lady wiped her ear with the alcohol! No pain. :) That's so much better than when I had it done at 14!

Most of the girls in her classroom got it done this year too. (2nd grade)

Hope this helps.
LA

Hi, A., I hate to sound like a grandmother, but I have never seen the purpose in putting earrings on a baby. It's like putting your five year old in high heels. It's really such like a "rite of passage" for your daughter to finally make that decision herself for let's say a 13 year birthday? Don't you have enough to do than to start dabbing ears all day with alcohol. Wait until she can do it herself and she'll really be able to appreaciate "growing up."

I'm sure other mothers have followed your suit--I had to wait until I was 13, had great grades--and it was something I earned. The only comment I have is that ears grow--and I notice that gals that had theirs pierced as babies--the hole position is usually higher than I like to see once they are teens and older.

Hi A."
Well heck, I may as well jump on the wagon here! lol If I were you, I think i'd wait.Had you done it when she was tiny It probably would have been no big deal.Now,shes older and it would no doubt bug her,causing her to touch or pull on them. Try to remember, the main reason for piercing in the first place. Women do it primarily ,so they don't have to fret about losing expensive earrings.Unless you plan on buying diamond or opals for your 19 month old,its not a must right now. Let her decide when she gets a little older.It will be something kewl you can do for her,when she asks.The best to you A.

I had my daughter's ears pierced when she was 2 months old. I had a friend, who's aunt was a nurse and she did them at her home. My baby didn't even cry, not at all. In the hispanic culture, it's very common to pierce an infant's ears and that's why I did it. I have had earrings since about the same age and I have never once felt anything negative about it. In fact, I've gotten 2 more ear piercings since then.

That being said, I don't think 19 months is too old. It might hurt a little differently now, and I would definitely suggest doing both at the same time to allow for a quicker, easier process. The starter studs they pierce with don't really allow for messing with. You can't hardly take them out. Then after the 6 weeks, you can replace with something pretty, but I suggest staying on studs with safety backs for at least a year. Mervyns, Target, all those dept stores have children's earrings with safety backs and if you find a pair you like, I highly suggest buying 2 pair, because for whatever reason, there always seems to be one that makes an escape. If you have a second pair, you can just replace the missing one. Also, bactine works wonderfully for healing ears and cleaning earrings. It doesn't sting and it sterilizes properly.

My daughter never messed with her earrings until she was maybe 2-1/2, and that was because she liked them and liked showing them to people. She is 3-1/2 now and she LOVES her earrings. She loves going to the store to pick out new ones and she very easily lets me clean and change them. We've moved from safety backs to hoops now, but I try to get the endless hoops if we can find them. They don't pop open easily and I don't have to worry about her removing them, although she never even tries to. I also highly suggest sticking to gold and silver for the first 5 years. The pure metals seem to have less problem with infection.

This is your baby and if you want to pierce her ears, don't let others make you feel guilty about it. If for some reason, in the future she didn't like them, she can just take them out. While it's true that a piercing done to an infant would likely not completely close, it's also not going to hang open the rest of her life and be obvious. It will just tighten and look like a normal earlobe.

Good luck!

Hi,
I don't think there's anything wrong with getting your baby's ears pierced early. I have a baby boy, but if I had a girl, I'd get her ears pierced. I don't know of any girl who regrets having her ears pierced. Good luck!

What's the rush. Wait! She's just a baby still. Let it be a special moment with you guys. I had mine pierced when I was 5 and I do not remember the pain. All I remember is the excitement and the fun day out with my Mom and big sisters. My first earings were little gold hoops. I still have them. Make it about her not about you.

Mom of two little girls.

hi A., I would wait, at 19 months thatsgoing to be something new to her and she probably will ness with them J.

I'm not sure if you want to consider waiting this long, but I had my ears pierced at 16. That was the rule in our house for me and my 3 sisters. I could not wait, and the pain meant nothing to me for the thrill of having pierced ears (oh, to be 16 again!). I still remember that day well, 20 years later! I think it was neat to have that as a milestone or a "rite of passage." Just a thought!

Nineteen months seems awfully young to get pierced ears. I would wait until she is old enough to be responsible enough to take care of her ears (putting alcohol on them, etc.) and earrings. She should also be the one to ask to get her ears pierced. That way she will be more willing to do the necessary care for her earlobes and take care of her earrings. I got my ears pierced for my 11th birthday, when I was in 6th grade. I had been asking for about a year to get them pierced. The deal was that I had to put the alcohol on my ears myself and take care of my earrings. Most of my friends started getting their ears pierced around that time.

I used to work at a piercing place when I was (much) younger and did a lot of baby and child piercings. None of them were easy going for the kids, no matter what the age.
What it did make me decide then was that if I ever had a daughter, I would wait until she was old enough to decide for herself. Now I have one and I haven't changed my mind at all. A piercing is usually permanent. I don't want my daughter to regret a decision that I made for her body.

Also, I knew a girl around the same time I worked at the piercing place and she was unpierced (same age as me, around 17 years old) and I would constantly ask her "when are you going to let me pierce those ears?" Her answer was always "never". That was nearly 20 years ago and I saw her recently and she's still not pierced and happy for it.
Another thing is the ears still change as they grow. A lot of times, they end up with lopsided holes where they once were even.
I am one of those "lopsided" people and I actually ended up putting a third hole in to even myself out but I still have the one hole that is too low on my ears and it drives me nuts :)

My mom pierced my ears when I was two. I had numerous infections and resulting in earring being removed and piercing repeated two more times. To this day I remember this. Yeah, I think you missed the window. Wait until she asks to have them done.
~N.

I'm sure she would be fine. I have two daughters and pierced both of their ears on their second birthdays. They never pulled on them or played with them and we never had any problems. I just made sure I got them cute studs and left them in for a year or so before I put anything else in. They don't even notice that they are there most of the time. The only thing I would make sure and do is make sure that you go somewhere where two people can do it at the same time so the hurt is over all at once! My girls didn't even cry when they got it done! Good Luck!

Hi A.,

I too am comtemplating this decision, although my daughter is 3 1/2 years old. Her step/half sisters (at her dad's house ages 7, 3, and 10months) all have their ears pierced, and I was from the school of "wait till she says she wants them". Recently she has been asking where her earrings are and I feel a little bit like a hipocrate when I put my own earrings on. She is a very intellegent 3 1/2 year old so I think I am going to eat my words and actually let her have her ears pierced.

I am afraid of her messing with the earrings though, I just hope that she will be the big girl that I know she is, and not play with them too much. Through all of my mumbleing here, I just wanted to let you know that you aren't alone in your contemplation of whether you should or shouldn't

L.

I had both of my girls ears pierced when they were 3 months old. I think at 19 months, you might be asking for trouble. You might want to wait a few years now. When they are infants it's easier because they can't mess with them. At her age now, it is going to be harder on you because you will probably have to pin her down to get it done. It's like getting shots, harder on mommy!!:)

Hi A.,

I had my daughter's ears pierced at 2 months, once she had her tetnus shot. If you have it done at a jewlery store at a mall it's probably best. They use a little machine, it's a pinch and done. I brought my own earrings as well. You should try small studs first. This way she isn't touching them at all. Anything that hangs will have her pulling her ears.

Hi A.,

I pierced my daughter's ears when she was 4 months and she doesn't even noticed them. She is now 11 months and 1/2. If you see her playing with the earings just move her hand gently from them. Also, once her piercing is done, swith her earings to some with a "ball backing". Those won't hurt her while she sleeps or if she is rough playing.

Good luck

Hello A.
I am a mother of 3 2 girls and 1 boy. With both of my girls I waited till they told me that they wanted "pretty ears" and for both girls it was when they were about 2and1/2 they said they wanted holes poked in there ears. It was a small way to let them know they are in charge of there bodies. I told them it would pinch a little but they could have pretty ears forever as long as they were taken care of. Honestly I am sure there are a few people who didnt want holes, or marks that would last a lifetime

They aren't your ears, so you shouldn't be poking holes in them without her consent. I have plenty of adult friends who have never pierced their ears and are happy that way. You should wait until your daughter is old enough to ask for it, because once it is done you can't undo it. My daughter's pediatrician recommended waiting until age 8 before doing it, because that is the age when a child should be developmentally ready to properly care for the piercings.

I wouldn't make that decision for her. Wait until she can decide whether or not she wants pierced ears. A childhood friend of mine HATED the fact that her parents had pierced her ears when she was a baby. She resented it like crazy. Know that you would be making a lifetime decision for your daughter based strictly on your own desire.

Oh my gosh. I mean no harm but it always baffled me why mothers could pierce their baby's ears...
The baby in no way can understand why you hurt them, and you cant explain it to them because they are babies. It makes me cry at the thought and I could never watch it.
Why not wait until she's older, when she can decide for herself if she wants her own ears pierced? It's HER body. And then she could understand why it hurts and wouldnt think mama let someone hurt her? And it DOES hurt, rather bad.
Maybe some mamas just dont think about this. Please consider.

Wendy

We got our daughters ears pierced at 8 months old. She was starting to find her nose, eyes, ears etc and thought this would be the time to do it before she knew something new was on her ears. She BARELY cried. She cries more when she gets her vaccines. You daughter might still be at a good age. Just look to see if she plays with her ears. Put a sticker on her ears for a few days and see if she notices. Thats what another friend of mine did with her daughter, 12 months.
Good luck!

You and I are in the same boat...and I think we're both too far away from the piercing age. We were ready to get my girl's ears done at 6 months...until she got recurrent ear infections (she was always tugging her ears during that time). By the time they cleared (1 year) she was far to with-it not to claw and pull at the weight/tenderness of earrings. I'm hoping around 5 we'll be able to get it done for her (maybe when we have our second, we'll do them together).

Hello,
I would wait to get hers ears pierced until she is old enough to take care of them her self (like age 8 - 10) let her decided if she wants to get them pierced.

What's the rush? Right now you want to do it for you and not for her. As she gets older and decides whether she wants to pierce her ears or not, then the discussion should begin. I had my ears pierced when I was 21 because my ear lobe was too small to hold on any decorative earring (clip on style). She can always have her ears pierced. If you are questioning the procedure, then why do it now? She's a cutie without earrings. The only people happy for you to do it are the earring manufacturers. Enjoy her/You are blessed!

We had our daughter's ears pierced when she was 6 months (dad and MIL wanted to), thinking that at this age she wouldn't mess with them too much. We were wrong. She pulled them out after a few months and a few lost earrings after. She's now 2 years old and I would love for her have earrings but I know she would just take them out. On the other hand my best friend's daughter has not taken her earrings off, however her ears were pierced a little after she was born. It probably just depends on the kiddo. I'm thinking for my daughter she is really curious and once she was able to figure out how to maneuver the earrings she wasn't going to stop until she got them off. Sometimes when I see other little girls with earrings I think it is so cute and wish my daughter could still have hers, but I know because of how she is...she would just remove them and earrings can get expensive!

We decided to wait until Hannah was 5. She was so excited and it helped to teach her responsibility. She never pulled at them or took them out. She has had them for 1.5 years and we have never had an issue. We are now thinking that we should wait with our 1 year old as well. The downfall is that Abby is so bald that everyone thinks she's a boy, even dressed in pink! Good Luck!

I have three grown daughters, they all had their ears pierced within the 1st week from the hospital. They were fine, a small stud earring would be the best, no hoops.

Ear piercing is body modification and your daughter should be old enough to have a say. I would say wait until she is at least 6 years old and talk to her about what it means to take care of them to prevent infection and let her pick out which studs she wants.

I had my daughter's ears pierced when she was 4 mos. old. She only cried for a few seconds & it was more because I had to hold her in a manner to which she was not accustomed. Afterward, her ears healed great & she wore them w/out bothering them for several mos. Then, one day, she discovered how to remove the backs. That was the end of earrings for her. I could never find any that I could keep on her. She is now 2 1/2 yrs. & I'd love to get them done again but this time I'll wait until I know she's ready. Best of luck to the two of you.

Hello A.,

I was 14 when I had mine done but when my daughter was between 2&3 she noticed my ears and said she wanted some too. So my husband and I sat her down and explained about how it worked and that it would hurt to do her ears, but only for a few seconds and that she had to let mommy take care of them and not to touch them and it would be a long time before we could change the earings. We felt she really understood, she was that way. So we got a home kit from Walmart and I marked the spot and my husband did the shot. She did not even cry. She did great and still has her ears peirced today at 11. Then my next daughter wanted hers done too, of course like her sister so we did the same thing with her and explained it all. She was all for it at about 2.5 years and we did hers too. They both did great. The second girl however had a few infections but we later realized the backs got pushed on too tight sometimes and that she was allergic to silver or anything that was not 14k. In hindsight if I had to do it all over again. I probably would of waited until they were older, maybe age 5. Especially since the one daughter got infections in the hole. =)

C.

I had all 3 of my Daughters' ears pierced at 6 months old. They only cried for a couple of seconds. They have earrings now with safety backs. These are the kind that you have to twist off so it's almost impossible for Babies or young girls to take them off. You, as the parent, are the one responsible for making sure the area is kept clean with the solution the piercer provides. My Girls were so young they didn't even realize the earrings were there until someone would notice it & say how pretty they looked. Ear holes do close up. I know that for a fact. So if your Daughter decides later that she doesn't want them then she doesn't have to wear them any longer.

IMHO they're HER ears so why don't you allow HER to make the decision about putting holes in her ears when she's of an age to do so? Just a thought...

I want to get my daughter's ears pierced too, but I am waiting until she lets me know that she really wants it (she is five years old). I see no need to rush it, as she will have these holes in her ears for the rest of her life. I think it is important that she is the one who wants it, as it is her body, not your or mine.

K.

My sister and I got our ears pierced when we were around 6 wks, my mom said no crying whatsoever. SHe said that we were surprised. I got my daughter's ears pierced when she was 2mos, and when she was around 2 yrs old she was wearing different earrings every day. She loved to change them. Holes don't last forever, and piercings close. Saying that you hate your mom for getting your ears pierced is ridiculous. If you get a freckle on your face, will you then hate your mom for taking you outside? Oh no, it is permanent!! You cannot take the freckle back! Whatever. If she doesn't want it when she gets older, she can take them out if she wants. I say go for it, now or later.

A., I have 3 girls. Ages 8,7 and 3. I come from a culture where girls' ears are pierce the day of their birth or shortly after. I decided that I would not do that, instead I would let them choose if and when they wanted it. Good luck,go with your gut.

You have missed your window. She WILL play with them and pull on them. My mother never had my ears pierced when I was a baby because she figured that it was not her body to put holes in. I made the decision to get my ears pierced when I was 10 and she took me down to get them done and explained to me that I would have to take care of them. I will do the same with my own daughter when she is old enough to ask for them herself.

My suggestion would be, why don't you let your daughter decide IF she wants her ears pierced. I realize that ear piercing is not a life altering event, but why even risk potential infections when she may not even want them pierced. My personal feeling is let her decide when she is in elementary school when she is old enough to take care of them herself and not risk injury or potential choking. I realize the likelyhood of this isn't high, but why risk it? You asked our opinion.

I think it's too late now. At about 7 months they pull on their ears. Now wait till she's 7 or 8 and do it for a special girl day. I did both my girls at 2 to 3 months.

I had my daughters done at 2 months. My friend is a nurse in our pediatrician's office and she did them for us there. I honestly don't think she even notices that she's got them. My husband and I see nothing wrong with doing them this early, but respect those who choose to wait.

I wouldn't do it, I'd let her decide when she is big enough.

I did my daughter's ears right after her 2 month shots and she has never played with them. She also is currently 19 months and I think if I were to do them now she would play with them. But thats just because thats the stage shes at. I think if you pierce your daughter's ears now you may just have to get after her for a couple of weeks not to play with them and then she should be fine. Good Luck!! Also I would give her a little tylenol before you get them done!

I personally don't agree with it so I am no help to you. I know my friend did it at the Dr. so maybe you can talk to yours.

Forgive me, but I never quite understood why babies get their ears pierced. I wouldn't make that decision now. Let her decide when she gets old, say 12.

It may not be any of my business, and this certainly doesn't answer the question that you are asking, but I say why pierce a baby's ears? That poor little child has been through a lot already (you know, birth is no easy experience, the whole world is going to be full of shocks and new sensations), why not let her experience all those things without adding something painful and potentially dangerous (since she could pull her earrings out and hurt herself badly -- or another child at a later date could do it for her unintentionally as well)?
Let your daughter decide for herself as she gets older. Then she'll be able to understand why she is getting poked with a sharp object and her earlobes suddenly have to be cleaned and her earrings turned (adding some pain) all the time.
A baby is beautiful enough without added decoration. Just be happy with her natural beauty and let her decide if she wants to add to it when she's old enough to make the decision on her own.
Side note: After writing my opinion, I've read some of the other responses. Someone said that piercings close and it is stupid to hate your mother for getting your ears pierced for you. While I agree that it is over the top to hate your mother for getting your ears pierced, children do have feelings and those feelings should be considered. A freckle is genetic and not something that can be changed, but getting earrings isn't like that at all. Earrings are all about how you look and no one has to have them. Also, I have had my ears pierced for over 15 years and I haven't worn earrings for over 12 years, my piercings have NOT closed.

Not everyone has a positive feeling about piercings. I had mine done when I was about 8 and still recall the throbbing pain that kept me awake for several nights afterwards. Mine got infected, although they never closed. Any time I have worn earrings, my earlobes have become inflamed. I haven't even attempted it for years, but still occasionally get an infection at the piercing site without provocation. There is scar tissue build-up after so many years of recurrent infections. I don't like the way it looks and I really wish I had never gotten my poor earlobes pierced.

I'd wait a few years and let her decide. My daughter started asking me when she was three, so I told her that when she turned four, if she still wanted them, we could go get it done. She did, so I took her around her birthday and even though she was a little nervous, she did it. She felt like such a big girl for being so brave! It might be a fun thing for you to do together once she's a little older. Plus at that age, she realized the responsibility of having pierced ears and we never had problems with her taking them out.

A.,

I may be old school (I'm 44), but our five year old will have to wait until she is at least twelve or thirteen to have pierced ears. I can remember the day I got mine done (13 yrs) as if it was yesterday. It was really a milestone event and very special. In fact, I still have the gold posts that are HUGE and would never go back in my ears. I want my daughter to be able to care for them herself and also decide for herself if she even wants pierced ears. It's funny, she loves my shoes, jewelry, purses, etc., but has never asked about my earrings. If your child decides she wants them as she grows up, it can be a really cool reward, or just a special mother/daughter outing with lunch or something that will be significant for both of you. Good luck with your decision.

I say do it if you want to. My daughter was 4 months old when we did her ears, and my 3 nieces were 4 years old, 1 1/2 years old, and 6 months old when they got theirs done. Good luck!

Hi A.,

In my opinion you have to wait until she is able to understand not to touch them. There is such a risk of infection and if she messes with them the risk only increases. Sorry to be a downer - but I think you are well past the window.

G.

I had my daughters ears pierced at 3 months (had her 1st shots) and she has been really good about them. I would suggest that you use studs - which if you go to a piercing place in the mall they will have there. We went to the Piercing Pagoda at Laguna Hills mall since they had 2 technicians and they did both ears at the same time (easier on both of us) They also had the right size earrings (3mm for babies) and they have saftey backs (not even a 2 year old could pull these off - i could hardly do it when changing her earrings). You cannot bring your own since there are only certain ones that fit the piercing guns but if you bring your own in 6 weeks they will change them out for you. I think you should be fine - I had my ears pierced at 20 months and my mom always tells me that I didn't even remember they were there. Since they don't dangle and unless you are looking at them, she truly will forget about them.

Something I've thought about when it comes to ear piercing is this: if the child gets it done at an early age and as she gets older wishes she didn't have them, there's no reversing it. If you wait until she's a little older, she makes the choice to do it and it's something to look forward to (and use for good behavior if you want to).

I only say this because this is what my mom decided was best for me. She actually never thought to get them when I was a baby since she didn't have pierced ears herself. When I was 5 I saw all the girls in my class had pierced ears and I liked how it looked and told mom I wanted to get it done. She told me that when I turned 6 I could get them if I was good. I reminded her on my sixth birthday and I go them! I later went on to get my second and third holes in my ears and nowhere else. I don't wear earrings much but it was my choice each time and I don't resent her for putting holes in my head.

I'm planning on waiting for my daughter until she asks for them because of my good experience with this process.

There are some medical grade plastic earrings that you can hAve your pediatrician get. i used to work for a doctor that did them in his office. he is in Irvine. It is quick and there is no change for allergy because the earrings aren't metal. He starts at 2 months old and he even did a few moms. Thy have special backings that are almost impossible for the children to remove. The company is called BLOMDAHL. dR. bLUMBERG IS LOCATED IN iRVINE.

Just to tell you where I'm coming from: We have a weird rule in our family...when I was a kid my dad would recite this to me "if God didn't put holes in your ears than I'm sure not" (by the way, they were not religious people) I got my ears pierced when I was an 18 year old college freshman - my big independent move! We have decided not to let our daughter have her ears pierced until she's in high school. She hasn't seemed too concerned about it really and although most of her friends have them, she doesn't mind. It's really up to you, but I'd have to agree that you may have missed the window here and should wait for a time that can make it special!

Hi A. H

You can get them done whenever just know the older they get the more it hurts because they are aware of the pain, and if they too old they might remember.
It's fine to take her now just make sure you get the earings that have the screw - on back, and keep the area very clean :)
Good Luck!

C.

Hi A..
You are receiving oppinions from all over the spectrum, so I thought I would share mine. Mind you, I am not being judgemental of your choice. Sometimes other moms can be painfully mean.
I have 2 little girls. They are 7 and 3. My 7 year old has asked about ear piercing many times. My husband and I decided to wait until the girls are 14 to let them get their ears pierced. With the current fads being to pierce any part of the body that is possible, that perhaps we will avoid any of this rediculous form of expression.
Our theory is: Be strict when they are little, and slowly loosen up as they get older. You can always relax on the control , but once it is gone, it is nearly impossible to take it back when they are teenagers.
Take Care, Heidi

Hi A.,
I'm from a family that pierced the girls ears around 6 months or so. Personally I'm glad they did it then. I guess most of your responses say wait and let her decide, but in the end if she didn't want her ears pierced, she could choose not to wear earrings. It's not like she's getting plastic surgery. In all my years (and I'm a no spring chicken mom) I have never seen a disappointed girl from getting her ears pierced early. At 19 months she may notice them, but get the ones that stay in real well, and you shouldn't have a problem. You'll be glad you did it now.
Signed,
Still loving my earrings