Piercing Ears

Im piercing my DDs when she hits 6 months. (every girl in my family has them done by then.) I was going to do it a couple weeks ago, but never made it in. :P My pedi. said that the younger they are, the better because they won't be able to pull at their ears so much. She also said that the pain from getting shots is worse than the pain for ear piercing. (BTW... I don't know anyone who got mad about getting their ears pierced as a baby. If she doesn't like them when she's older, she doesn't have to wear earrings. simple as that.) :)

I got mine pierced when I was 7 and it was a BIG day for me...I still remember it well. Wait till she's old enough to enjoy it.

When she is 16. They are HER ears, and she should be the one to decide if she wants them pierced or not.

when she's old enough to ask for it.
don't poke holes in your baby!
khairete
S.

I could never understand the reason for piercing a baby's ears. It is just totally for the moms enjoyment. Your baby doesn't care what she looks like and she really won't appreciate the pinch and possibly infection involved. I have a daughter and she looks beautiful without her ears pierced. I have decided that when she and I can talk about it and she can understand what it means and what is involved, then I will get her ears pierced if she wants. My sister had both her girls ears pierced when they were only a few weeks old, but she went to her pediatrician and had it done. If you decide to do it, I would also go to your pediatrician not one of those stands at the mall.

16 yrs old was the age my Mom insisted I had to be before my ears could be pierced. I could take care of it myself, and I had no infections/abscesses/allergic reactions to metal of the earrings.
Some people have no problems with this, but if it scares you - why do it at all? You don't have to.

Her ears her decision.
My daughters asked for their ears to be pierced and that's when we did it. They were both about 5.

Look girl...you see all the variations on opinions on what they did with THEIR child(ren) but this is YOUR daughter and you do what you and or your husband/partner wants to do with YOUR child (even though you did ask...lol)...yes they are her ears but it is also her skin so if at 16 she wants a tattoo or tongue pierced are you going to let her do it because it is her skin...well once again that is up to you (again because she is your child) so don't feel bad if you choose to do it when she is a baby or at five years old...my mom did hers in her forties...but either way it is your choice. keep them clean and I would wait for most of her baby shots are done...i did my baby girl when she was 5 months (never had on problem)...and my mom had mines done when I was about 2 or so in the doctors office.don't lets theses opinions make you feel bad...do what your heart and mind and pediatrician tells you whats best. Good luck...

If you are scared about cleanliness take her to a reputable and popular tattoo/piercing shop in your town. I know that sounds wierd however they will be the cleanest and safest by far. They are professionals and this is what they do, they are not teenage girls who want to work in a little botique to get a discount on jewelry. They follow very strict standards.

However I would not do it that young. To risk getting an infection or any amount of unecessary pain at that age would be too much of a deterant for me.

Please wait until she comes to you and asks to get them done! You are going to inflict pain on a 9 week old. OUCH! Not to mention the bloody pus infection she could get from them. So rude, I know. But just telling it like it is!

I had mine done when I was about 8 or so. It turns out I have allergies to nearly all metals and can't wear jewelry except for my platinum wedding band. My ears hurt, swelled, oozed for the entire time I had them pierced, even with hypo-allergenic surgical steel posts. I say this not because I believe your daughter will have the same reaction I did, but just to illustrate that sometimes there can be issues that we would not normally consider.
I would suggest waiting until your daughter is old enough to want her ears pierced and to help take care of them. I just don't understand why a 9 week old needs earrings.

Her body = Her decision.

That's the way I look at it. I don't own my daughter.

I took my daughter in at 7 months. My view on it is...if she grows up and likes them, then I saved her the memory of the few minutes of pain (my daughters ears didn't even get red, she took really well to it). If she grows up and hates them...then take them out. Its a tradition in our family to get them done young. I do feel its better when done younger, but thats just my personal opinion.

I took my daughter when she was 4 months (first child too). I thought that was the earliest you could do it (at some places it is) but i got to piercing pagoda and they do it at 8 weeks. They cry while you hold them down to get it done after that, they never notice them again. My daughter stopped crying as soon as we stopped holding her tight. It'll be okay and over in like a minute!

When she says "Mom, can I get my ears pierced?"

I had my daughter's ears pierced at 4 weeks old. I took her to a beauty shop and they told us it was easier the younger they are. Our doctor said the same thing. #1 They dont pull on the earrings at that age and get used to them before they are old enough to do so. #2 At a younger age your daughter still has some of your ammunities as well as her own so the chance of infection is very small. Cleaning is easy because professionals now suggest that you DO NOT use alcahol to clean them but a saline solution, completely safe for anyone. My daughter is going to be 3 yrs old on October 10th and she LOVES earrings. I make jewelry and she gets so excited when I make her a pair of earrings. She stands really still and even holds her hair back so I can change them!! She even wears hoops and dangles. You are going to be scared no matter what age but when they are younger it is easier on them. My daughter didn't cry just whimpered a little and them they never bothered her again. I hope this is helpful!!

I had my first daughters done then and it was great - at nine weeks they are too little to tug and pull on them.
My other daughter had problems with her ears and I didn't pierce hers until she was about three - and then she wanted them SO BAD! Was upset other girls had them and she didn't.

At 8th grade graduation when they are 14 years old.

Congrats on the new baby. We have 2 little girls. With our 3 yr old we talked to the Peds office and one of the doc does it. That is where we did her ears. The pediatrician recommended that we wait till after the 6 month vaccinations to do it. Good age. Baby did not remember, cried for a few seconds and did not try to touch the ears or pull at the ears.
Good luck with everything

Do it whenever you want to -if you want to -but many pediatricians' offices do it, and if I were to have a baby's ears pierced, I would do it there. You will know everything really is sterilized and done properly. I remember having mine done at age 5 and I only felt a sharp stick -not even as much as having a shot!

Oh boy you might get nasty responses with this question. I have 3 girls my older 2 I had their ears pierced at around 2, my youngest was a baby. All 3 wear earrings occasionally so I don't see the big deal.

My daughter was 7 months old when her ears were pierced. She only cried for a minute, just like when they get their shots done. I would have your pediatrician do it for you.

I have 3 biological daughters and 2 stepdaughters...and a son (have to include him..cuz boys pierce thier ears too.) My rule of thumb is.. When they are old enough to take care of them (age 5) and THEY want them, GO FOR IT!!! Sure, babies look so cute with earrings... and then the it gets all infected and they are in pain... or they are allergic... ??? This is why I wait! These things happen. My 9 yr old still gets a little pussy ear once in a while, but she knows how to take care of it. Babies have enough growing pains to deal with. She has her whole life to decide on getting her ears pierced. My almost 13 yr old did get her ears pierced at age 5 and she was allergic, so she let her holes close up. The other 12.5 yr old has 2 holes!!! The 9.5yr old has 1set(had it done at age 5, and the 8yr old..she is still debating. My almost 5 yr old son...now he WON'T get it done because he says it's for girls!!! I asked!!! :-) Now I'm not saying don't do it....I'm just saying if it was me I would wait until she was old enough to make the decision herself. Your daughter is beautiful even without pretties in her ears! The choice is yours mom. And congrats on your little angel!

I have 1 daughter and got her ears pierced at 8-9 weeks old. She is now 5 and love to go out with me to buy a new set of earrings to match her outfits for school. Getting them done early was a benefit I feel because it was easy to clean them she hardly ever fussed with them as she was growing up and I felt I was saving her the pain of getting them done when she was older.

My mother wouldn't let me get my ears done until I was 12 when I started modeling. I was mad she wouldn't let me do it earlier.

You can see what others have to say but in the end it is still your decision as to what you do. Don't be put off by what others say go with your gut feeling.

L.

I say wait until she wants to have it done and can care for her ears on her own. My mom insisted on 12 years old which I think is a really good age. I only have boys but if I had girls I'd do that.

Yikes! I'd be nervous too, luckily I only have a boy so far and don't have to decide myself. I like the idea of getting it over with early when they're too little to remember the pain or mess with their ears, but.... When my son was between 6 and 9 months old, he went through a phase where he was obsessed with his ears. To the point where I'd come get him from his crib in the morning, happily cooing, with blood all over his sheets because he had scratched up his ears again! After the first time, I kept his nails super-short, but he'd still knock the scabs off somehow. Nothing I tried stopped him, till he got over the ear obsession on his own. He was a determined little guy. I can't imagine what he would have done if he had earrings!

In my family they were done when we turned 13. And if we didn't want them, we didn't have to get them done. I figure about that time my duaghter can have hers piierced if she wants to. Up until then i don't see a reason for it. I only wear earring when I dress up, and not everyday. I figure the biggest reason is to dress up outfiits and cordinate clothes and outings. So really up until high school their is no reason. Once you get to high school, then you have dances and other activities that girls like to dress up for and earrings at that time are more appropritate.

fourth grade.

Updated

fourth grade.

This is a choking hazard. If an earring falls out it could get in her mouth. I would wait until 6 yrs +.

When my daughters started noticing other girls' ear piercings and asking about it - the oldest must've been five - I knew I had to make a decision. My first decision was to get my own ears pierced before I let anybody make extra holes in my girls! I was in my 30s and had a hard time with it; even following the rules I was given, I had infections.

But it gave me a chance to think, and I finally told my daughters to ask me about it when they were in junior high school. So one girl had her ears pierced when she was in seventh grade; the other wasn't interested until she was a sophomore or junior in high school. They didn't feel deprived, I think, because they knew they would be able to do it when they were old enough.

My DIL, who has three daughters, has already told them not even to ask her until they're twelve!

Ear piercing is no big deal these days, but you might think about saving it for later. Then your daughter will have it to look forward to. She will be able to take care of her ears herself, and she can look at it as a benefit of being more grown up.

I got mine done when I was in 2nd grade and HATED it!! It hurt and i just didnt like it. We did our daughter's when she was 14 months old and she is thankful now...she doesnt like pain and when they are little it is over and done with before they know whats going on. i say the earlier the better. What girl doesnt want her ears pierced??

The younger she is, the less of a big deal it will be... I think I was about 18 months... I got my earrings as a treat for 'surviving' getting tubes put in my ear... I remember holding my little stuffed animal for dear life...

She may cry, but she will miraculously heal within seconds...
Babies are so resilient...
Good luck!

I had my daughter's done when she was 8 mos old & I know many other moms who have had thier daughters done before 6 mos. I also think that the loud sound of the piercing gun scared my daughter more than the actual pinch from the earring going in (of course that's just my opinion). She was done crying within 5 minutes & she never tugged at her ears after they were pierced. My mom didn't have mine done until I asked for ____@____.com aunt & grandma heard me scream when they were on the other side of the mall & I cried for 45 mins after (from what I'm told).
I do have to say that I have had my ears pierced 3 times @ different Claire's & every time, they have gotten infected. I also know other people who have had the same experience. I've never had a problem anywhere else.
Your daughter will be just fine. If it makes you feel any better, I cried when she cried...Plus, more than 3 years later, we're both alive & well. Just make sure you care for the piercings as directed & as long as the place you take her to is sterile to begin with [all of the equipment & jewelry used, plus make sure the person/people doing the piercings have clean (and maybe even gloved) hands], there shouldn't be a problem at all.

I waited till 5 months to pierce my daughter's ears. It was more painful for me than her. I had her father distract her and she didn't even know what was going on. I held her forehead really tightly against my chest and it was over quickly. Good Luck!

My daughters had their ears pierced at the mall when they were 8 and 9. The young ladies who pierced their ears at the mall did both ears at the same time, meaning that there were two girls who lined up the device, then counted down and pierced both ears at once, which worked well, since I do not think either girl would have had a second earring! I think a pediatrician would be my choice for an infant.

I think when they are old enough to ask (but I do not judge those who pierce an infants ears, FYI). We discussed ear care and that they were making a "big girl" decision on their bodies, and that if they did not like the earrings, they could take them out and the holes would close, but that they may have scars on their ears from piercing. I tried to inform them at their level. I was also sensitive to the issue, since my parents would not let me get my ears pierced even though I begged for years. I did not pierce my ears until I was 19. I

They are 9 and 11 now, and they wear either posts or small hoops. I don't regret the timing and neither do they.

Good luck with your decision.

I got my first hole when I was 9 and the second when I as 16. My husband and I were just talking about this the other day for our daughter. While I don't think we'll have it done now at 15 months we're doing it sooner than when I got mine. Probably 2 or 3 depending on her. I don't want her to bother then obviously. I know people who leave the hospital with their daughters ears pierced. It's really up to you. Do you want to care for them now (cleaning the ear and turning the stud so the skin does not heal around the stud) or wait until she's older.

In my opinion, she should be the one to decide if and when she wants her ears pierced. Wait until she is old enough to make the decision for herself. It is her body.

I would wait til she is older. Make it something fun for the both of you to do together, something for her to look forward to. or something to reward her with :)

Hello, I didn't read all of your responses, but I pierced my little girls ears 4 days after she was born. I am a first time mom too but I have always heard to do it soon, so that they don't pull on them and their supposed to not have a whole lot of feeling on their ears either. I just made sure I cleaned them every few hours with rubbing alcohol for about two weeks and she never got an infection or anything. And if your afraid she could lose one and choke on it, you can get the earrings that have a screw on back to them so that they don't come off unless you twist the back off. Good luck deciding, but she should be ok if you pierce them.

I read a recent article where they talked about how untrained most of the ear piercing 'technicians' were. Any old schmo who wants a job at a jewelry store can become a piercer...'gun' in hand. They talked about how unsterile the guns usually were, and how they got half-butt cleaned (if at all) between piercings. The article mentioned how these piercing guns traumatically tear your flesh and/or cartilige...this is why the after care is so important, to minimize infection. I found it quite an enlightening article and wanted to share what i learned. It did suggest to take yourself or child to a professional piercing shop...and not be intimidated doing it. The piercers at these shops are true, trained professionals, who have to go through strict state certification. Their method of piercing is virtually painless, and will not damage your ear tissue or cartilige. My almost 11 year old daughter is asking to get her ears done, and i think i will take her to a shop where they specialize in piercings. My now 17 year old daughter had her ears done at age 12, took her to Claires Boutique in the mall-she ended up with infected ears...despite caring for them! Do you really want a part time high school employee piercing your baby's ears? Think about it.
(For the record, my mom got my ears done when i was 3...i do remember the pain).

I took my dtr as soon as she had her tetanus shot. She slept thru the whole thing and now that she's 4 she doesn't play with them at all. I'm glad I did it when we did.

S.

my daughter's ears were pierced when she was 20 months old. it really bothered her for a while. i know this because she said so. she complained for weeks about it. hindsight, i'm glad that i waited until she could talk so that she could tell me that she was crying because her ears hurt and not for some other reason. also, i had forgotten how uncomfortable it can be to sleep with earrings in and now i feel bad that i have subjected her to a year of sleeping with earrings in. breastfeeding was hard on her right after the piercing too because her ear would be pressed on my arm. however, for vanity's sake i suppose i like her earrings. it's been 4 months since and she doesn't complain about them anymore. if i ever do it again, i would like to wait until the baby is not breastfeeding and is talking.