How early can your child be when getting ears pierced?

Shana - posted 5 minutes ago

I've worked at a reputable place and pierced many ears, children and adults. I had my daughters ears pierced at 6 months. She loves wearing pretty earrings like mommy and we've never had a problem. I made sure I cleaned them and rotated them twice a day for the first 3 months and also had 14K studs used to pierce. She is now almost 4 and doesn't remember getting them pierced so she has no association with pain from them. It is up to you as a parent to make that decision. Just make sure you follow through with cleaning and talking care of them as the years go by. Good luck and don't let anyone judge you!

Ericka - posted 4 days ago

Wow catriona, ever realize there are other cultures in which its customary to pierce ears. Pick up a damn book an get off your high horse. Maybe where you're from its uncommon but there are other places in the world where its normal to pierce a baby girl's ears. If you ever left your bitch bubble, you'd know that.

Ericka - posted 4 days ago

Thank you Monica. I think its disrespectful too that people call a baby with pierced ears trailer trash. Who the hell thinks its okay to attack the way a baby looks and equate what we do to child abuse. There are real child abusers put there and they don't just pierce ears. I'm mixed and in my family, its custom to pierce a baby's ears. My daughter is 10 weeks and will be getting her ears pierced Thursday. I would be pissed if someone Saud that to me in person. Is knock their block off. That's just plain rude.

Diana - posted on 09/02/2012

I am one of those 'bad mothers' who had both her daughters' ears pierced when they were three months old. The reason I chose to do this was that the hairdresser at the salon where I have been going for years offers a ear piecing service for babies from three months old. When she knew I was expecting, she said she encouraged her customers who had daughters to let her pierce their ears at three months old as it was the best age for them to have it done. When our first daughter was born, she begged me to let her pierce her ears and, after getting my partner's agreement, I decided to go along with her suggestion. Our older daughter, Amy had no problems with them, no infections etc. and when Emily came along two and a half years later, the decision was much easier the second time. Both girls love wearing earrings and are now five and three years old. Some of their friends at school also have pierced ears and some do not. The girls without earrings seem very envious of those who do wear earrings. My own view for what it is worth is that I think baby girls should have their ears pierced in infancy and I have told my hairdresser this thanking her for encouraging me to make this decision for Amy. I certainly do not regret piercing my daughters' ears and am very pleased I did. It is true they do cry for a few seconds but it is much easier to manage when they are babies than when they are older.

Erika - posted on 03/31/2010

I heard that plp usually get it done around 6 weeks at the earliest, and yes it's less likely to infect from little fingers playing with them =)

Alyssa - posted on 09/15/2009

Wow, I can't believe what a touchy subject this is! Many women from cultures all over the world do this to their young children, and some of those places don't use the most sterile technique. Maybe getting your daughters ears pierced as an infant isn't the number one best choice, because she has no say in the matter. But I would have to say it is a far cry from child abuse, which never leaves anything even half as pretty on a child as a gemstone or gold ball. Is it necessary like immunizations or a medical procedure? Of course not, but it also shouldn't cause this much controversy. There are so many more horrific things happening to children all over the world. Maybe the anger should be saved for those people breaking laws and abusing children, assaulting them, or throwing them away in dumpsters, and not dished out on mother's who are doing nothing illegal to their children.

Shelly - posted on 09/15/2009

I would personally never pierce any part of a baby, ever. Why is it important to have jewelry on a baby? I would wait until they are teenagers to do anything like that. Seems you could cause a problem that didn't need to happen and I'm all about avoiding problems for my baby.

Catriona - posted on 09/15/2009

Ah but all those other things have potential health implications or due to circumstances are important. Ear piercing is purely cosmetic! Big difference.

Ashley - posted on 09/15/2009

My mom had mine done when i was 6 weeks old. I cant even wear earrings though unless they are all silver because i get a rash from anything that is fake. my mom said my face turned blue and i stopped breathing when she got mine pierced! lol Good luck and dont forget the tylenol before hand!

Malorey - posted on 09/14/2009

Quoting Rachel:

Quoting Katarina:

Quoting Rachel:

Quoting Katarina:

Quoting Rachel:

I'm sorry, you're not a very empathetic mother to DELIBERATELY inflict pain on your daughter. I would do anything to PROTECT my son from pain. And for stupid earrings? Whats next? Why not have her tattooed? I'm sure it would be "cute". Who cares if it hurts, right mommy?

It's child abuse if you ask me.

Go elsewhere. Why the hell are you all High and mighty? GROW UP. Verabl assault on a fellow Mom, much better. She asked for when not if.

I will not "go elsewhere". When you post something on a public board, you should expect all kinds of responses. And when you do something as cruel as having holes punched in your childs flesh for your own amusement, I think the least you deserve is a little "verbal assault" as you call it.

 

You're right you do have a right to your opinion on a public board but this Mom did not ask IF she should get her daughter's ears pierced she asked WHEN. Meaning she's already made her decision and doesn't need to have someone tell her how horrible of a mother she is. If she asked IF she should get her daughter's ears pierced then by all means say what you want. But you never answered the question she was asking which made your post rude and uncalled for

Piercing a baby's ears is what's "rude and uncalled for".

 

I think i'm interested to see how this would go if the topic were circumcision! And no bottles because how dare you purposefully give your baby anything that causes gas pains! And those pesky painful vaccinations how dare you risk giving them those!! They 'could get autisim'. Your 2 year old likes to watch TV? I'm going to call child services... I could go on... let's give our fellow Mom's a break ladies! We hear enough from our OWN mothers!!

Jessica - posted on 09/14/2009

Hey I went to get my daughters ears pierce 2 weeks ago and they told me that she has to be at least three month old and she should have her vaccine and u have to show them the Immunization card. They ask for a lot of things now. Cause when me nieces get their ears pierce they did not ask for all of this but she get it done about 9 years ago. lolol Yes, the earlier the better! I hope I help you!

Heather - posted on 09/14/2009

I got my daughter's done the day she turned 2 months old...after her shots. They require they have the shots first at most places

Catriona - posted on 09/14/2009

Quoting Athena:

Do we really need to be so unfeeling to try to shove our personal opinions of weather or not to pierce down anothers neck this is why I feel as if I can't ask for advice as I will be made to feel like a horible mom by these "perfect and always right mothers" they must get some magic manuel that they fail to give to the rest of us

I am a Mum of three aged 13, 12 and 9 and a Midwife of many years and would not claim to be a perfect Mum. I have made many mistakes I'd admit and do not have all the answers.  You should indeed feel free to ask for advice from other Mums and it is awful if you are made to feel horrible.

An issue like this however is different and highly emotive and you either do or dont like it. But as a healthcare professional as well as a compasionate human being, I feel strongly that piercing a babies ears is plain WRONG and as this is a public forum am free to say so as are others. I can't think there would be many other issues that would stir up such strong emotions. I mean who cares that much about when to potty train? I hope you feel you can still ask advice without being made to feel horrible. The fact you care enough about your child/children to want to do the best for them shows that your a good Mum.

Valerie - posted on 09/14/2009

my daughters pedi said she does it a month after they gave her, her 2 month shots...so for example, my daughter got it Aug 28 so the pedi does it anytime AFTER that

Amber - posted on 09/14/2009

Our pediatrician does it. We are doing it at her 9mth well baby check up. She doesn't get any shots then so we are hoping it will be easier on her.

Katarina - posted on 09/14/2009

Very well said Athena!

Athena - posted on 09/14/2009

Do we really need to be so unfeeling to try to shove our personal opinions of weather or not to pierce down anothers neck this is why I feel as if I can't ask for advice as I will be made to feel like a horible mom by these "perfect and always right mothers" they must get some magic manuel that they fail to give to the rest of us

Athena - posted on 09/14/2009

Do we really need to be so unfeeling to try to shove our personal opinions of weather or not to pierce down anothers neck this is why I feel as if I can't ask for advice as I will be made to feel like a horible mom by these "perfect and always right mothers" they must get some magic manuel that they fail to give to the rest of us

Kenisha - posted on 09/14/2009

just her some panadol before bu get it done and she will b just fine

Kristine - posted on 09/14/2009

you can get them done at 3months. I just got my daughters ears eirced yesterday as a matter of fact,and she is 4 1/2months

Stacey - posted on 09/14/2009

hey the earliest i know of is 4 months out of claires accessories as i was gonna get my little boys done but his father disagreed lol x

Malorey - posted on 09/14/2009

I am going to have my daughter's ears done as soon as she has had her 2 month shots :)

Lindsay - posted on 09/14/2009

I've always heard to do it before 6 months because then the cartilage begins to form and it will hurt them afterwards

Kristy - posted on 09/14/2009

my mum had mine done when i was a week old, and i had my daughters done when she was 8 wks old alot of places wont touch them untill they are 8wks or more.

Kenisha - posted on 09/14/2009

as early as two months old

Jacinta - posted on 09/14/2009

It depends on where you go. Some people won't do young babies. I had my daughter's ears pierced when she was 11 weeks old. They have to wait till the lobes are big enough for the studs.

Catriona - posted on 09/14/2009

Diane, I'll bet the Midwives and Pediatricians would prefer you left your children's ears UNpierced in the first place.

Diane - posted on 09/14/2009

hi krista! im dee and i have 2 girls and both of them had their ears pierced a week after they were born..you are right, it is better if they had it earlier.here in the philippines our mid wives always recommend it as well as our pediatrician.

Catriona - posted on 09/14/2009

I do apoligise for the "Trailer Trash" comment as it was a little harsh. Yes it must be a cultural thing. I am a Midwife in Scotland and have people from mainly muslim backgrounds insisting that they have their son circumcised for religeous reasons soon after birth. This is something that we can NOT do. It is not offered free in the UK unlike ALL other medical treatments as it is seen as unnessesary, and rare. It must be paid for and performed by a plastics specialist. This procedure is seen by some as being done for hygene reasons unlike ear piercing which is purely cosmetic. Culture seems therefore to play a huge part in people's ideas of what is right or wrong to do to a child. Having said all this I still stand by my view that it looks awful to see a baby with pierced ears.

User - posted on 09/14/2009

I hope NO-ONE thinks it's appropriate to use a piercing gun. Ever. But particularly on a baby - piercing guns are unable to be sterilised, retain blood/flesh from previous piercings, cause too much tissue damage and usually use low-quality and highly reactive studs. Learn about piercing before you do it (and just because your family did it, doesn't make it right or safe).



And seriously, if a 12 year old can't be trusted with piercings why do it to a baby? If they can't make an educated enough choice to be pierced how is it ethical to do it to a baby?



And for the record, there's no way in hell I'd pierce my baby's ears. I wouldn't circumcise either (unless medically indicated). I've got pierced ears (way too high because I was a baby) and tattoos. I just don't see the benefit of introducing possible infectious routes AND pain for no reason at all.

Monica - posted on 09/13/2009

That is so disrespectful. My daughter is mixed she's puerto rican,dominican,and black and she's has her ears pierced and she is no where near trailer trash nor do we live like one. Thats ur opinion but u still have no right to disrespect people like that. This is a new century, with very different views. My daughter hasnt been sick or anything and her ears are perfect. The women and children that u disrespected like that deserves an apology. It's sad to see such simple minded people still exist. May God Bless you and help you with those views.

Monica - posted on 09/13/2009

6 weeks after they get their 1st set of immunizations most places ask for the shot record b4 they will do them

Emma-Lia - posted on 09/13/2009

My sister Kadi used to work at Claire's, she said a year and half is good. You won't have to listen to her scream and you won't end up deaf.

Trudy - posted on 09/13/2009

Quoting Laura:

I had mine done when I was twelve, and ended up with really bad infection because I was messing with them so much. Yes, when you wait til they ask that can be a good thing but it can also be a bad thing. I felt really grown up when I got them so I messed with them a lot. I loved to change my earrings. That's one the reasons why I got the infection the other reason is because I have a severe allergy to nickel so I can't wear anything unless it's 14 kt gold. I got my daughters ears pierced when she was 6 months, and she never cried. She's now 20 months and has never messed with them. I didn't want the same thing to happen to my daughter hence the reason I got them done early. My husband used to be a piercer and he says that for some it's better to get them done when they're young because there is less chance of them messing with them, and they're also a lot easier to take care of.

To me that just sums up in a sentence why you shouldnt have a babies ears pierced. You just said yourself you had an allergic reaction to nickel? How did you know your daughter wouldnt suffer the same allergy? I think a 12 year old with infections in their ears would be a damn site easier to cope with then a baby with a painful infection, they'd whinge and not know what to do with themselves!

Karen - posted on 09/13/2009

I got my daughter's ears pierced when she was about 4-5 months old. She has never played with her earrings. I don't think she even knows the earrings are there.

Trudy - posted on 09/13/2009

I personally think that ear piercings on babies and children is wrong. Would you take a needle and pierce it into your childs leg? Why??? Why have it done? They will make up their minds when they are old enough which at that age they clearly aren't. It is just an excuse to play dress up with your baby, that is sooo cruel. It doesnt look nice, it is tacky. I know they do it with their injections but injections are there to prevent your child getting nasty infections, or illnesses. I find it strange that you would take them for injections to prevent them having problems but then put metal through their ears that are bound to get infected. You don't need to get something like that done to your child to make them look cute, there are reasons that they put an age limit on tattoos its so that you dont end up scarred for life for a stupid decision, but with ear piercings that you have given them they don't even get that choice and it does leave a scar if you take them out. So for me it's a no, I wouldnt do it and I can't understand why anyone would. I just think it is cruel.

Mariagrazia - posted on 09/13/2009

Well I guess it is just a cultural difference then, my family is from Italy and all of us had our ears pierced as infants and it is not looked down upon so I guess we will have to agree to disagree on that front. However, I do think that beauty pageants exploit children and are disgusting.

Catriona - posted on 09/13/2009

In the UK it's very much a low class thing, along with beauty pagents for kids. Yuk!!! I am a very well read, educated and broad minded. I just don't like child abuse in any form.

Catriona - posted on 09/13/2009

LOL LOL

Kristi - posted on 09/13/2009

The doctor's say wait until after the 2nd cycle of immunization shots, so usually 3-4 months.

Mariagrazia - posted on 09/13/2009

So basically what you're saying is that everyone with pierced ears is trailer trash? What a narrow minded view of the world you have. Maybe in the UK piercing ears seems like cruel and unusual punishment but maybe you would have bigger things to worry about if you picked up a newspaper sometime and read about some real problems...who I feel sorry foe is your children hopefully they have a more open mind than you do.

Catriona - posted on 09/13/2009

Hmmmm ....Abuse your child and make her look like trailer trash if you want, I feel sorry for the poor wee lamb. I have no issues to resolve. It looks cruel cheap and nasty period!

Mariagrazia - posted on 09/13/2009

What is the big deal with getting your child's ears pierced? My daughter was 9 weeks when she got hers done, she has been perfectly fine ever since. Besides, if she decides she doesn't want them when she gets older, and some of you uptight mommies might not know this, but she can take the earrings out of her ears! It's not like you're tattooing the kid jeez...relax!

Mariagrazia - posted on 09/13/2009

Um, ok, I think Catroina has some issues she's dealing with, seriously do you know how many people get their ears pierced everyday? Oh yeah and BTW I'm perfectly aware that my child is not a "dolly" and i think your comment is quite rude. Obviously you are against ear piercing and that's fine but you don't have to be nasty about it.

Catriona - posted on 09/13/2009

Infact I feel very angry about this thread. No it does't look cute!! To the VAST majority of people it looks tacky and cheap! As a childrens heath care profesional I can't stress how utterly stupid and selfish abusing your child like this. Risks of bleeding, septicemia, scaring and distress! All for what so Mummys can play dolly with their kids. They are not fashion items they are precious flawless innocent children. My two daughters asked at 12 and 10 to get them done and I reluctantly said yes, but made sure they knew the risks so they could make an informed choice. Why is it OK to stick pins through ears but anywhere else is child cruelty??? Sorry but it's utter madness.

Mariagrazia - posted on 09/13/2009

My daughter got her ears pierced at 9 weeks at the peds office at the same time she got her two month old shots, she cried for a bit but after that she was fine-no problems at all!

Catriona - posted on 09/13/2009

Are you insane? That's a form of child abuse! Arn really really bad taste to boot! Shame on you!

Mel - posted on 09/12/2009

my daughter had it when she was 5 months old. i was the one who got scared and nervous, but it turned out ok. but then we have to bring her back again to have her left ear pierced co'z she lost the earring on that side, and it took as a while before we could finally bring her back, which causes it to closed.

Adisalem - posted on 09/12/2009

My baby will be 7 months old on September 18. Her pediatrician pierces ears at 6 months or older. I had my baby's ears pierced at her 6 month well checkup. She got her ears pierced and all of her shots at the same appointment. It was fine! She cried just for a few seconds after the piercing. She was calm as soon as I picked her up. Her ears are healing well and she doesn't touch them at all. Good luck!

Codi - posted on 09/12/2009

Quoting Kellie:

i went to the mall and did my daughters ears and they said she had to be 3 months. it was hard she cried so bad.

Yeah, most of them do cry so SO hard.. I've only been out of work for a little over two months (I use to work with jewelry & pierce ears) but we had two babies stop breathing on us then the parents get mad at US piercers lol but both moms started blowing in their faces and they finally caught their breaths... I'm pregnant with a baby girl and don't plan on getting her ears done till she wants them but it's because I did that job for a year and I've seen what can happen, it doesn't happen often but experiencing the bad help make my decision, though I do think it's ADORABLE when baby girls get their ears done!