At what age would you pierce your baby's ear?

~Jennifer - posted on 11/11/2009

Thank you for your responses to this question.

Kylee - posted on 11/11/2009

I got my daughters done when she was 5 days old. She only cried for a second and have had no trouble with them.

Katrine - posted on 11/11/2009

Quoting Bonnie:

Quoting Kristi:

Quoting Sue:

2 or 3 months because the younger they are the better because they will not feel the pain.

Why does someone think that just because a baby is young they will not feel pain?  I think it isn't fair to willingly subject a baby to pain for your own vanity.

I completely argee with you Kristi, i dont like the look of a baby with ear rings it look like the parents are trying to make them older. I say leave their ears alone until they can decide for themselves. I have 3 girls and when they ask for them, i will make it a special experiance that she will remember.

It is stupid to think a child doesnt feel pain.

While I agree that children feel pain, and I feel my children's pain more acutely than I feel my own, I also agree with the thought that the child will not remember the pain later. There are many reasons for piercing early, and many reasons for piercing when a child is older. It comes down to the same thing EVERY decision we make as moms comes down to - choice. If you are comfortable caring for your child's ears once they are pierced and are willing to go through hearing them cry, then go for it. Especially if it is culturally important to you - my cousins all had their ears pierced when they were babies, but my parents didn't let me get mine done until I was 5. I don't wear earrings all that much now, but I love having the option and the holes are just not obvious when I'm not wearing them. Long story short - each parent should be able to decide when to pierce their child's ears, if ever, and not have to worry about other parents judging their decision.

ELISHIA - posted on 11/11/2009

I had my daughters ears done when after their first set of shots. It tends to be less painful being that they still sleep a lot.

Samantha - posted on 11/11/2009

I would wait until they are old enough to know what is happening and have asked for it.

Becky - posted on 11/11/2009

i pierced my daughters ears also at 3 mo as soon as she was done with vaccinations and she has had no problems. I would either do it now, cuz they wont remember the pain or wait until they are old enough to make the decision on their own.

Teanna - posted on 11/11/2009

I believe that you should wait until they are old enough to make their own decision about it. Believe it or not there are some that regret it and some that never got their ears pierced and love it! So, everyone is different. I would hate to know that I got my daughter's ears pierced and to have them hate it. To each his own! I do believe that those that get their daughter's ears pierced at a very young age are doing it for themselves, but that is just my opinion. They are your children and you have the right to do it or not.

Tarrekia - posted on 11/11/2009

My daughter was 2 months when I got her ears pierced. I wanted them done for Easter Sunday. They say in Wal- Mart that the child has to be 6 months, but my daughter looks older then she really is.

Miranda - posted on 11/11/2009

I got my daughters ears pierced at 6 months, i would recommened the earlier the better.

Beverly - posted on 11/11/2009

I did my first at 8 months, my second and third at about 3 months. They only cried for a few seconds and it was over. I made sure that they were up to date on their shots too. If you are going to do it, I think it is good to get them done when they are young. That way they don't really mess with them because they have always been there. My kids have *never* had a problem- no infections or anything. They also don't remember the pain like an older child will and you can give her a little Tylenol about 20 minutes before and that seems to help. Good luck!

Julia - posted on 11/11/2009

i pierced my daughters ear at 3months.

Stephanie - posted on 11/11/2009

Quoting Sue:

2 or 3 months because the younger they are the better because they will not feel the pain.

Babies feel pain at any age. Sorry to point this out. If they have a nervous system, they feel pain. My little boy cried when he had his heel pricked at his birth to test his blood. He screamed when he was in the hospital at 2 weeks old having IV needles placed into the veins in his head. He was inconsolable, and exhausted from crying his little eyes out (tears and all) at a mere 2 weeks old from all the poking of needles they did on him when he was ill. So the theory that children so young feel no pain is not true at all. They most certainly feel the pain and often will even remember that pain and cry sporatically, sometimes pouting out a lip, in their sleep as they recall the scary incident. I think if a parent of a child who has been hurt so little, physically, really pays attention to their baby, they will notice the same things I noticed with mine. They remember, and they cry.

Stephanie - posted on 11/11/2009

When she decides to. Why? Because my mother pierced my ears when I was a child, without my wanting it. I was terrified of the pain and the process. They had to hold me down to do it. Then after it was all done, I ended up with infections on both sides that turned into red, oozing, green masses of scabs covering both ears. It itched and hurt horribly. I had to had rounds of antibiotics to get over the infections, and no longer wore earrings. To this day, almost 30 years later, I still cannot wear earrings. Turns out, I'm highly allergic to metals. Anything metal touching my skin reacts like acid dropped on me. Also - even though it's been nearly 30 years, my ears still have holes in them. Many people think that everyone's ear holes close up if unused. This is not true. Everyone is different. Just because you can wear ear rings doesn't mean your daughter can. And just because you like ear rings, doesn't mean your daughter will when she grows up. Altering the body needlessly should be a decision left to the child for later in her years. Later, when she is capable of reasoning, and understands that what she does to her body may be irreversible.

Lisa - posted on 11/11/2009

I HAVE A DAUGHTER AND SEVERAL NIECES AND WORKED IN CHILDCARE MANY YEARS. I HAVE FOUND THAT THE EARLIER YOU DO IT THE BETTER CAUSE THEY DONT MESS WITH THE EARS AS MUCH AND IT GROWS WITH THEM AND LESS IRRATATION. ALL MY NIECES GOT THIERS AT 6MONTHS AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS 3 YEARS LATER.

Crystal - posted on 11/11/2009

I had my daughter's done when she was around 5/6 months. Than she'd never know the difference. Where I went they did not do babies under 4 months. Then I was asked if I wanted one person or two people to do it. I had one person do it. Getting ears done is alot less painfull then needles and you are usually the only one holding baby down for those. Any way, she was fine, didn't really cry when they were done. She rarely pulled them and no infections. I don't change them alot and for now only wears studs so the backs can't fall off. If when she gets older and doesn't want them then that is fine. Good luck.

Kayla - posted on 11/11/2009

Wait until she's old enough to not pull on her earrings. My friend is the head Pediatric Surgeon at a children's hospital here and he says the most surgeries he has to do is remove earrings from a baby's stomach, throat, or intestines. The risk is just too high, and the backs don't stay on the earrings as well as they say. it'd be a good thing to do for her 5th birthday, or before she starts kindergarten, then you can bond and both remember the experience and it'd be something special. I got my ears pierced before my 12th birthday before I went away to summer camp for the first time. My mom took my sister and I to get them done together, and it was a great bonding experience for all of us. I wouldn't have had it any other way.

Bobbi Scanlon - posted on 11/11/2009

Good morning .. I got my Daughter's ear's done at 11 weeks . So far no problems

Tamicka - posted on 11/11/2009

You can ask your baby pediatric doctor.

Nicky - posted on 11/11/2009

i had mine all done at about 6 months, companies are quite happy to do it for you but you may need your redd baby book if they are under 12 months

Yolanda - posted on 11/11/2009

I got my daughter's ears pierced after her 1st round of shots. She was either 2 or 3months old. She is 13 now. She doesn't remember it at all. I don't even remember it. She cried for a minute and then it was over.

Jenni - posted on 11/11/2009

Where I live in Australia they would not do babies ears until they are at least one year old. I had my little girls ears done 3 days after she turned one, she had a little bit of an infection but nothing the sanitiser the salon gave us didn't fix. I can only reccomend that you be vigilant in the cleaning of the new peircing and make a game out of it. I found baby got upset when i was cleaning her ears to begin with because it hurt her a little. Also the bullet back for the earrings are the best as they are easier for us to get off but not for baby, that is what i have on my little one's earrings and she has never taken them out, nor has she played or pulled at them.... But i just might be a lucky mum, each baby is different... Good luck with it what ever you decide to do.

Margaret - posted on 11/11/2009

I piersd mine, when she was three months. it heald so quick.

Rachel - posted on 11/11/2009

I did both my girls when they were 3 months old and never regretted it as they didn't really notice (albei i had put on numbing gel) but the main thing is they couldn't touch their ears so no infections.

Katrina - posted on 11/11/2009

My kids got their ears pierced at 3 yrs old. My daughter got her ears double pierced at 9.

Ernesta - posted on 11/11/2009

i waited for my daughter to grow up and decide herself if she wants to pierce her ears, i think its decision dat our kids should make, fair - its their body and their ears :) what if they will not like it? my daughter decided to pierce her ears whan she was 6, she tald me she was ready :) and her little sistter 4 yrs, had done the same day. It was a big day for them both, it was special day

Anola - posted on 11/10/2009

I got my daughters done at 3months old right after her shots. she didnt seem to notice them anymore then a vaccination an she was so young she didnt know the were there an didnt play with them so there was no risk of losing backs or infections. infact she was so used to them being their she didnt notice or touch them till she was 3 almost 4 an her fathers girlfriend took the ones she had in out (i had left her original piercing ones in entire time) an replaced them. after that was harder to get her to leave them alone. we recently repierced her ears an they bothered her more now then they ever did as an infant especially when she was trying to sleep on her side since baby's sleep on their back

Jennifer - posted on 11/10/2009

2 mos after 1st set of shots. when they are older they are more likely to pull at the earrings

Sheila - posted on 11/10/2009

I think around 3 momths

Cheyenne - posted on 11/10/2009

I got my daughters ears pierced for her first birthday thats when the doc recommended it...I think it depends on the baby...if she'll leave them alone or not!!!

Letetia - posted on 11/10/2009

I got my daughter'e ears pierced after her three month check up. That is the earliest. The older they get , the more likely it will be difficult to do it.Plus they will probably pull them out. That is what my niece did. She was 6 months old.

Kathy - posted on 11/10/2009

Quoting Kawona:

Female i would say soon as you are able, Male I would say around two

I wouldn't pierce a little boys ears, that comes and goes so much, I'd make a boy wait till it's hmm at least in his teens

For a girl, I personally would say wait till they can decide, my hubby on the other hand wants to get our daughters ears pierced while shes little. My parents had me wait till I was finished grade 2, I got them pierced for passing. I've added more since I've grown up, but I never change them, just keep sleepers in them all the time. to be honest if I didn't have them really it wouldn't matter to me now... Only piercing I would miss is my tongue...

Diana - posted on 11/10/2009

Hi Stacy, you might find this heartbreaking, but on my girls I requested it be done right after birth. Yes they will scream and cry but they will forget and so will you! :-)

I pierced my ears when I was 15 and boy did that hurt!!! I wanted to punch that lady in the face...lol kidding....

Barbara - posted on 11/10/2009

Quoting Stacy:

At what age would you pierce your baby's ear?

I pierced my kids ears at 8 weeks.

ASIA - posted on 11/10/2009

6 months

Rebecca - posted on 11/10/2009

I personally think little girls look cute with their ears pierced. I got my daughter ears pierced at 7wks at an ENT office since my dr didnt do it. I think it hurt me more then it hurt her.

Simone - posted on 11/10/2009

i would say make baby get all the injections/shots then do it, i no in england they won't allow you to do it unless the baby has had all the injections, so thats when baby's about 4 months.

Jenny - posted on 11/10/2009

i think people should wait until the child is older and not when there babies

Gail - posted on 11/10/2009

I had all 4 of my daughters' ears pierced between 3 and 8 months...none had any troubles.

Shareen - posted on 11/10/2009

My daughter had hers pierced at 3 months after her shots, and they pierce both ears at the same time, I think she cried more after her shots than the piercing, she is just about 3 now and we haven't had a day of trouble and we change them out quite often!

Laura - posted on 11/10/2009

Oh and find out most peds dr office have ear piercing. it is a whole lot cleaner having it done in the dr ofice, that is where I had my children's ears done. not in the mall

Laura - posted on 11/10/2009

Did both my girl's ears around their first round of shots, was so glad I got it done. My girl's could be dressed all in pink and someone would walk up and tell me what a beautiful little boy.

Tina - posted on 11/10/2009

I Done My Daughter's at 6 Weeks Old under the advice from her Dr. he said she had no feeling in her ear lobes at this early age and she only cried from being held and not from the pain, also my grandaughter's was just pierced on Mother's Day she was 6 wks old too.

Misty - posted on 11/10/2009

I pierced Hailey's at 6 months. That was the soonest the store would let me. she cried while it was being done, because you have to hold her still, but as soon as we were done, she stopped. I have not had any problems with any infections at all and she is now 5.

Nicole - posted on 11/10/2009

wait till she tells you she wants it.

Felecia - posted on 11/10/2009

The best thing you can do if you want to pierce your baby's ears, is wait until they've had their first immunization at the 6 week mark. That immunization includes a tetanus vaccine which helps protect the cut from tetanus. tetanus is a serious infection that can occur when a cut or wound is contaminated.

Esmeralda - posted on 11/10/2009

I PIERCE MY TWINS GIRL AT 2 MOTH

Susan - posted on 11/10/2009

My mother had mine done when I was under the age of 1 and I am soooo thankful to her for that. I can't stand any pain but I LOVE earrings.....so I'm so glad she made the decision because I would be too chicken to have done it myself once I got older, Therefore, I had my little ones done when she was about 11 months. They did both sides at the same time and it was quick. She did cry for about 2 minutes...then she was fine!

Sarah - posted on 11/10/2009

I did my first daughter when she was 2 months and my second one at 6 months! For no particular reason just worked out that way! I understand the waiting till their older to bond with the but honestly, their are going to be so many bonding experiences, to be their for, Crazy hair, belly button rings, tattoos. And I have to say Im not being a smart ass look at the world we live in and I would rather be with my children when they exsperiance these thing more so then the ear piercing! I would rather know that I have developed a good enough relation ship with them that they will not hid this other stuff from me!

Jennifer - posted on 11/10/2009

I actually got both of my daughter's ears pierced at about 2 or 3 weeks old. They cried less than if they had gotten and shot and they healed extremely quick. They never messed with them and never had any problem.

Christine - posted on 11/10/2009

i would never pierce my daughters ears, its her choice when she's older. its painful
pointless and could catch on things when she's playing. i just don't see the point.