My 4 Year Old Wants Her 2Nd Set of Ear Piercings for Her 5Th Birthday?

Updated on February 12, 2012
✩.!. asks from Boulder, CO
29 answers

My dd already has her ears pierced since she was 14 months old. She is about to turn 5 and has repeatedly asked for her 2nd set of piercings for her birthday.

On one hand I think it is no big deal, but on the other I associate 2nd piercings as a tween thing. My husband says it is no big deal is ok with her getting her 2nd set as her birthday gift.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

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M.F.

answers from Portland on

Mine wanted, and got, 2nd holes for her 5th birthday.
As has been said, she has one set already, what's the big deal about another.

My opinion on piercings is that they can always take them out.
I agree with making them wait and think real h*** o* a tattoo, that is permanent.
But its a piercing, and in the ear, it's really not a big deal.

I used to have 22 piercings. I am down to 7 and you can not tell I ever even had the others.

I think you should let her.
Just my opinion, shrug.

My 6 year old already wants her nose pierce and her tongue.
I have told her (if she still wants them) she can have her nostril at 13 and her tongue at 16.
Belly button would also be 13 or 14.
But as far as I am concerned she can have all the earrings she wants, when ever.

Just my opinion.

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C.W.

answers from Phoenix on

My 9 daughter got her second set at 5. If there was enough room on her ear she would have 3 right now. They can always be taken out.

5 moms found this helpful

K.L.

answers from Sacramento on

This may be really harsh, but...

If i saw a five year old girl with double ear piercings, I would wonder why in the HELL would anyone let her have that done?!? I think it is very inappropriate at that age to have multiple piercings, even in an ear. I've never seen a girl so young with double earrings. Yuck.

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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

only if your going to let her get a tattoo on her 7th and a nose piercing for her 10 lol

no but seriously I would make her wait until she is older. Tell her she has to wait until she is a teenager.

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J.B.

answers from Boston on

Um...I'm going to try to be diplomatic but if I saw a little girl with double piercings, I would think it's not age-appropriate (and kind of trashy). I'm not a fan of pierced ears on little girls anyway but I think double piercings at such a young age is a little over the top. I would wait until she is older. I have no problem with multiple piercings on older girls and women, but there are just some things that look off on little girls and this would be one of them.

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S.T.

answers from New York on

I know there are a lot of families who have their babies' ears pierced - we didn't in my family. But there are lots of adorable child-appropriate earrings so I'm not against it in any way. My DD had hers done as her 13th birthday present so it was a big deal when she became a teenager.

All that being said, I think a second piercing at this age is very out of the mainstream. Whether we like it or not people make judgements about others based on appearances. So the question is do you care "what people think" about your child's ear double piercings? Because some will think it's not age-appropriate and will wonder about your judgement. I recall a boy in my DD's 2nd grade class who had a gold loop earring. I hate to admit it - but I did wonder what kind of parents put a gold loop in a 7 yr old boy's ear? Ultimately, is it really important? No. In the long run it doesn't matter how many piercings a person has or where. It's all about their heart. (The young man who runs customer service ar our grocery store is a shocking sight to see, tall black lace up boots, crazy hair down his back, piercings and tattoos, a biker wallet with a chain, etc. BUT - he's the sweetest kid you'd ever meet. I think he's trying to make some kind of statement - or it's a grand test to deterine who is worthy of being his friend...)

To me it sounds like your daughter wants to be like her mom, she sees the second piercing as something grown up and she wants to be grown up like you. That's not a bad thing. IMHO I would tell her a second piercing is for grown-ups and when she gets to be a teenager you'll discuss when it's appropriate.

Also consider other things that she may want in the future that are more teen/adult appropriate and how you'll want to respond. Tattoos for example. My 15 yr old wants a tiny tattoo on her arm that is meaningful to her that represents a tough time she went through now that she feels she's out of it. I understand why she wants it, but I also think that she may regret it at some time so I am insisting she takes time in thinking about. When she's old enough to get the tatt without my authorization she'll have had more than 2 yrs to consider it. Even then I'm not sure an 18 yr old would make the right decision about something that she'd have to live with for another 60+ years...

Funny thing is I have a second piercing only in my right ear - and I almost never wear an earring in that hole as 2 earrings just feel uncomfortable to me.

These are the things in life that make us crazy. It's not the giant decisions like should we buy a house, should we get married, etc. It's the thousands of small decisions that we have to make over the weeks and months of our life. Good luck Mama!

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S.L.

answers from Boston on

My personal opinion on this is that I think she is a bit young. Is this an oultandish request on your daughters part?? - NO. If I saw a 5 year old with double piercings in her ears I certainly wouldn't think it was ludicrous. But, in my opinion, it is (like you said) more of a tween/teen trend. Do what your comfortable with, you're the parent. Just sharing my opinion ;)

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J.L.

answers from Chicago on

I think she should be older. Its completely unecessary for a 5 year old to have multiple piercings. Seriously, put your foot down Mama and make her wait. :)

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J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

I see nothing wrong with it. If it was my daughter I would say no but only because she never wears earrings in the holes she already has so it would be more an issue of waste than age.

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K.B.

answers from Detroit on

I am with you and I'd be more inclined to wait until she is older - tell her she can get it done with she turns 10 for being "double digits" or something like that.

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C.M.

answers from St. Louis on

Obviously you have to do what is right for you and your family...that being said, there is a little girl in my daughters 4-5 year old preschool class that has 3 piercings in each ear. I'm not usually judgemental, think everyone has a right to their own thoughts/parenting styles/etc but I honestly thought that was a bit much on a 5 year old. Now I know you aren't asking about three, but I figured I'd throw my opinion into the ring. I personally think it's too young. But we are also waiting until my daughter is 5 to get her first set (if she chooses). I was 13 when I got my 2nd holes and wanted them for probably 2 years before that. I'd wait...

3 moms found this helpful

H.S.

answers from Cincinnati on

Aside from that being too young, it is very 1999. No one where I live has a second or third row in their ears anymore. Less is more.

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R.D.

answers from Richmond on

I think my eldest was 6 when she asked for a second set... she got it (although one came out at soccer and never went back in)... she wear studs only, nothing huge and outrageous, I doubt anyone even notices except us, her family.

Ear piercings aren't a big deal, you can always take them out.

I say, for her birthday, go for it.

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C.C.

answers from Houston on

Well....it is unbelievable that they have not made up a law about getting babies ears pierced. I say "go for it"....not a big deal in my book...as long as the child is for it and it's not forced.

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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

I think if one parent feels strongly, then don't get it done. My DH feels strongly and I do not so we are not getting DD's ears pierced at all yet.

I also associate 2nd holes with a tween or teen thing. It was a big deal when I was finally allowed to get the second hold at 16 or 17. I think that giving little kids big kid rewards leaves less when they are big or makes the whole process bigger than it needs to be. If she gets her ears done now, what's next and when? Nothing wrong with making a kiddo wait a few years. I would get her nice earrings vs a new hole.

My sister got her ears pierced at 1 and my SD hers done at 8. They now only wear earrings on special occasions. This may be a passing thing. The other thing with double holes is keeping track of more earrings and more sets...something a teen could do more easily than a 5 yr old.

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A.L.

answers from Dothan on

It may be that by the time she is a tween girlz won't want a 2nd set, on the other hand she doesn't have to wear them if that is the case. I, personally don't see an issue with it but that said we all have to do what is best for our kidz, follow your gut...

2 moms found this helpful

C.S.

answers from Kansas City on

Well, she already has one set... what's one more set? Has she expressed any particular reason for wanting the 2nd set? If she only wants it because someone else has two sets then I'd see that as a reason to have her wait a while longer to gauge if it's something that she really wants.

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J.S.

answers from Hartford on

If you're uncomfortable with it then wait until she's old enough to take care of them completely on her own. She's not old enough to do that at only 5 years old. That's why I had all of my girls ears pierced when they were infants. I was able to care for their ears hassle free without any problems and there wasn't any pain involved due to tens of thousands less nerves in the ear lobes at that age. It's far easier to get infections in the ears between 5-12 years old or so. I had mine done at 10 and it was a fricking nightmare. I didn't get my second set until I was 16. Then I got my 3rd and 4th in college. Hurt like a mofu every time and I used to wish I'd had my first set when I was a baby.

My girls are all very grateful that I had theirs done as babies.

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D.T.

answers from Muncie on

If you're cool with it and your husband is cool with it, then do it. If you honestly prefer to wait then I like the "double digit"= double piercing idea a mom below suggested.

As for me, I don't like piercings on little ones, it looks..off. Not a fan of pain for the sake of vanity, especially on a little one. Even though my ears are pierced I hardly ever wear anything in them, partly out of sure laziness and partly because my husband's not a big fan of piercings either, ears he'll tolerate. Side note, mine have never closed, I will always have holes. For us, I figure we'll give her the option at 13 like I had. If she want's them, then we'll do it, if not then no biggie.

Do what's right for you.

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L.A.

answers from Austin on

It is just piercings.
Many newborns ears are pierced.. like circumcision.. it is part of the culture.. and yes, some children do have multiple piercings.. Haven't you seen children from India? Many times they have more than 1 piercing on each ear.

If you do not see anything wrong with it.. let her have them. This is such an easy way to give her something that is not dangerous or just junky toys..

She can at any time quit wearing earnings and let them close up if at an older age, she gets tired of them.

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M.D.

answers from Washington DC on

Trashy?? Really moms? Wow!

I think it's fine...totally up to you guys. My daughter got her ears pierced at 14 months and she is thankful...because she knows it isn't pleasant to have done and she doesn't remember it. My niece is almost 3 and wants them so badly, but her dad says no and my sister won't stand up to him on anything...so she doesn't have them. If your daughter wants them and you and your hubby are okay with them I say go for it!!

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M.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

My daughters look forward to their 16th birthday for their second hole. It is a big deal for us. I would never judge anyone who chose otherwise though.

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L.L.

answers from Rochester on

Sounds like I'm in the minority, but my children won't have their anything pierced until they are adults and can make that responsible decision for themselves. I'm thankful my six year old has no interest in this. That's just our rule...to each his/her own, I guess. My six year old also doesn't play with makeup, wear "teen-y" clothing, knee high boots, etc. I guess I kind've associate all these things with something else.

I had my ears pierced once when I was six...and all the way around when I was 16. I don't wear earrings anymore. I guess I don't think it's a big deal...but for my kids, NO WAY! :)

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C.M.

answers from Denver on

I wouldn't do it. As her parents, obviously you are responsible for making decisions, such as this, that will affect her. Like it or not, some people will judge HER and YOU. If you are ok with people doing that, then go ahead. Your daughter may suffer consequences as a result.

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Y.C.

answers from Orlando on

First of all, I am jealous of the first ones. My oldest have them and barely use them, my youngest don't have them and at this point I have to wait until she ask for them since I am sure if I do she would freak out at the first and will end up with just one.

I love hearings on girls.

I like one (on each of course) for me and for little girls, but if I see a girl with 2 I probably would only think that her parents are more edgy then I.

I don't pair piercings-tattoos with nothing bad, probably because my husband has tattoos, and looking at him and listening talking you would never guess, he use to be so nerdy (no growing into professional geek, lol) and when I saw his tattoos for first time I was shock, and I love it!

The only thing I would wait for it, is to make sure she really wants them, because while you certanly can take them off, the hole will still there and visible if close enough and not always get close.

I know this because my husband had one ear priced when he was a teen, he grow out of it really quickly and hope it would close, one day i was playing and I put my hearing in there and it went through, he was so mad I just open what ever it could have being close all of these years. Why he didn't told me before?! lol.

JMO.

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S.R.

answers from Charlotte on

My daugther is 10 now and I pierced her ears as a baby. She has asked me before for another set when she was smaller. At that point I said no because I felt she was to young. I wasn't allowed to pierce my ears until I was 12 but now I have three holes in each ear. I think if she were to ask me now for second holes I would say okay because she is older. More than that would have to wait until she could get them herself. I have my tongue and my belly pierced as well. If she wanted some other body part pierced she would have to wait until she was at least 16 and then I would take her myself. I think it is kind of your decision and your husbands. If you feel at 5 second holes are age appropriate then go for it.

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S.T.

answers from Nashville on

I have 5 holes in each ear, I did all of them myself. If this is something she is asking for, then I say go for it!! But PLEASE take her to a professional (not one of those piercing booths in the mall)!! I did have mine done at Claire's once, and ended up with 3 holes in the front of my ear, but only 2 holes in the back - the girl had just started there and didn't line the gun up properly and ended up going into a hole that was already there. I had to wait for my ear to completely heal and then re-pierce both holes in that ear.

I took my daughter to Merle Norman when she started asking to get her ears pierced (around 3 - our ped wouldn't do them when she was a baby), and was able to have both ears done at the same time for an extra $10 because they had to call someone else in, but it was worth it!! She is now 15 and we've never had a problem with her ears.

Tell your princess Happy Birthday and let her pick out a cute pair of earrings!! :)

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L.E.

answers from Provo on

If it was my kid, I would say, "That sounds fun, but a second piercing is something to do when you are older. What else would you like for your birthday?" It's like my 6 yr old wanting his own video camera. Not gonna happen. Some day, sure, but not now.

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E.T.

answers from Albuquerque on

Trashy. That's the only word that comes to mind when I think of a young girl with two sets of piercings. Or maybe that her parents are stuck in the 80s and want their child to be Madonna.

I have no problem with kids and ears pierced, or adults with multiple piercings -- I pierced one of my ears seven times when I was in college -- but I think on little girls it just looks low class.

(sorry - just trying to be honest here)

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T.V.

answers from San Francisco on

I'd wait until she's atleast, in middle schoo. How does your 4 soon to be 5 year old feel about tattoos?

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