When Did You Get Your Daughter's Ears Pierced?

I criinge when I see a baby with pierced ears. And honesty I immediately view the parents as a bit cheesy and lower class. Just my opinion.

Oh, and I always wonder how it is they keep the baby from pulling the earing out and swallowing it.

5 moms found this helpful

People used to bug me when my kid was an infant about ear piercing. I told them I was going to let her choose when she wanted them. I got mine when I was five because I took an interest in my mother's earrings and wanted some of my own. She agreed and I got my ears pierced.

When my daughter turned five, I asked her, "Do you want to get your ears pierced and get earrings like mommy?"

She said, "No, maybe next year when I'm six."

She turned six this year. And said, "Maybe next year when I'm seven."

It's her body. I'll let her decide, just like my mom did for me.

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I had to wait till I was 16 (and a young lady).
I didn't have money to buy my own earrings before that anyway.
My Mom never got her ears pierced and she didn't have money to throw away on stuff like that when she was working her behind off putting food on the table and a roof over our heads.
She's 77 now and wears clip ons when she wants to wear earrings.
I think it's nice to save things like this for rites of passage.
Most people don't want to wait for anything anymore - too much instant gratification.

4 moms found this helpful

Ok, I'm sorry but when I see a baby with pierced ears I just want to roll my eyes. I think it looks tacky and trashy to see a baby with earrings. But, it's the parent's decision, so who cares what I think!

My daughter got them last year for her birthday when she turned 7. She had started to ask for them, so we let her do it. I personally think it's better when they can ask for them and at least help take care of them!

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I haven't read the other comments, but here are my two cents. Mine were done in the hospital, a few hours after I was born.

My daughter's were done at 3 months at the doctors office. From what I understand that is the youngest doctors will do it now. She is now 15 and just got her second hole, at Claire's.

I think it's just a personal preference thing. I've always had mine done, so I wanted hers done. It was as simple as that for me. I like they way pierced ears look, even on babies.

Does it hurt? Yes. Do I remember? No. Do I wish my mom had waited until I was old enough to ask? No. I've never thought about it.

I do see why some people say you should wait until a child is old enough to ask, but I also think to each his own.

3 moms found this helpful

In line with yours. :)

My daughter got hers pierced last fall, when she was 10. It was pretty much the first time she'd ever asked about doing it. I'd asked HER about it, when she was around 8 or 9, since several of her friends started getting them around that age. But she just said "no" she wasn't interested. A few months after her 10th birthday she asked some very specific questions about it, (Did it hurt? Why didn't you do them when I was little? How do they do it? etc etc).
I explained, offered to take her somewhere to see it done (we did) and she decided she wanted to do it. So I offered to take her the next evening when we would be in town again. Got it done. No problems, no tears. She is happy.

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I've seen this discussed here before but I honestly have to say, This has been the best "discussion" of it I have ever heard. Both sides have nicely presented thier veiws.

I am a staunch rite of passage ear piercer. I don't think they need to be 16 , to me it's more of a preteen rite, a little bit of choice/ freedom/, embracing their feminiity and Responsibilty.

I like giving my kids something to look forward to, some delayed gratification.

But i will say talkstotree's biological argument that it hurts less was very compelling, and the poster that said what girl ever complains that she wished her ears weren't peirced appealed to my logic too. Still I think i would like it to be a gift i can give my dd.

my dd asked at 6 ( but didn't beg) I excitedly told her when she was 10 we would go and make a day of it and get her ears done together. she has asked again occasionally, and sometimes i forget i said 10 and say 12 or something and she accepts it. so probably 10 or 12 for us.

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I was ten years old when my parents finally let me get it done. I had begged for years and years. My mother left the care up to me and I had problem after problem with infections due to healing. I couldn't handle it on my own until I had a second set done at 16, and a third set done at 17. I had a fourth set done when I was 18. I still have four sets of ear piercings.

With my daughters, I learned my lesson. I had it done when they were 7 weeks old for two of them and 4 months old for my third (my husband resisted with the third for some reason). They have tens of thousands fewer nerves in their ear lobes as babies and therefore no pain with the pinching and poking of piercing. There's less chance of blood.

NONE of my girls cried. I had toys to distract them and bottles ready in case they did cry. Even my autistic daughter was fine. She was sleeping and stayed asleep. Most babies don't cry, and those that do cry because of the loud noise of the gun and not from pain. They don't flinch, either, because there's no anticipation of a noise or pain unless they pick up stress from the parents especially like an older child usually does.

I was also able to include the healing care into our daily routine. Bath time, rinse off the ears so there's no soap residue, check for infection, don't touch the earrings at all, and voila. Don't change the studs out for a minimum of six months and preferably a year.

None of my girls has EVER had problems. Not one single infection nor complaint. No tears, no lopsided holes. In fact, they've all thanked me. :-) Their friends who have had them done recently told them how much it hurts to do it as a big kid.

2 moms found this helpful

My daughter got her ears pierced for the first time when she was 3 months old and the 2nd time when she was 13.

I personally have no issues with ear piercing either way. You wanna wait and make it a right of passage that's cool. You wanna pierce 'em when she's a baby go for it :)

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When my daughters were old enough to ask, then I explained the procedure, how it's done, that their ears would be sore, that they could get infected, that they wouldn't be able to "play" with their ear lobes until they healed, etc. I wanted them to understand that it was their body that this was going to affect and wanted them to understand what it entailed. With that said, when they were 5, I allowed them to get their ears pierced. They asked for it, understood what would happen, and we went through with it with no complications. I personally feel a child should be old enough to ask for it since it is their body.

2 moms found this helpful

My oldest was 3 months old and my second was 11 months old. It was alot easier to get them pierced as babies than taking them in now at
(5 and 6). My oldest freaks out getting shots,drawing blood etc. I know she would freak out getting them pierced now. My other(5 year) daughter kinda have her moments. Never know what she'll be in. My mom pierced mine maybe a month old and said i left mine alone. My mom got my sisters pierced a little older and my mom said she kept pulling hers out.

People are going to judge no matter what. Do what you want too. ;)

I don't regret getting mine done little. It was alot easier;they cry for a minute and was happy and smiling later like getting a shot.

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I got my babys when She was two months and I went to a Store.. they asked me for her shot record.. in my personal opinion its better when their small since their skin is softer and thinner.. I also gave her so tylon before so that relly help.. but whatever you decide its your baby and if you Feel You need to wait do what u think is best

2 moms found this helpful

I wanted it to be her decision so I thought I would wait til she asked, then make a big deal out of it. She was ELEVEN!!! When she finally mentioned she wanted them done, we ran right out the door to do it before she changed her mind. lol I think moms should wait until the girl is older and can make that decision on her own. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

My daughter was 3 years old.

My mom made me wait until I was 10. Getting my ears pierced was my birthday present. I wanted to choke my mother when she allowed my little sister to get her ears done at the same time and she wasn't even 7 yet!
I was ticked!

Anyway, there are no hard and fast rules. Some believe it's best to do it as infants. Some believe it's best to do it when the girl is old enough to take part in her ear care.

I don't think there should be any pressure one way or the other unless it's something that is cultural and just done as a matter of course.

Three was a good age for my daughter. She expressed that she wanted it. She knew it might hurt. She was old enough not to grab at her ears. It worked out well for us.

Best wishes.

1 mom found this helpful

Same as yours. My daughter is 7 and wants to do it, but is too nervous. We even went to the place and the cleaned her ears and put the dots on and everything. She wouldn't go through with it.

When she wants it enough, she will be brave enough. If she never is, I'll be a little disappointed, but it's her body and her choice.

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My point of view is that it is her body and her decision. I do not "own" my daughter.

I don't care to see babies with pierced ears but many moms feel the need to do it to their babies and justify it in their own minds. To each her own.

That said, my daughter wanted her ears pierced around 8 yrs old and we did it. She had allergy issues and ended up not wearing earrings at all and then re-pierced again around 11.

She still has issues now and then but we have to make sure she wears good quality and not any cheapo stuff. The cheapoo stuff causes problems for her.

1 mom found this helpful

My daughter had her ears pierced when she was 8 weeks, an acquaintance had her daughter's done at 4 weeks by her pediatrician. It was easier and less risk of infection as I was the one responsible for cleaning and turning them. One of my granddaughters had hers done at 9 years and had numerous infections and finally got tired of it all and let them close up, they're sorry they didn't have them done when she was a baby.

Do what you feel comfy with :)

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I waited until she was old enough to take care of it herself and I treated it as her first real personal responsibility. (Kind of like the first pet thing, but with no mess for me to clean up.)

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I waited till they were old enough to ask but I wish I would have done it when they were babies as they both let their holes close up and then regretted it. The only reason I waited was because my mom is against having babies ears pierced.

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This is a personal as well as a cultural decision made by the mom. I am a Latina and my daughters ears were pierced at the age of 1 month. My step daughter's mom is Irish and her ears were pierced at 3 months. I have never understood why some mom's feel you have to wait to ask her? Most of my daughters' friends have pierced ears, they all love it. There are a handful that don't and all they do is complain because their moms won't let them pierce their ears, and they also complain about their moms not doing it while they were younger. One of my youngests friends had to wait 'til she was 15 and cried hysterically about it all the time. Another, went out and did it without her mom's permission, got somebody to pose as her older sister for the consent slip. If your daughter's ears get pierced at a young age, that is what she will grow up knowing, why would she complain about it? I am yet to meet a girl with pierced ears since she was a baby, that complains that she doesn't want or hates earrings. Like I said....it is a decision taken by mom and you will do what you were instilled with or whatever your mom raised you with and ultimately what feels right for you.

I was one week old, when my M. had my ears pierced. However, I'm married to a non-Latino, who in his culture is a rite of passage. So, I am choosing to respect his culture and wait. My daughter is six years old now and she asked last year if she could wear earrings. I shopped around and found some clip earrings. She wore them for about a day or two and stopped. She has not mentioned pierced ears again, so I will continue to wait until her teen years. It is entirely your decision. :)

Hi TF-

My oldest daughter asked to have it done just after she turned ten....It was an X-mas present for her a few days before christmas.

My other daughter only expressed an interest recently (and she is almost 16) and we had them done a few weeks ago (in time to change the earrings before homecoming). Her twin (with special needs) has not expressed an interest...and I would worry with her with respect to 'playing' with them.

I was just as glad to wait til they asked to have a piercing...

**I feel the same way with respect to 'tats'...although I ask them to wait til 18 for that***

Best Luck!
michele/cat

Here is my answer to a previous question about this subject.

I was 9 years old when I got mine done the first time and it was by a doctor. I don't know if the mall or store were available way back then, (1973) LOL My daughter was 6 years old when she got hers done the first time. It turned out fine,but now I know that the earrings they use for the gun really push through the ear lobe and doesn't pierce it. If you look at the end of the earring closely you can see that it is not a point but dull. I always use alcohol to clean my ears after piercing,not the stuff that they give you at the mall or store.

I would take your daughter to professional piercing place when she is ready.It will be more expensive,but cleaner,safer and better.

My daughter is almost 4 and a half. She still doesn't have her ears pierced... I'm waiting for her to ask for it. So far she has never even brought it up. She got some stick on earrings for her birthday this year and she wanted to put those on a few times, but even most of those are still left. She's asked about the "holes" in my ears before and I've showed her how my earrings go in and out. She was curious, but hasn't said a word since. I don't want one more thing to take care of!!

I think it's nice to wait & give the child a choice before piercing their ears when they're a month old for strictly aesthetic reasons.

It's more fun to wait until they're ready and actually WANT them, and take them to pick out their own earrings and make it a fun & exciting experience for them.

To each their own.

My oldest girl was done at 2 months, after her tetanus shot and the doc said okay.

My next oldest was 8 years old, she was slightly traumatized by it, poor girl.

The next one was 1 year old to the day.

My last daughter was around 8 months.

There's no rhyme or reason as to when I did it. I just would get it done one day.

My daughter is 3 and does not have them pierced. I will wait until she wants them and is old enough to understand what she's getting in to. I do not mind helping her care for them etc but knowing that the earrings have to stay in while they heal so she has to sleep in them and all of that.
I got my first ear pearcing when I was 9, the second when I was 16 and my nose was done the day before I turned 34.
It is recommeneded that you wait until they are around 8 because before that they are growing rapidly and you risk the ear holes being uneven and having to be redone or the skin growing over the backing of the earring. I wouldn't change all the problems that can happen by doing them so early as 7 weeks.

My husband & I decided to allow our daughter the choice as to if and when she would like her ears pierced. I have my ears pierced and it was my choice and I wanted to do the same for our daughter. We talked about it several times. Our daughter is 18 years old and has decided she does not want her ears pierced. I am glad that I gave her that choice.

I had my daughters done at 3m. She didn't cry or make a peep. The place I took her had single use piercing guns so it was sterile. The lady said most aces use them on babies. Personally I think it's better when they are smaller because I know they are properly cleaned and taken care of.

My youngest girls are 5 & 7. Their ears are not pierced. When they ask me to pierce them, then we will consider it. I want them to understand the importance of keeping them clean.

I don't have a strong opinion one way or the other. I think I was about 7 when I got mine pierced and it was sort of a big deal, I was really excited at the time. So that is more my reason for waiting, so my daughters can experience the excitement and feeling like a big girl when it's done.

I will tell you though that any thought of doing it when my second daughter was a baby went right out the window after my MIL gave me tiny pink stud earrings as one of my baby shower gifts. She is Hispanic and of course that's the tradition in their culture. But I wasn't about to have it shoved down my throat. She also knew that I was undecided about it and kept asking us if we were going to do it, so it backfired on her.

I haven't. My kids are 4 and 5. I told my five year old that she could if she wanted to, but she doesn't want to. She's scared of needles and pain, and when she asked if it hurt, I told her it hurts about as badly as getting a shot. So, we'll see. But for right now I think she'd rather just about anything, than to get her ears pierced. My little one isn't old enough to take care of them well, and she's not a meticulous personality like my eldest. She doesn't want them either, but even if she did, I wouldn't let her do it until she's a bit more grown up.

Don't do it until she's old enough to ask for them! My oldest daughter is a complete tomboy and wouldn't be caught dead with earrings on (any jewelry for that matter). I would feel awful had I done that to her without her wanting it. Now my other daughter is a total girly girl and asked for them at 8. She got her ears pierced for her 9th birthday.

My daughter just turned 5 and I'm ready for her to do it, but she's not! ;) My husband thinks she's just too young, which I honestly don't get, but whatever, she seems a little scared about it right now anyway, so it's not an issue. I do agree that I'm not in favor of doing it as a baby b/c quite frankly I have enough to wipe, clean and take care of for that kid, I don't need another, but I don't think it's a big deal if people choose that, plus I do think for most people, at least that I know, it's a cultural thing.

I hope my daughter wants it done sooner rather than later just because it becomes such an issue with sports, etc. But, when she's ready it really is her decision. I was 7 when I had mine done and my mom about had a coronary! My grandmother pressed the issue and I was all for it, so lucky me! Tee hee.

my ped recommended waiting until 6 mos and most immunizations were done. My girls 4 and 7 love having them done and enjoy wearing different earrings. Although my 4 year old has to wear real gold or sterling silver. She has a reaction to other things but not because of how old she was.

We have made 10 the magic ear piercing age. So far three of our girls have been pierced at age 10, one more to go:)

My husband's cousin, a pediatrician, had her daughter's ear's pierced when her daughter was less than a week old. IMO that's way too young.

My oldest was only a few months old.

I would agree with you. Wait until she asks you.

I was 13, it was my "Welcome to your teen years!" gift. My mom did then at first, but got me lop-sided so we took that one out and my dad re-pierced it once it was healed and ready. My daughter is 6 and I hardly wear earrings now so she hasn't really asked for them for herself. She does have a pair of diamonds waiting in a safety box for her when and if she wants them.

I got my child's ears pierced when she asked to have her ears pierced. She was four at the time, and knew that it would involve brief pain.
Had she never asked for it, I would not have done it. It's not as though her ears NEEDED to be pierced in order for her to be a real girl.
Bottom line - Her body, her decision.

My girls were around 10-12. I waited til they were old enough to follow the directions and take care of the piercings themselves.

I think my daughter was in 5th grade, so maybe 10 or 11 years old? I made her wait until she REALLY wanted it done.

I didn't get my own ears pierced until I was in college, and the holes have long since closed up. They felt irritated any time I wore any earrings other than the initial piercing posts (even 20 years later) and they were ultimately just an annoyance. I don't care that much about earrings.