When Is a Good Age to Pierce Your Child's Ears?

Whatever age you decide to get them done, please be sure to have a professional piercer do it...do not let someone use a piercing gun.... they can not be cleaned properly after each use and that is what can cause the infections.... the guns can not be cleaned and sanitized properly because of all the little pieces and grooves in them.... they are used on every person that comes in to have their piercings done, just a new set of ear rings are put into it each time. If the person being done before you come in happens to bleed, it gets into the gun and then the germs get into you when you have your piercing done.

Go to a piercer who uses a hollow needle to do it. They will use a brand new needle each time and the earring is put in the end of the needle and put through as the needle goes through the hole.

Then you should use antimicrobial cleanser on it everyday and follow with warm water with sea salt to help it heal. This also prevents infection.

Most piercers will use surgical steel posts because you are less likely to have an allergic reaction to it.

If you decide to get hers done soon, make sure you are willing to clean them and take care of them for her everyday. You will probably also have to keep reminding her to not touch them as that will also lead to infection from germs being on her hands.

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Obviously it's your decision, but unless you want to add another task to your daily routine, I'd wait until she is mature enough to take care of her ears--cleaning, turning the earrings, etc. I had mine done in 5th grade and plan to wait until at least then for my daughter.

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When they are old enough to completely understand what is involved in getting their ears pierced.
They have to understand they have to keep the earrings in for a few months or the holes will close. They have to completely understand that it will be painful and they will most likely cry. They need to fully understand the care involved in cleaning the ears everyday.
My daughter was 5 when she asked if we could have her ears peirced and I told her every con I could think of to eliminate the curiosity but she was determined it was what she wanted.
She cried like I told her it would but she kept those earrings in for years and was great in letting me clean them.
Make sure your child is completely ready and mature enough to handle the responsibility.

Hi R.,
It's definitely a decision that's different for everyone. I have a friend that did it when her daughter was 3 months old. I have another friend that would never do it until her daughter was old enough to care for them herself. I wasn't allowed to get my ears pierced until I was 12 (a little late if you ask me) but what I do remember is that my mom made it a special event. We got my ears pierced. Went shopping for earrings and had lunch together. It was a nice bonding time. So even though it was later, it was very special. I agree with Denise in that this baby may not have the same issues with infections so that shouldn't influence your decision. Also, she may have had the infections due to an allergic reaction to the metal in the earrings. Many earrings have nickel posts even if the earring itself is sterling. Good luck.

I did it when my daughter was 3mths old, her pedi did it when he gave her immunization shot, alot easier.

Hi R.,
I guess you can pierce ears at any time or age but I waited until my girls asked. We made it something special for them to look forward to.
My one daughter was 12 and the other was about the same age. My granddaughter wanted hers pierced at 4 and we had them done when she was about 5. My other granddaughter had them done when she was 4, she is still 4, but couldn't wear them during soccer and my daughter had to take them out. Since they were just done there was not getting them back in to her ears.
She doesn't want them done now.... So when she's ready again we'll have them done. Good luck with your decision. xoxoDebbie

HI R.,
I have 2 boys so when i had my daughter we could not wait to pierce her ears we did it at 3mths no regrets thank god she is fine and sooo used to them good luck with your decision I would just do it with your daughter dont think about the problems u had with your first daughter getting it done just be positive and know she will be fine good luck

Hi R.,
A good age to do them is when she asks for it to be done, can understand the process and still want it, and for me it was important that my daughter be able to take care of them herself. It never occurred to me to have it done when she was a baby, toddler or preschooler, or to make the decision for her when or even whether she'd have pierced ears. It was when she was 10 and starting middle school in 5th grade that she had any desire for pierced ears, and I wouldn't have done it before she could do the cleaning, turning, etc herself - just something I wasn't looking to be responsible for. So 10 it was and that worked out fine for her. She's going to be 14 this year and is now starting to show interest in a 2nd ear piercing.

Being an Asian I have seen girls get their ears pierced as young as 5 days old! Even though I got mine done when I was 22!

The best age they say is when the child is young and to prevent infection use real gold 22k-24k studs. Get the smallest you can.

Make sure the ears do not get wet for a week after the ear is pierced and after that when you do wash the kid put a drop of vegetable oil of anykind on the ears when having a bath.

Clean the ears after a week with an antiseptic and put oil on them regularly for a couple of weeks and there will be no infection!

Hi R.,

I did my daughters when she was three months old. I would go now because she is still small she would get over it quickly. :) I know they are going to be a lot of first timers she is going to remember. :) This one is a little pain full. I would go now, thats just me. :)

My parents had my ears pierced when I was first born. I know, crazy right? I personally do not like babies and little girls with earings and nailpolish, but that is just my personal taste. As long as you keep gold earings her ears and they can stay in and be comfortable for sleeping, then your little one should not have a lot of ear infections. Little gold hoops work well and should not cause a problem. If I had a daughter, I would wait until she really wanted them and knew what was involved.

I'm thinking you passed that age. I would have done it when she was 3 months. This way the hair is short enough to not tangle around the post, causing infection. And they never even notice it,therefore no playing w/it. I think you may have answered your own question here..Wait until she is 7(ish) and do it. In the meantime, get her some clip on earrings. Unless those hurt(squeeze the ear lobe to hard) IDK, never used clip on's before. Oh they do have those sticker earrings she can just stick on.. but she might put em in her mouth.. unless she is out of that stage.. Good luck!

Hi R.!
I had my ear pierced when I was 15. It hurt a lot, but I was a teenager and wanted to be like my friends.... My two daughters, 10 and 5 don't have their ears pierced. The reason: I've seen my friends kids (boys too...) with awful infections... And my mother in-law theory; that says that if we don't get their ears pierced when they are little, they will be less motivated to keep piercing other parts of their body in the future....
My ten year old saw one of her friends doing it because her other friends had them and it was "time", according to them. Unfortunately her friend experience was not good since it hurt and got them infected days later..... None of the girls want to know anything that has to do with ear piercing..... At least for now...
This has been my experienced so far, but at the end it's all up you, and how you feel about that. Remember that is not your daughter the one who is going to get the satisfaction of having them pierced and that she is still young to make those decisions, that's why we make them for them. If you think that it's important for you and for her, do it, regardless what people think. If you think that she can have play earrings and satisfy her curiosity for a while, get her dress up earrings.
Cheers,
A.

Hi R.,
I pierced my daughters ears when she was 3.5 years old. It was just as she was entering pre-k-3 last fall. She was very interested in it and I wanted to do it. She didn't really know what they were going to do but it was so fast that she was at first shocked, cried for about 30 seconds then she was fine. I decided not to take her to our pediatrician who would does it in his office b/c they only pierce one ear at a time. I knew if they did it that way, we'd only be able to get one done! I took her to the mall and they had two girls and did both ears at the exact same time. When it came time for cleaning I had a hard time. My daughter would freak out and it was quite difficult. But I guess we were lucky b/c she never got an infection. She wore her original earrings for the first year until she let me change them over to small white gold hoops. She loves them but doesn't play w/ them, they're just a part of her. I'm really glad I did it and she looks so girly and pretty with them. She'll be 5 in April. Good luck w/ your decision.
Alexis

My sisters and I were all 9 when we got ours pierced- it was a kind of coming of age thing and made us feel really special. I've already told my 4 year old that she'll get hers done when she's 9 - if she wants them.

Wait until she is old enough to care for her own ears- able to clean around the earrings with the cleaning solution on the cotton balls and responsible enough to not remove the earrings and put them in her mouth, nose, inside her ears, etc. You would be surprised what some kids do! I would say around 8 or 9 would be ok. You can buy stick-on or clip-on earrings in the meantime.

Hi R., Many moms have their baby's ears pierce very young. My dayghter had hers done at 7 for her first Communion. You could try this one soon. She may not get the infections if she is willing to keep after the cleaning. I may not be too much help but I wish you my best. GrandmaMary

I Just had my daughters ears done when she turned 1 year. It's totally up to you. My daughter doesn't even pay attention to them being there. It's cute and it takes 10 seconds to clean them. Can be cleaned while taking a bath. But I would suggest getting them done in a doctors office. It's more sanitary and safer. I don't trust the stores to do it. You don't know if they are clean. Ask your pedi. if they do it. A little more expensive but the earrings are better quality then what you get at a store. Hope this helps.

My daughter is now 8 years old and has been begging for pierced ears for a few years. After ears are pierced they have to be turned and cleaned daily (maybe even more than once, can't remember. I told her when she was old enough to be responsible to do it her self or ask me to help her two times a day then we will get her ears pierced. I figure about 10 years old probably. I think the childs maturity should play a role and also I know right now I am so busy I don't remember all I need without lists so in a couple more years she will remember and can remind me. To each their own but that is what we are doing with our oldest. A.

I have 3 daughters and I got their ears pierced at the same time. The oldest was 6 yrs old, the second was 4 yrs old and the youngest one was 5 months. The oldest and youngest were fine and the earrings were no problem. Unfortunately the 4 yr old didn't understand that turning the earring and cleaning didn't hurt so after several tearfilled days of her screaming every time I'd try to turn and clean we ended up taking them out.

We had them repierced at age 8 (her choice) and she currently 24 and sports 3 holes in each ear. So I suggest making sure that she understands what's going on and the after care before you go.

We have a little girl who will be two next month. We have decided to wait until the summer between 5th and 6th grade for ear piercing. We decided this because she will be old enough to care for them herself and it would like a rite of passage between elementary and middle school. I hope this helps your family decides what is best for you little girl. :)

Dear R.,
It is best to have the ears pierced when they are infants or wait until they are old enough to take care of the initial care themselves. During the time frame in between, they have a tendency to play with the earrings, and fight against proper care, which causes infection. They are also more apt to become allergic to inexpensive earrings.
Initially, we had decided to wait and let our daughter make her own decision. But being my husband is a jeweler, he became too antsy. We had her ears pierced at 4 months old and all was fine. In her teens, she decided to have 2 more holes in her ears which resulted without consequence. So this advice comes from the wife of a jeweler.
If I were in your shoes, I would buy my daughter a few pairs of cheap, clip-on earrings to wear around the house. This will make her feel important, but the fact that they are uncomfortable will soon discourage her from wanting pierced ears for awhile. Then, when you feel she is old enough to take care of her piercings herself, let her get them. It also shows responsibility for herself.
Good luck, W.