Ear Peircing Advice Needed

Updated on February 02, 2010
H.P. asks from Crystal Lake, IL
30 answers

Hello mamas! My daughter is seven years old and has been wanting to get her ears peirced for about a year. I have finally consented, but now need advice as to the best way to get it done. When I was a kid, my mom just took me to a Claire's. Now that I am in the mom role, though, I am a bit nervous handing over my baby to a couple of teenagers who will be peircing her with, what I assume, is minimal training. I then went on line and have read horror stories about the guns malfunctioning, etc. Any advice is appreciated!!

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N.S.

answers from Chicago on

I took my daughter to Claire's when she was 5 to get her ears pierced because I really didn't know where else to go. The guns did not jam, and everything went just fine. They were even and have never had a problem. If you want to have them do both ears at once though, call ahead and find out when there are 2 people there so that can be done. Ear piercing has gotten a bit more pricey now though, it depends on the earrings that you get, I think it was approximately $30-$40 to get my daughter's done, it's not $10 anymore.

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N.S.

answers from Chicago on

Hi there. My childrens' pediatrician office pierces ears. I haven't used the service before but it claims to be sterile. I take them to an office in Plainfield, IL called Pediatric Health Associates. ###-###-#### I hope this helps. Happy Holidays also! N.

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J.Q.

answers from Chicago on

My daughter had her ears done at Libby Lou's about 1 1/2 yrs ago. They became infected and we took them out. This past summer she wanted to try again to get them pierced. We went to Claire's to have them done. She had both ears pierced at the same time. After having them in for 6 weeks we changed the earrings and 1 fell out while she was sleeping. We went back to Claire's to have it pierced again and an earring fell out when she was changing her clothes that same day. Claire's said we had to wait a week before piercing it again. So we went back a week later and had it done. She has been problem free since that last pierce. My daughter did not complain about it at all she just wanted her ears pierced. The manager at Claire's told me she should keep earrings in her ears at all times for 1 year. She wants to wear dangling earrings put I won't let her. I'm too afraid she will get them caught on something.

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C.F.

answers from Chicago on

I have heard that some pediatrician pierce ears. Ask you childs doctor. My aunt pierced my ears and my daughters with the old fashioned needle and thread. I pierced my sons ear and my granddaughter. Their ears are fine and I know that I used a sterile needle and thread. Not everyone can do that so check with your chils doctor.

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T.R.

answers from Chicago on

I pierced ears (sometimes for Claire's) for over 9 & 1/2 years. I never once had a gun miss fire. Training is somewhat minimal, but that's b/c it doesn't take that long to figure out how to do it. If you're worried about who does it, ask how long they've been doing it. If you don't like the answer, ask for someone who's done it longer. Go to a few different stores until you get an answer you feel comfortable with. And whatever you do, make sure you get it done when there are two people there so they can pierce both ears at the same time. Otherwise she will balk at getting the second ear done. Believe me, even if they say they're ready, if they're under 13 or 14, they chicken out on the second ear. Having them done simultaneously is much nicer for your daughter. Good luck

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C.C.

answers from Phoenix on

I took my daughter to get her ears done at Walmart sometimes all you have to buy is the starter kit which comes with the cleaning solution and the earrings. I got hers done for only about 15 total for earrings cleaning solution and the piercing. I loved the people there that do it and they will answer any questions the you have as well as let you check to make sure they are straight.

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V.C.

answers from Chicago on

Check with your pediatrician, alot of the offices do ear piercing now.
Good Luck
V.

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J.

answers from Chicago on

I had my daughter's ears pierced at a place called Sparkle in Lake Geneva (my parents live up there). Instead of the "gun" they used a piercing mechanism that is pushed by hand. They said the high speed of the gun can tear the skin around the opening, making the healing process longer. Plus you can't have any gun malfunction (although gun malfunctions are rather rare). They used a kit by Simply Whispers - it's an online/catlog jewelry store thay sells all hypoallergenic/nickle-free jewelry (www.simplywhispers.com). I don't know of anywhere around here that does it that way, but you can buy the piercing kits online if you are interested. Maybe you can find someone who is willing to use that instead of the gun.
Good luck!

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D.R.

answers from Chicago on

Check with her doctor and see if the doctor will do it or if they have any recommendations. Otherwise, as crazy as it sounds, take her to a reputable piercing/tattoo studio. As someone else previously posted, the guns make a hole by actually tearing the skin and tissue. Also there are nerves that run in the ear lobe that professional piercers know about - yes they need to take classes and learn anatomy to become certified to be able to know where to pierce, how to make them look symmetrical, etc. It is much safer than taking her to any retail store. I for sure will be taking my daughter (when she is ready - she is 4) to a piercing studio.

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M.N.

answers from Chicago on

Had my daughter's done at seven years old, at Claire's at the mall...no problems-they did one ear at a time, send us off with a giant bottle of solution and instructions. Just make sure you (and she) are good about cleaning, turning etc. She's fourteen now, never had a problem, other than she wants her cartilage pierced now-haha, said no to that one! If she really wants it that bad, she can wait til she's 18.

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S.B.

answers from Chicago on

Just make sure her ears are both at the same height. Mine are not level. When I had them pierced the first time, he put them in, measuring from the bottom of the ear. They were crooked so he did one ear again. I nearly fainted. To this day I cannot wear big disc type earrings as they show how uneven my ears are! It's small studs and/or dangly type earrings.

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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

I just went through this with my daughter. I called Claires in the mall and asked when a manager was available. Then I asked for them to be pierced at the same time so they called the manager of Icing to come over as well. It was great! I went Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills, but I recommend a slower time of the day. Good luck and have her clean them 2 times a day for 2 months, it's really important. Don't let her wear garbage earrings for an entire year. I have nice earrings for kids if you want some. www.liasophia.com/staceys. They are never touched by people and are made of Rhodium, a low grade of Platium, so they won't irritate her ears.

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J.F.

answers from Chicago on

Our family practitioner did my daughter's. It was easy and fast.

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E.F.

answers from Chicago on

I plan to take my daughters to a tattoo/piercing studio when the time comes. Who has more experience than them, right.

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A.P.

answers from Chicago on

There really isn't much training needed to pierce ears. It's quite simple. Claires is fine, Piercing Pagoda does it also. I have never heard any horror stories. Some hair salons might do it also. I worked in a salon that did it. Seriously, the "training" was maybe 2 minutes. They tell you what to do, and you do it. It's very easy

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M.C.

answers from Houston on

You can buy the gun yourself at Sally's beauty supply and do it yourself. You best bet is probably Claire's. The gun just needs to be straight and the back of the earring loosened. Make sure the dots for the earrings are even before peircing them. I've never known anyone that had that happened but it's always a possibilty. Still sounds better than a need and a thread!!

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C.D.

answers from Chicago on

H.,
I know moms who have taken their daughters to their pediatrician to have their ears pierced but I think Claires does a fine job. The girls there probably have way more practice than the nurses because they're just doing it more! They are very concientious about hole placement and ask for your approval before pulling the trigger, more consideration than you would probably get at the pediatrician's office. Two of my tree daughters have gotten their ears pierced at Claires, I just haven't gotten around to taking the third but when we do, I will go back to Claires. Just make sure they sterilize everything before starting and wear gloves and the rest is up to you, regularly cleaning the holes.
Have fun, it does sting a bit at first but the excitement outweighs the pain!
C. D

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J.H.

answers from Chicago on

Our daughter's doctor was able to pierce ears. It wasn't covered by insurance but only cost like 30 dollars. I was done by my dr when I was a kid. The wholes don't close when you don't wear earrings. If u are in the south suburbs she is now located in Harvey IL. If you need her info let me know.

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L.C.

answers from Chicago on

My daughter got her ears pierced a year ago at age 7 also. Something SHE decided she wanted. We went to Claire's. I think they did a good job and I think they are trained to do the job right. They pierce hundreds of ears a year but you only hear about the horror stories. That might be .5% of the population. You don't hear about the ones who had no problems. The girl who did my daughter did a very meticulous job getting the holes even. (It was the Claire's in Yorktown Mall). Because of her age, they had two people do it at the SAME time so there's only one jolt of pain. Which helped tremendously. If they don't offer that, go somewhere else. Or wait until they have two trained techs available. Good luck! I think your daughter will love wearing earrings!

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K.S.

answers from Miami on

My daughter got hers and first time aroudn was a disaster. First we took her to her doctors office, but they didnt use ice or anything so it was horrible for her. They put them in so tight we can to use prliers to get them out. Course she didnt want anything to do with earings for a while. last year I took her to the local mall and had one of girls do it. Let her put ice on it for a while. But after we did the first ear she didnt want the other done. Now she only has one ear. My choice after all we hve been through is to take her to the local mall, have them do both ears at once.

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M.G.

answers from Chicago on

Go to either Claire's or Piercing Pagoda on a non-busy day (during the week perhaps). Try to get two people to do the piercing, that way they can do both ears at once. My ears were pierced at Claire's when I was 7, my youngest had hers done there, and my 9 year-old went to Piercing Pagoda. These people know what they are doing and will do fine.

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M.G.

answers from Chicago on

I think a gun malfunction could happen anywhere. I just brought my almost 4 year old to claire's and had her ears pierced. Her idea. We made sure that she would have both ears done at the same time. We explained that it would hurt but the pain would only last for a few minutes. She took it like a trooper didn't cry a bit. In fact the only time she did cry was at the ice cream store afterwards because the man didn't give her the right sample of ice cream.
At first she wasn't a huge fan of having the piercing cleaned but now a week later she doesn't mind at all. Good luck.

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B.P.

answers from Chicago on

I took my kids to the local mall to have theirs done and it was fine. I know many people who have went this route with no problems. Just be honest and prepare her well. I saw someone else previously posted to have them do both ears at once...DO NOT DO THIS....the reason is they are not always perfectly on and in a split second your daughter could move her head causing them to be off. I would HIGHLY recommend only doing one at a time.

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B.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

when my daughter was seven,I took her to Claire's to get her ears pierced and every thing went well until we tried to take them out. Long story short, after a summer of pain, crying and a very stuck ear ring Grandma came to the rescue with nail clippers and butter the issue was resolved.My daughter is twelve now and wants her ears re pierced , i am not taking her to Claire's again ,except to buy new ear rings.So if I were you, I would take your daughter to a jewelry store, it is a bit more expensive than Claire's, but to me it's worth it.

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A.

answers from Chicago on

In my very honest opinion, you should quit being a freak. That is my advice. You should find a store where an adult is working and just let them do it. You still remember. I know I do. Why would you want to go to a boring doctor's office? You could always just pierce them yourself! Now that would be memorable!

In all seriousness, I took my daughter to a shop and got hers done. It was "icing" I think (at the mall). They did one at a time, which stunk, but it went fine. No gun malfunctions. I think this was how old my daughter was as well!

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J.D.

answers from Chicago on

I took my daughter to a dermatologist at 3 months old. It was only $60 and I was told after everything they try to sell you, Claire's or other boutiques cost about the same. The doctor and nurses were great, it took 5 minutes and all we had to do was keep them clean with regular soap and water when we gave her a bath. I would definitely recommend going that route. Good luck!

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S.M.

answers from Peoria on

I didn't read all the responses, but my 7 yo had hers done in early Nov. I took her to a tattoo and piercing shop. The piercing professional did it with a needls. He said the needle is much more sanitary (you wore gloves and used sterile intsruments) and hurst less. It hurst less because the needls is sharp and makes way for the earring while a gun just pushes out a chuck of ear lobe. It was a good experience and we have had no problem with infection or anything. I would (and will if my other daughter ever wants it done) take her to a tattoo shop again.

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C.F.

answers from Chicago on

I know I'm a little late responding...but I took my daughter to Sweet and Sassy in Lombard when she was 9 weeks old. They did a wonderful job and we experienced no negative issues!

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H.P.

answers from Chicago on

I had my daughter's ears pierced by her pediatrician, Dr. Patrick Esposito at Associates in Pediatrics. They have several offices so you could call ###-###-#### and see which is more convenient. It cost $50 but I felt secure in my decision and it went very well.

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J.D.

answers from Chicago on

Hi H. My daughter had her ears pierced at 2 yrs. old by her peditrican. See if her doctor will do her's

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