5 Years Old and Ear Piercing

My opinion is whenever the child is old enough to ask, then think about it, etc. I hate seeing earrings on new babies, etc because they had no choice in the matter.

My daughter asked around 8 yrs old. We did it at Claire's. She has very sensitive ears and every earring she put on would make her ear lobe swell up and drain. So she let them grow back.

She did it the second time, 1 hole just 2nd time to have the process done, about 11 yrs old. She still has very sensitive ears but she is much more aware of what she can and can't wear and the care. She's had no issues since.

What does hubby have to say? I would think that's important enough.

But 5 is way too young. In their rough play they're all about grabbing and being rough. What happens if someone accidentally grabs an earring? And let's face it: it doesn't pay off to get cheap stuff, so there's also the potential for losing an earring.

Wait till she's at least out of grade school. It'll be a graduation celebration type thing to say "Okay, now we'll do it" By then maybe she'll have cooled towards the idea.

When my girls were growing up, the older one started talking about pierced ears in kindergarten. I didn't feel favorable to the idea, but then realized I didn't know much about pierced ears, so I had mine pierced instead. (This was when the mall stores were the only option.) Then I told my daughters that, when most of their friends had pierced ears and they were interested, they could come and talk to me. The one who talked about it in kindergarten didn't even think about it again (it was just an impulse, not a real desire!) until junior high, and the other was a sophomore in high school.

When my oldest granddaughter first brought up the subject of pierced ears, her mother said, "We'll talk about it when you're ten." She did. Actually, she had it done the day before her tenth birthday so she could go to school with earrings on. Her two younger sisters are determined to make it a tradition by reminding their mama frequently when they will turn that age - which is quite a while away.

My twin nieces (7 now) had theirs done years ago . . . I will try to ask my sister where. I think they were too small to remember it and my sister just forcibly cleaned them LOL. In their father's culture they do it earlier.

If I had a daughter I would not permit it until at least high school, but that's just us. My husband is lucky he did not have daughters because I think he would have had a heart attack by now. :P

I had mine done at 13 or 14 and I can still remember how much it hurt. :O

We're going through this right now. M daughter has been talking about getting her ears pierced since kindergarten when some of her friends got theirs done. She's always even afraid it would hurt too much and hasn't been ready. Now she's 8 1/2 and saying she REALLY wants to get them pierced. We didn't do it this weekend because it's still swimming season and I've read that you should wait 2-3 weeks before going in the water.

My daughter told me the other day that she wished that i had gotten them done when she was a baby because then she would have it done and wouldn't remember if it hurt. I told her that it's her body and it wasn't my choice to make and we could go when she felt ready.

I had a little girl in my daycare that had hers done at Claire's. She's 4 and has had no problems.

Good luck!

My daughter had her's done at the mall when she was 5 as well. I waited until she wanted to have them done. They did both ears at the same time. She did a good job of cleaning them. She is 12 now and she still has both of her ears. :)

My SD was 8 and DD will be allowed to whenever she decides she's ready for it. I told her that it stings for a little bit and she has to keep them clean, etc. but if she someday wants them, I will take her to get them done. DH was against infant piercing and I didn't feel that strongly so we've compromised on whenever DD asks. She's almost 4 and like your DD curious about earrings. You can ask your pediatrician, but it might be the same gun, just a different place. I may go with the pediatrician's office, but haven't fully decided yet.

I had the same mentality about it, although, I was hopeful that my daughter wouldn't ask about it until she was older, so that it could be sort of a rite of passage due to age. That is a bit of an exaggeration, but I do think that our American society today has very few "milestone" events for kids, and I think they are important for kids to have. It used to be whatever church ceremonies, ear piercing, things like shaving, and then driver's licenses. Well, today, kids are less interested in driver's licenses and they feel like they are grown when they get their first cell phone. Seriously. Many teens opt NOT to get a driver's permit for quite a while---it just doesn't mean anything to them, not like having a cell phone.
I know driver's licenses and cell phones may seem like a long way away, when you are dealing with a 5 year old at home. But trust me, it goes by all to quickly... Suddenly my little boy will be 15 next year (and eligible for a learner's permit!). Yikes!

Fortunately for me/us, my daughter did not really have any interest in having her ears pierced until she was 10. I took her to the mall, let her watch someone else having it done, and went home so she could think about whether or not she wanted to do it. She did, and we went back 2 days later and got it done. Piercing Pagoda with a gun. One ear at a time. No biggie.
I will say, however, that even at age 10 (and my daughter is very responsible) she needed a little help taking care of them in the beginning. The healing process can be painful, and sleeping on them the wrong way can make them sore, too. Within 6 months, she was perfectly able to do everything on her own. I'm not sure if that would be the case with a 5 yr old. Maybe, depending on the child. ?

I personally, would probably wait another year or two. Let it be a birthday present for age 6 or 7 maybe. Give her something to look forward to signifying that she is growing up.
Just my opinion though. I don't think she is "too young" if you are willing to clean them for her for the first 3 months or so, a couple times a day every day.

My daughter was 3months old. Never had any issues with them, and I know they are cleaned properly. I had mine done when I was 2 weeks old.

Wow! I could have written this myself. My daughter has been wanting to get hers done and I told her if she could handle the immunization shots that she could do it. She had to have 4 shots & it was traumatic for her! We were at the mall yesterday and I was going to do it for an early birthday present. She didn't want to do it so I wasn't going to make her. Now when we got home, she wanted to get them done....go figure. I did decide if/when she wants them done we would go to the mall & get them both done at the same time. Good luck on your decision!

My daughter did it when she was 8, at the mall (that way, they can do both ears at once -- far less traumatic than one at a time). The mall gun has the earring preloaded, so the ear doesn't need to be touched after it's pierced to put the earring in -- the earring is what pierces it. The doctor would have to do it with a needle, one at a time, and then still have to manipulate the ear to put the earring in.

I waited until she told me she wanted it (although I had offered before), we watched youtube videos of girls having it done. We had very frank discussions of what it felt like, how she would have to care for it, what would happen if she didn't. I didn't want to scare her away, but I wanted her fully prepared. If she could go through that and still want it, then I knew she was ready. It's not really about the age as much as the readiness of the child. 5 seems young to me (I still think at that age there's a risk of injury from playground accidents, pulling clothing over the head, etc. -- when they're a little older, they may be more mindful of those things), but you know your child and what she can handle best.

I didn't want to get my daughters ears pierced until SHE wanted to. I had to wait ELEVEN years! Finally one day during the week, she said, "mom, I want to get my ears pierced." We IMMEDIATELY took her that same day before she changed her mind! LOL! She will be 13 soon and was old enough to not be afraid and to take care of them on her own. I would go to a more professional place. I was walking by the jewlery section of walmart and a 9ish yo girl was crying...apparently the gun wouldn't release after the piercing and it was a big deal. I'm sure she was traumatized by it and they still had to do the other ear! So I think she will be fine at 5. Good luck!

My daughter was 6. I had the same "plan" as you, whenever she asked and I felt like she really wanted it done and wouldn't chicken out! I come from a family where we had it done as babies! We got it done at Claires at the mall, they were really good. Call ahead to make sure they have two people on staff to do it that way, they can do both ears at the same time! I've heard stories of girls getting the first one done and then because of the pain, refusing to get the second done! Good luck!

My daughter was 10 when she had hers pierced although she had been asking for years before that. I waited until I knew she was ready to clean her ears herself (they are supposed to be cleaned twice a day every day for a year--I did not want to be doing that for her every day). Also, prior to then she was kind of irrisponsible about keeping track of jewelry so we waited until she was a little more responsible. I know most kids here have theirs pierced much earlier than 10 but I think it really depends on your child. BTW, she had hers done at a girls salon here called Sweet & Sassy (I think they're a franchise?) The only down side to waiting until she was older is that I think she was a little more nervous about the actual piercing b/c she knew exactly how it was done.

I had my ears pierced at around this age. I really could not care well for them, and when I was about 8 or so, they became infected. I stopped wearing them until I was 12 or so, and then was better able to care for them.

Me, personally, I don't feel that a five year old is capable of making a decision regarding altering their body permanently. If my son wanted his ear/s pierced, I would have him wait until he was 13. I had to wait until I was 15 for my second set of holes.

My daughter is 5 too and has no interest ... yet. However, if she did, my rule will be when YOU can clean them and take care of them and be responsible enough to do so, you can have them. Based on that logic (or my laziness :) - I say 5 is too young. But it really is whatever you are comfortable with. If you are concerned about the mall, I would call and get your Dr's opinion on the dangers/cautions.

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 and better.

One of my daughters had the same experience as TF. She had hers done at 7 but they got so infected (and we were pretty diligent about cleaning them!) Her ears are just too sensitive. I imagine she'll do it again when she's older (she let them close up) and can really handle all of it. My older daughter did it when she was 9 and has had no issues whatsoever. I don't even pay any attention to the cleaning or whatever - she has done it all herself and hasn't had a problem. I guess since you probably don't know if your daughter has sensitive ears you may want to wait a bit. I think my "sensitve ear" daughter would've been better off waiting (but I didn't know that at the time!)

My daughter was four when she asked to have it done and I let her. She was six or seven when she got her second set of holes and in her teens when she got her third set.

My daughter was 14 months old and I wish I had done it earlier. She doesn't remember having them done, but she is grateful now that she has them. She just turned 9 last month. Her ears are sensitive so she has to wear quality jewelry, which is fine with us.

I'd let her do it. You will just have to be in charge of the cleanings.