Ear Piercing for Babies?

My daughter is nine now but I had hers done when she was seven weeks old and she never flinched when it happened. All of my friends (I was in FL at the time) wished they had done their daughters earlier since their ears were constantly getting infected. My niece had to have hers done three separate times because she was three and would play with them and get them infected. I know there are going to be people that disagree with it (as some have already voiced their opinion here) but the reaction I received was overwhelmingly positive. People knew she was a girl and thought they made her look very pretty and sweet. My daughter has never said anything about wishing I had waited so she could remember it. Infact, as much as she freaked out with her flu shot this year, I know without a doubt she would never get her ears pierced on her own! :-)

I'm a mom of two boys so this was never an issue but I agree with the other mom that said it was her daughters choice. I personally hate to see infants with earrings. I doubt you will take this advise but let her decide when the time is right.

I got my daughters ears pierced when she was 2 weeks old. The youngest the less pain she will have, and best of all she wont remember.

I got my daughters ears done at her pediatricians office (Kid care pediatrics) They will do it after the 3 month shots and it is completely sterile in their offices. It cost me $40 and includes the earrings.

You will get a lot of opinions on when people think girls should get their ears pierced, but the answer to your ACTUAL question: it is safe after their 3 month round of shots, but check with your pediatrician to be on the safe side.

I have never met a girl who said I wish my mom let me make my own decision as a baby on getting my ear pierced. Just personal experience. I had mine done at 6 months and that was that. No regrets or why did you do this to me mom???? Just be careful because there is a window of time to work with. Either young enough where they can't pick at their ears or old enough to where they know not to pick at their ears when you tell them. Either way, it's a decision made by you and I wouldn't let anyone's else opinions change that.

Anytime after there three months and have had there first round of shots, if at all concerned contact your peditrition.

I didn't have pierced ears until I was over 40 years old. I couldn't imagine causing pain and injury to look attractive. I'm over it now, but if you would allow me to speak as your child's advocate, I would remind you that babies are only on loan. Young moms tend to forget they are not a possession as it is so much fun to doll them up and show them off. You have roughly 18 years to guide them into adulthood and hope you arrive at this departure with a healthy, savvy child who still feels relatively kind towards you. Yes, your daughter will probably want to pierce her ears at some point, but it should be HER well considered option. What if she asked your doctor to pierce your nose during your next operation and he did it?
These are my best thoughts with good intensions,
C. S.

Yeah, I had a few friends who waited until their girls were around 4 months old, that way they had already had all their vaccinations. Someone told me some dr. office even do the piercing, although ours doesn't.

We chose not to pierce our daughter's ears since, as someone already stated, it's her body and we felt it should be her choice whether or not to pierce her ears. We also felt that this would be something she could look forward to as a "right of passage," just like wearing make up or dating. When she's 13, it will be her decision whether or not to pierce them. My sister did the same thing with her daughter, who will be 13 next month. My niece has decided not to pierce them.

I pierced my little girls ears at 6 mths as my ears were pierced at 6 mths. She wasn't old enough to mess with them & we didn't have a bit of trouble with them. She is fixing to turn 8 years old & still loves to wear earrings. I was always told to wait until the child is at least 6 mths.

I chose to have my daughter's ears pierced at 6 months. My reason being that a friend of mine had a 4 year old daughter's done and she kept playing with them and they got infected numerous times. By doing them when they are little, you as the parent are able to care for the ears and kept infections out and they heal up properly. My daugther has since added several more piercings to the ears (no where else) and has several hidden tatoos on her body of her choice and her age is 31. The majority of the tatoos came when she was a senior in high school and they were self pierced or friend pierced - thank God no infections. So you see, you can give her her first set and she can continue with the others which will be milestones.
I had my ears pierced when I was 21 and wished I had had mine done as a child as it was hard for me to wear screw-on earrings as I had small earlobes and screwed them so tight it might as well have been a pierced earring.

When I grew up I recall many city girls that were in girl groups used to have the dangly earrings and when they would get in fights, the first thing they went for were the earrings to rip the ears. That's all I knew about as a child so I waited until I was older. But as you say, it's a personal thing. Good luck either way. I wouldn't lose sleep over getting them done or not.

I have a baby daughter that's three and she was constantly pulling out her hairbows so I bypassed the ear piercing because of being scared of her pulling them out but I have had several friends that did the ear piercing at six weeks old and I believe thats the correct age you can get them done.

It must be a cultural thing-because in my family we wait until a child is old enough to decide for themselves whether they want ear piercing--since it is a permanent thing. Being a newborn nursery RN, I know that our pediatricians do not like for it to be done in newborns- since a newborn does not have an immune system that is as strong as an adult.

At Claire's you can't get them done until after her 9 month vaccinations. I had my little girl's done when she was 12 months old and it did not hurt her. She did not like holding still for them to mark the spot on her ear so they would be even. She never pulled on them or tried to take them out. I am very happy that I had them done at a young age.

They say to wait till they are 3 months old and have had there first set of shots. I had my daughters done at 2 months and had no problem. she only cried for one second or so and it didnt seem to hurt her and she never pulled on them or anything. But if I were you and you can wait, I would do it after her fist set of shots!!!

i'm totally not for it. it's their body. let them wait till they are old enough to decide if they want their ears pierced. i have tried 3 times as an adult only to discover that i am allergic to all types of earrings. can you imagine the torture of that as an infant? ugh!

I had my daughters done at Claire's but I was pretty sure it was after her 3 month vaccinations. It was a great age for her because she didn't even know that they were there, she never messes with them, and I was able to take care of them for her. She is currently 2 and we have never had an issue with them. Good luck

I had both my girls done at around 4 mos. after the vacinations. It was so easy! They barely wimpered. Just don't overdo the solution you put on their earlobes after the piercing...I did it TOO much and one of my girls earlobes got really dry! As far as the PP, I think it is a personal family decision, my family always does it when they are babies and other people wait for the child to decide. Do what is right for your family :)

Hi Alexandra. I am glad you asked this question bc I have never known what to do about this. I have a 3 1/2 yo girl and another on the way. I have thought about getting theirs done together after the baby is born but I just can't decide. After reading the posts, I am still so confused, but I may wait til each one wants to on their own. I just don't know yet. It is a hard decision but good luck making yours! :)

Hello Alexandra,
I had my little girl's ear pierced at 5 weeks old and she is fine.. I took her to her Dr. and they did it with a needle. just ask her pedi about it and I'm sure they will know what to do.. My baby is now 10 months old and she does not even try to pull at them or anything, So I think it's better when they are young..

Good luck!!
-B.

I personally believe that it is my daughter's decision if she gets her ears pierced or not. It is her body. I do not "own" her.

She chose to get her ears pierced when she was in 6th grade. She is now 13 and in 7th grade.

S

After they get their 2 month vaccines is when it's safe.
Double check at her next check up though because it seems every time I turn around, they have a new age for when it's appropriate or safe to do something.
I waited until mine was 6 mnths and she didn't even cry.
I think it scares them more the older they are so the younger you peirce the better off everyone will be! : )
Congrats on your new baby!

Personally, I find piercing babies' ears a bit barbaric. My four-year-old daughter can get her ears pierced when she gets older, when she can make the choice for herself.

I knew a baby who had to go to the doctor, because somehow her earring back had gotten inside of her ear canal. There was blood and pain involved, as the doctor had to use a long pair of tweezers to retrieve it.

Jewelry and babies are not a good combination!

I had my daughters ears pierced at 1 week old. She didn't even cry, just flinched at the noise the gun made. I'm glad I had them done early because she never picked, pulled, or complained about them. If you decide to wait until your daughter is a little bit older, you can request for 2 people to pierce them, one on each side and at the same time so she only has to feel it once. I also suggest having a babies ears pierced just a little bit higher than normal so the holes won't grow down too low when she grows.

Hi my daughter who is now 6. I got hers done when she was 4 months old. She cried but I had her some tylenol waiting and we have never (knock on wood) had infection or any problems at all.

Hi,

I have a 3 1/2 yr. old daughter,Ive gone back and forth
on getting her ears peirced. I finally decided, that I want it to be a special moment for her. I want her to always remember when she was "brave " enough, and decided by herself. I dont look down on anyone that gets it over with when they are babies, but I think it could be a really great memory when they get older to look back on if you waited. Good Luck:)

I don't think there is really a "safe age", just whenever you feel ready. I know of people who have done it as early as 2 weeks. Me personally, I have 2 girls and had both done around 5 or 6 weeks old. As long as you are very careful and keep them clean you shouldn't have any problems. My big thing about doing it early was so they wouldn't even know what was going on and they both cried for about 10 minutes or less and then they were all better. Hope this helps.

Just my person experience tells me don't have a babies ears pierced! I have had mine done 3 times now.It went wrong one time I had them done because I moved as they pieced them. This time around,had them done around christmas last year, one of my ears is constantly trying to close up and is uncomfortable alot of the time.I will not let my little girl who is begging me to have hers done.That is me though...I just don't think it is fair to young kids.I think it is too much hastle and am worried about infections also. Good luck whatever you choose to do!

--M. (____@____.com)

Most businesses will not pierce a baby's ears until after their second set of shots. So that would be about 3 months of age. I didn't do my girl's until her second birthday. But my niece had her daughter's done before she was a year. It is easier to take care of the piercings when she will leave it alone. As a baby the child seems to leave them alone better. I would recommend that you get screw-on backs when your child is small. That way she won't be able to remove the earrings by herself. Be sure you get good quality earrings. Most people who have a allergic reaction to earrings actually have a nickel allergy. The higher the gold karat value in the earrings the less nickel in it. I can not wear any gold less than 18 kt. anymore. Anything less and I will break out.For my earrings ,I use hypoallergenic ones. Most earrings will say if they have any nickel in them.Good Luck and enjoy your little girl.

I got my daughter's pierced at 6months. I had them done at the pediatrician's office. She is now almost 7 and loves to wear earrings. My mom also pierced my ears early (15months) and I have never had a problem with it. If you are not sure about the age, just ask your pediatrician what they would recomend. Good luck.

I have two daughters and both of theirs done at 4 months. I did this because I did not take care of mine when I had them done at 6 and my earing grew to my ear and that really hurt. This way you can take care of them and know that they will be taken care of.