When do you think it is a good age to pierce your daughters ears?

Question

I am think about piercing my little girls ears....shes 19months....what age is a good time to do this? and please tell me of your experience good or bad....cried heaps, pulled at them, unable to clean them.....etc

the reason im battling with this desicion is that that i didnt get my ears pierced until i was 14 and it wasnt because i didnt want them at 8...but i was scared out of my pants to get them done as i understood more of what was involved.....
personally im not wanting to do it because its cute or pretty.....i dont think it is.....
lately she has been touching my earrings and she has pulled them out on occassion and tried to put them in hers....obviously there was no choking risk as i was with her....when i asked her if she wanted earrings like mummy she nodded....not that means she understands whats involved but there is an interest of some kind......and i then for the first time started to contemplate getting them done for her

Answer 1

I got my daughters ears pierced when she was 9 months old. She screamed like a banshee for about 3 minutes and then acted as if they werent even there. I asked her dr first and he said it was fine. I made sure she always had the little rubber things on the back of her posts so that it didnt poke her and so they didnt come off. She is now 6, loves wearing earrings and has no memory of getting of the pain of getting them pierced. Oh and she also never gave me any problem with turning them or cleaning them.

Answer 2

I have three girls, all of which got their ears pierced when they were four months old. They cried for about a minute or so. I'm not sure if it is the pain of getting them pierced, or the noise the gun makes. I'm glad I did, because they would be too scared to do it now. Plus it was easy to keep them clean, and they healed in about two weeks. It's you're decision, no-one can make it for you, but it is easier in the long run. Make sure she is current on all her immunizations first. Best of luck.

Answer 3

You should wait until your daughter is old enough to decide to want them pierced. It's her body, not yours. Just because you'd like how they look doesn't mean she will. Your also adding to the work you'll have to do cleaning them. My parents never pierced my ears until I was ready. I was 10 yrs. old & it was so painful. Now as an adult, I hate having my ears pierced. I never wear earrings, I was unable to care for them myself, always had infections & found out that i'm alergic to most metals. I couldn't imagine trying to deal with that from a 19 month old. Just be patient. If she wants it, she'll let you know.

Answer 4

I am 51, so my answer will probably seem old-fashioned to you. When my daughter started asking to have her ears pierced in around 5th or 6th grade, I told her that we would get her ears pierced when she got her first period, as a celebration of her first step into adulthood. This gave us something to mark that point in her life when there is very little in the general society to mark that passage except for the 15year old celebration for some Latino cultures and the Bat Mitsvah for Jewish girls. And it made piercing more important than just another trip to the mall with her friends.

Answer 5

I think an appropriate age is when they are responsible enough to clean and care for them themselves. Of course, that doesn't mean that they wouldn't need supervision. I would say between the ages of eleven and thirteen. I got mine pierced at the age of thirteen and I never got any infection or had any problems. It is a great way to teach a young girl responsibility with something that they really enjoy. When they are that age they really want them pierced so much that they are going to be much more willing to properly care for their own ears!

Answer 6

I really, really wouldnt do it until your little girl is able to understand the basics of hygiene. I am sure loads of little girls have coped with having pierced ears from being 2 yrs to 5 years for example - and havent had an infection - BUT there is a risk there. Having your ears pierced is yet another thing for them to fiddle with and to get germs into.

You could argue that the risk is minimal, but maybe you need to think a bit more yourself, about WHY you want her ears to be pierced.

i.e. It bloody HURTS having your ears pierced! I know - I have it done six times. Why would you want your wee one to have something stab her through her ear lobe and cause her immediate, and longer term pain? Is it because, in your opinion, it will make her look pretty?

If thats the case, maybe you need to think a bit more about what will make your daughter look pretty. I hope this doesnt sound horrid to you, but I really think that trying to dress tiny little girls up as adults (i.e. ear piercings, adult-style clothes, make up even) plays on the warped desires that paedophiles can often have.

Wouldnt it make more sense to try and keep your little girl as a 'little girl' as long as you possibly can? Childhood is so short these days. Surely waiting until she was, say 8 - wouldnt be a big deal?

I have a 2 yr old daughter and its simply never occurred to me to pierce her ears - I cant even get to brush her hair half the time as she is so absorbed with childhood activities like drawing, painting, playing with toys, generally testing her verbal skills on me to wind me up!!! Please dont think about the way your little girl LOOKS - think about the way she behaves more.

lots of love and good luck!

Answer 7

When they are old enough to decide on their own.

I took my daughter a couple of weeks ago because she said she wanted it done. While we were waiting a couple brought their 3yr old and got her ears pierced, she did really well and didn't cry until the second ear was done, she wasn't screaming just a bit teary. But my daughter decided she didn't want to do it...she said she'll go back when she's 16.

Answer 8

A good age to pierce is when they are old enough to decide on their own. If you do pierce your childs' ears, go to a professional piercer that does it with a needle. Any other places like Walmart or Claires' are dangerous. They do not sterilize their equipment enough to kill viruses especially Hepatitis B or C. Ask any professional piercer that has gone through proper training and they will say never use a gun.

Answer 9

well, its better to do at a young age. i remember crying a lot when i had it done. that was long time ago, now with all the technology it doesnt hurt so she shouldnt cry that much. just put disinfectant to clean it for the first 2 weeks and it should be fine. if it gets infected take out the earring.

Answer 10

when she's ready at about 5 or 6. maybe even older when she can help take care of her ears. make it a special occasion for a birthday or something.

when i was in kindergarden and i was turning 6, i wanted to get my ears pierced for a birthday present. and i didnt cry. but some of my firends didnt get their ears pierced until about 12 or so. it just depends on the girl. when she can take care of them by herself and not choke on them. i personally think earrings look silly on little babies.