My almost 5 year old daughter has been begging to have her ears pierced. When her older (now 10 year old sister) was about 2.5, she asked for earrings. I proudly took her to Claire’s and lots of screaming later, we had earrings! Then came the “fun” of cleaning them. Let’s just say that a wiggly, screaming 2.5 year old is rather strong! I think I am permanently scarred from that one. Despite all of this, my oldest rarely wears earrings now.
We decided after that we’d wait until our little girls could completely understand everything about what was going to happen and how we’d have to care for them before getting theirs pierced. Today after even more requesting for “princess ears”, I finally agreed to take my almost 5 year old to Claire’s. We picked out the perfect earrings, pink flowers, and then asked about having her ears done. They told us sure, but we were next after another girl.
We waited our turn and our super excited almost 5 year old watched patiently to see what was going to happen. I think this was the best thing we could have done because after the piercing before us, her face went from excitement to horror to PLEASE MOMMY DONT MAKE ME DO THAT!
And I didn’t. We promptly left and went to Sonic instead. Here’s my beautiful non pierced daughter:
I am currently on the hunt for some stick-on “princess ears”, so if you see some let me know.
That brings up a good question. At what age do you allow your daughters to pierce their ears? I’d love to hear feedback on how/when you decided and your daughter’s reactions.
Toni says
I had my lo ear’s pierced at 6mos. She is now 22mos. We had a few minor instances where we would lose ear rings due to her discovering them. But now she loves her earrings and tells me all the time how pretty she looks.
Susan Childers says
I have been where you are, and am currently there. My 8 year old wanted her ears pierced at age 4, and because she loved jewelry (and was extremely good at taking care if it), I agreed. She proudly got her ears pierce without a peep, and we had no problems at all with caring for them. Perfect. Or so we thought. Several months later, we still hadn’t removed the starter earrings, but she was going to be in a little pageant, so I had the bright idea of changing the earrings into little sparkly ones. I took them off, and she totally refused to let me near her with the new ones. I tried doing it when she was asleep, but she woke up immediately & fought me like a cat. Her ears ended up growing up, and we had to get them re-pierced later…. And when it came time to change them, I was very sure she understood the rules. Lol! Now my 5 year old is begging to get hers pierced. The difference is that she isn’t as responsible with jewelry, and really likes to play rough (aka tomboyish!). I am putting off taking her to Claire’s…… But don’t tell her that!
Maria says
My daughter is 7 almost 8 she got hers done a few months ago she had to ask and really understand it.
Britny says
I personally would never pierce a baby’s ears. My daughter is almost 5 and hasn’t asked for real earrings yet. But, I am definitely going to wait until she wants them done. I think it should be up to her since it’s her body. If she were to ask today, I would explain that it will hurt and need to be taken care of. If she still wants to move forward, I would let her. But, I like how you said your daughter was able to watch someone that had theirs done. I think I will try to do that when the time comes, if she’s still young.
Anna says
I had my ears pierced around 2nd grade I remember that it hurt sooooo much and had a hard time with them growing back and getting infected. Fortunately, today as a thirty-something, they are fine. My daughter is now 6 has no inkling for ear piercing.
Maybe it was God helping your sweet girl know it wasn’t her time getting her ears pierced today. 🙂
Jennifer says
My almost 5 year old wanted hers pierced a few months ago. We went to Claire’s and she went through the whole procedure. She cried, but was ultimately proud of getting it done. So, we get home and she WOULD not let us clean them. She was horrified. We tried our best, but only got a good 2 weeks worth in of turning and cleaning. Then one day the back came off of one and it fell out. We still had it and I cleaned her ear really well, but she didn’t want it put back in. We finally talked her into it. Then when the 6 weeks were up, we took them out and she was a nervous wreck about it. She would not absolutely NOT let us put more in. So, for about 6 weeks she had pierced ears and I will not try again until she is at least 10 (like I did with my first daughter). Money wasted, but lesson learned!
MommyOctopus says
WOW Jennifer! I’m glad we didn’t go ahead with it! That’s how my oldest was. Cleaning them was a NIGHTMARE.
Lisa says
I took my daughter on her 2nd Birthday. There was 2 women at the piercing pagoda so they did it at the same time. My daughter cried all the way from the kiosk to the escalator (about 5 ft, if that) and it was done. She never pulled on her earrings and I am fortunate she never minded having them turned and cleaned. we had a great experience. Now my pediatrician’s office will pierce the ears once they complete a certain series of shots.
CT says
I’ve always said, “When you’re ready, let’s go to Claire’s.” I’m not into setting an arbitrary age for these things. So it was decided after the last basketball game for the season we’d go. She’s 8.5 and for her it was a great age to get them done. Soon she’ll have braces (she got the expander two weeks after ears) and is entering the super awkward pre-teen years. I remember wanting help in navigating those years. In a small way I hope this helps her meet these years graciously. . .and with a fun pair of earrings.
Kristen says
Our experience was like Lisa’s. My daughter was almost 3 and had been begging for earrings. She only cried for a few minutes. We had no problems with cleaning. She is almost seven now and always wears them. Her grandmother always buys her new earrings for her birthday, and she’s loves it!
I don’t know that there is a “right age.” I think it depends on the child. There can always be problems like infections at any age that you have no control over.
ash says
I’m in year 7 and I still haven’t gotten them done ?
Bob the builder says
What are you even doing on this website?
My daughter was eleven when she got hers done
Amy S says
When is a good age for ear piercing? Well, as a girl mom, I remember being faced with this decision when I was pregnant with our daughter, making the decision when to pierce your daughter’s ears. For one, I couldn’t believe it was such a debatable choice for us mom’s to have to make!
There are those who believe our daughter’s should make the choice for themselves when they’re old enough, and others who feel like myself that if ears are pierced when they’re infants, then first, your adorable little girl won’t be mistaken for a little boy, second, she’ll have no memory of having it done.
Personally, I think both are valid reasons, but hubby wanted to wait until it was HER decision. That all changed at our daughter’s First Birthday party. We had chosen a princess theme and one little girl, not much older than our daughter came in a white dress, pink bow and tiara in her hair with large pearl studs in each ear peeking through her blonde hair. When she approached me, I told her how cute she looked as a princess, and immediately spotted her earrings! I pointed her towards my husband, as this blond haired, blue eyed toddling around, she approached my husband.
On that day, things changed as he saw her pearl earrings, waving his hand to get my attention. Smiling wildly, he said, “Her earrings are soO CUTE!” After the party, I said nothing. Suddenly, I said, ” HELLO !” What have I been TELLING you. Yes, it’s super cute and I wanted Sandi to have earrings too! Now, I had his attention. He was smitten how pretty Sandi’s friend looked with earrings and couldn’t stop talking about how pretty Sandi would look with little pearl earrings too.
I said, I’m ready. As I turned to him smiling, I couldn’t believe the words out of my mouth, “…I want Sandi to have her ears pierced.” I called our ped the next day who encouraged me to go ahead saying her office didn’t do them, but recommended Piercing Pagoda and sent me some “Suggestions for Moms having their daughter’s ears pierced.” They were most helpful find the right person, place and had care instructions for newly pierced ears as well.
If any moms are thinking about it, then their mommy intuition may be telling them earlier is best for them. Drop me an e-mail if you would like our ped’s tips.
amyswor1765@gmail.com