Annabel has expressed a mild interest in getting her ears pierced ever since a few of her friends had it done last year. She loves how earrings look, but has voiced a fear that the piercing will be painful. This may or may not be because the first time she asked me about it I was like, “Well, they clamp your earlobe and then they push a really big needle all the way through it, from one side to the other.” This lead to a lot of follow-up questions:
Her: Does it hurt?
Me: Well, it didn’t feel like a massage.
Her: They make a HOLE in your EAR?
Me: Yep!!
Her: Do your ears bleed?
Me: I think so? I remember my ears being kind of sticky, that was probably blood.
Her: But you have a bunch of piercings…
Me: I was definitely not sober for at least one of those (OK I didn’t actually tell her that.)
I really have no issues with her getting her ears pierced. My biggest thing has always been that she be old enough to handle keeping them clean, and that she understand that even though it’s minor on the pain scale, piercing isn’t getting tickled with feathers, either.
Annie never subscribed to the “beauty is pain” mantra, so ear piercing has been a hard pass for her. But in the last few weeks, she’s started talking about it again. After coming across a display of earrings yesterday while we were school shopping, she said, “I really want my ears pierced. Can we go watch people get their ears pierced?”
We walked over to the local Claire’s…just in time to watch a baby get her ears pierced. Annie asked the baby’s mom if it was okay for her to get up close and watch because, “I’m trying to get brave enough for this.”
Meanwhile, I stood a few feet away thinking this was going to set Annie back a few years because of COURSE the baby cried. I honestly thought Annie might even cry…she looked kind of pale when we headed back to the car. But then she said, “When we get home can I watch videos on YouTube of girls getting their ears pierced?” Um. Sure?
I queued up a list of videos and Annie sat like this watching them:
But then she totally shocked me by saying, “Mom, can we go back right now and get my ears pierced?” I’d seen that the next time they were offering ear piercing was on Saturday so I said, “No, they aren’t piercing ears again until Saturday.” She made a face but that was the last we talked about it.
When Mike came home, Annie followed him through the house talking about her day. They went into her bedroom for a while, and Mike looked confused when he emerged. “Annie says you told her she could get her ears pierced on Saturday?” You’d think I’d know by now that you have to be CLEAR with Annabel or she’ll hear what she wants!
After we told her that we’d have to talk about it, Mike asked her why she wanted her ears pierced. “Because they look pretty!” She replied. “That’s good enough for me,” I said. But Mike pressed on, “Don’t you think you’re a little young to get them pierced? Mom was 14 when she got her ears pierced.”
“FOURTEEN?!?!?!” Annabel screamed.
“Yeah, that’s how I felt about it, too,” I sighed.
“Why were you so old? I won’t be fourteen for a hundred million years!”
“Well, I wanted my ears pierced earlier but Gramma and Bampa wouldn’t let me.”
“That’s so mean!”
“Yeah, I thought so, too.”
Mike rolled his eyes and was like, “Okay, well, once mom gets over her decades-long grudge, we’ll talk about when you can get your ears pierced.”
After Annie went to bed, Mike said, “So, why shouldn’t she get her ears pierced?” And I was like, *shrug*. Like I said, I don’t really have any issues with it. She just has to truly understand what she’s choosing to do (you know, put holes in her ears), and know that there’s responsibility involved in helping them heal. I figure that since she’s kept her goldfish alive all this time (ask me how I feel about that), she’s probably going to be able to handle the responsibility of cleaning her ears.
Of course, she will also need to be able to get it done without totally losing her mind. Considering the last thing she said to us last night was, “I’m sure I could do it, I just might scream REALLY loud when it happens,” she might not be there yet.
Elizabeth says:
So take this with a grain of salt, but Claire’s isn’t the best place to get a piercing done.
I got all of my ear piercings done at Claire’s in the mall and my first holes are fine (I was closer to the age you were when I got mine done) but my second holes are wonky – not even and one was so close and at an angle that I couldn’t wear 2 sets of studs in that ear so I had to let it close (I have 3 holes now). If you can go to a piercing or tattoo salon- they tend to be cleaner and their piercers are usually state certified- Claire’s they only need one day “class” (at least here in Maryland)
Jess says:
Yes, please take her to a tattoo/piercing place! Much more sanitary, less painful, less trauma to the ear because of how the piercing is done! Claire’s would be banned with those damn guns.
meg says:
I had my older daughter had hers pierced by her pediatrician…not sure about Claire’s either.
Kandi Ann Brewer says:
My pediatrician did mine too, 40 years ago. I was 7. I don’t remember pain or anything.
Jenny says:
I agree. My Claire’s piercings are uneven. For my daughter her first ones were done at Claire’s and she had issues. She had them done many years later at a tattoo salon and hasn’t had problems.
Melissa says:
HA exactly my story! I’m not sure where the first ones were done (I was 3) but I had the 2nd set done at Claire’s and they are uneven. I don’t have a girl yet but the think I’ll get them done when she’s young, I loved just having them growing up and not having to contemplate it. But yes, definitely go to a tattoo parlor!
Joan says:
I wasn’t allowed to get my ears pierced until I was 16. I went in on my birthday to have it done (which I don’t regret). However, one more thing to consider is her participation in sports. I played basketball at the time, and I had to remove the starter studs. After the games, it was work getting them back in holes that wanted to close. Maybe she could wear them for soccer, but if not, that’s something else to consider. I love the way she’s researching this decision!
MB says:
Yes! Sports! Doesn’t she play soccer? Highly suggest waiting until summer when major activity is pool stuff and there’s no risk of bumping newly pierced ears.
meg says:
I had to be 13yrs old…I feel your pain!! But my 8yr old doesn’t have her done yet. She asks in passing, but nothing that ever sticks…
Nellie says:
I had my daughter’s ears pierced when she was a baby – the Pediatrician did it. Even though he marked them first, they still weren’t even when he put the holes in. I hate when piercings are uneven but I got over it because my daughter cried her brains out and gave me a look of “when I’m older, you’ll have hell to pay, I won’t forget it either!”
Your daughter is so incredibly mature for her age, I love that! I think whatever the outcome, everything will be just fine.
Josie says:
Another vote to avoid the mall if you can! When I was 16, I worked at a Limited Too and they offered ear piercing, so a bunch of high school girls were piercing ears with like two hours training! I mean, this was also the 90s, and at the time it was super cool, but I am kind of grossed out by it looking back! And I definitely wouldn’t have been able to handle it if a kid freaked out. A pro has probably seen it all!
Becca says:
Aww – I just got a little emotional at the thought of Annie getting her ears pierced. That’s such a grown up thing to do! I can’t wait to see how it all goes!
Megan says:
I had my first holes done at one of those piercing stands in the mall. I’m not sure if it was their lack of ability or something that happened afterward, but my holes are also uneven. One is much lower than the other. But it looks like there’s a scar there, so that might have happened later.
I was 9. My mom also was big on the whole “you have to be old enough to take care of them” thing. I remember thinking it hurt worse, and for longer, than I thought it would, but I didn’t cry or scream. The follow-up care was not so great, though. Despite my best efforts, I did get some infections, and I remember the earrings being stuck to my ears and my mom trying to turn them, and there *may* have been some tears involved then.
I got my second holes at Claire’s when I was 14 and it was fine. I think I also had fewer issues with infections the second time. But that was almost 20 years ago…
Jane says:
My 2 daughters were each 4’ish when they got their (first)ear piercings. Also at Claire’s btw, and it’s been years ago (double guns – 1 2 3 go!). But I recently have seen the tattoo & piercing shop where I got my tattoo last summer (yay!) advertising they do piercings for young girls. I forget what their age limit is, but on their facebook page they regularly post pics of girls brought in by their parents. (They get to choose their earrings and some girls choose 2 different colors.) It sure looks like a good experience for them, and makes sense it would be much more sanitary and handled by someone way more experienced. If back then were now I think I’d go the tattoo/piercing place route for my daughters. Check it out! p.s. Can’t help but think how intrigued Annie would be by the staff and customers there.
Kim says:
Ear piercing is not such a bad thing, considering the number of potential parent/child battles. I wouldn’t do it to a baby (personal choice). I leave it to the kid to decide. My daughter wanted it done at 7. Her choice. If the first ear hurts too much, then don’t get the second one done. No skin off my nose.
Some places will do both at the same time. And I would stay away from the mall too.
I’ll save my battles for when she wants to get a tattoo, or drink underage, or whatever.
Shelley says:
Hi Heather, my 7 year old daughter had her ears pierced a couple weeks ago. My 2 older daughters were done at claires but my youngest went to a tattoo/piercing place. It was explained to me that those guns shove a dull needle through their ear, while a piercing needle is very very sharp. She didn’t even flinch when she had it done and there has been very little healing time.
Margie says:
I was 8 days old. Mexicans!
I love that you are giving her the choice and letting her think this out. Awesome.
So, about that goldfish?
Jana L Frerichs says:
This comment made me literally LOL.
Sirena says:
Me too! Mexican ear piercing traditions for the win. My sisters and I have always loved having pierced ears if we thought about it at all and I remember being a little freaked out when I saw my older friends getting it done at the mall with the piercing gun.
Margie says:
YES!
I CANNOT handle watching it. Thanks, Mom, for putting hole in my ears as a newborn. I don’t even wear earrings now but they don’t close. Ever.
Jean says:
Italian here…We do the ears early. My daughter was two weeks old. We had a party, her great grandmother held her while the nurse (she came to the house-my sister’s friend) pierced her ears with the gun that the dr let her borrow, then we did what Italians do. We ate to celebrate. My daughter is 26 now. She never said anything about not letting it be her choice. Italians have the “do it early so the kid doesn’t remember and get it over with” attitude when it comes to piercing ears.
Kim says:
Just my 2 cents, the guns they use at Claires can not be properly cleaned, and are way more damaging to your tissue than going to a tattoo/piercing shop. At a tattoo shop, everything is single use and sterilized and the people there are properly trained. It is a mush better option than going to Claires.
Ann says:
I love Mike’s comment about the decade long grudge (and I can relate). I had mine pierced in 2nd grade for my first communion (although I wanted them sooner); so I waited to do the same for my girls. My now 9 year old was fine with the wait and did very well caring for them herself. I bought a package of the alcohol pads (used by medical offices) and she would clean them daily. Best of luck with whatever you choose!
Caroline says:
I will throw in my two cents about the tattoo parlor option. I’d read too that it was far more hygienic than Claire’s for example. We made an appointment for my 7 year old, but it was NOT the place for her. First of all she thought the music was too loud. I think because she was nervous it felt much louder than it was. On top of that despite having seeing people with tattoos and piercings before having those people stand over her getting ready to put holes in her ears was NOT a good thing. Plus, they said she had to do it lying down which freaked her out more. Overall the environment was just way too much for my kiddo. Obviously each is different. We left and went to Claire’s where she sat up in a tall chair and two friendly ladies pierced her at once while she held an adorable little bear dressed like a princess. It’s been a year. Her ears and mine that were pierced at Claire’s 26 years ago are juuuust fine.
Pamela says:
Hi there,
I’m a long time reader/lurker but not one to post but the ear piercing thing is something that I can chime in on. I agree with all the other comments that say don’t go to Claire’s (or any mall piercing place). I got my ears done years ago at the mall (and I’m 45 now) because that’s where you went to get it done. They use a gun that doesn’t remove the tissue cleanly so to this day both my lobes feel lumpy (gross I know). Most days wearing earrings are fine but some days they really hurt and I think it’s because of the piercing gun. Totally check out a tattoo shop because they use a hollow needle (I believe) that removes the tissue so that hole is clean through.
Good luck!
Shana says:
I was just about Annie’s age when mine were done. I screamed the mall down, but it was fast and I don’t remember the specifics.
I’m actually considering getting a second set of piercings — I always wanted them. I’d go to a tattoo parlor or my doctor, though, for the reasons everyone’s stated above.
Rachael says:
Definitely go to a tattoo parlor. I have twin girls and there were no tears and no infections! One cries over EVERYTHING! Couple of days of Neosporin and we were good. I’m sure you can find a respectable parlor in your area. The way the person explained it to us, is when you get your ears pierced by the ear piercing gun, your body thinks it is a wound and tries to heal itself and infections can occur.
Alyssa says:
I completely agree with everyone suggesting to get her ears pierced at a piercing studio. (Wish this was a suggestion back in the 80’s when I had mine done, instead of the local mall place!) They typically have multiple years in the business and many state certifications, unlike an 18yr old at the mall piercing places. My daughter had her ears pierced last winter at an actual body piercing studio, she was 6. The people in there not only so very sweet to her, but also explained what would happen and how to take care of them in language she would understand. Plus they used surgical grade metal which helps prevent not only more scar tissue then the Claire’s first pierce earrings, it also allows the ear to heal faster/safer and we were told that she would have less of a allergic reaction to other metals in the future. If I could go back and get my ears re-pierced I would for sure go to a piercing studio.
Jenny says:
I also didn’t get my ears pierced until I was a teenager. And I had to keep my room clean for 6 months. My stepdaughter got hers pierced when she was about Annie’s age and it was a disaster. A lot of the issue was with her keeping then clean. She had them re piereced at about 14 and hasn’t had issues. The first time was a Claire’s and the second time was at a tattoo/piercing place. If you do decide to let Annie get hers done, I recommend that you go the tattoo/piercing parlor route. From what we were told they do kids ears more often than you would think. Plus in my state they have to be licensed unlike the teenagers at Claire’s. In mine and my daughter’s experience the needle hurts less than the gun as well.
Heather Muska says:
I used to manage a piercing pagoda. Annie is the perfect age for a piercing! Call ahead and make sure there are two people working so she can have both done at the same time and make sure the people doing it have been piercing for at least a year. Don’t worry, there are no clamps involved!
JennS says:
I got my ears pierced when I was 5 at Claire’s and had no problems keeping my earrings or eats cleaned. The girl we went with was 8 or 9 and the whole mall heard her screaming. Although it did take me about 20 years to find out itchy ears is not normal and I am allergic to nickel. I also have a reaction to sterling silver earrings, so there’s that… fun fun.
Cheryl says:
I was 13 when I got mine done. My mom promised me I could when I turned 13, even though my dad said no! I still remember going with her to get it done.
Sheila says:
We took my stepdaughter to Claire’s when she just turned 7 for her first piercings and she did amazingly fine. (Walked around all day exclaiming, “I can’t believe I got my ears pierced!”) My husband took her back to Claire’s around 10 or 11 for her second holes- also no issues. Last Christmas, all she wanted was a cartilage piercing (age 14 1/2), and that we took her to the tattoo shop for….no issues with that either, except now she has a list of other piercings that she wants, but we’re tapped on out adding holes to her body. Anything more she’ll have to do on her own time and own dime, and since the tattoo shop won’t pierce anything but ears for kids under 16, she should be okay for at least a year and a half.
Lisa says:
I got my ears pierced when I was about 8 yrs old. At the Dentist office my mom worked at. SO odd I know, but I guess they were offering teeth cleaning and a free ear piercing? Not sure. But I did not want my daughter to wait, so when she was 6 months old, the required age for babies, we had them pierced. And it wasn’t so bad. A bit of Motrin for a day or two and she was fine. The part that sucked was when she got a bit older, and was like, what are these things in my ears? I shall pull them out and throw them across the room!! Multiple times. So I have spent a small fortune replacing missing earrings. Good luck to Annie, it doesn’t take much to care for them and it will not hurt so bad if you Motrin her up prior to the visit.
REK981 says:
Meh. My girl got them done at 6 I think? We did it in the spring since she played fall soccer. By that time they had healed and we could put a small earring in and then cover it with a band-aid for soccer. But she let them close. So she did it again 2 years later I think? Then she stopped wearing earrings. She is 12 now and got some special pearls that my Mom had on her birthday. Of course, her holes didn’t close this time so we popped them right back in. FWIW we did hers at Claires. It is a disposable closed package, they wore gloves. There were 2 ppl so they did her ears at the same time, they measured and made sure the holes were even before they popped them in. The noise of the guns was more startling to her than the pinch. It felt like a really bad pinch. She didn’t even cry.
I don’t have my ears done. Tried it around age 8 but I have super fat lobes and even long posts were too short for my ears. So I was miserable and I don’t want to pay a professional piercer lots of money to stab me and put hoops in…Plus I have long, thick hair so my ears are almost always covered.
Emily says:
I got it done as a child (9?) and let them close up about a week later. The cleaning and care of them made me gag. I hated the feeling of it and seeing the hole and the scar. I thought I was ready and I’m sure my mom did too, but it ended up being way too much for me.
I’d wait…
Nancy says:
Chiming in to agree with “when she’s ready to do it & able to take care of them.” My 15-year old just got her ears pierced for the first time because she wanted them done before school started. She told me she had been afraid of it since she was a child and then realized she wasn’t scared any more and decided to do it. I never pushed her, mostly because I had a problems with some infections and what I know now was probably nickel sensitivity. I was 11 & the piercings were done by my pediatrician. As I remember it, my ears ached for the next day or so and honestly if I had the chance to do it over again, I wouldn’t.
Anyway, my daughter had them done at Icing. Absolutely no drama and no nagging needed about caring for them. She said the piercings didn’t hurt, maybe a little stinging for an hour afterward, and I was super-impressed with the protocol, cleanliness etc.
Kelly says:
Both of my girls had them done at Claire’s, and we have never had a problem. My older daughter was 11 when she got hers done and it literally took five trips to Claire’s before she got the courage to do it–dad needed to be there, her friend needed to be there, even her brother needed to come, any excuse to get the courage up. Once it was done, however, she was like why was I so worried. She just had her second holes done last year. My youngest, was I think 5, and one day just said can I do it? She went in, sat down and that was that. After a couple of years though, one of the holes closed up because she had stopped wearing earrings–we did go back to get them redone.
I think the funniest thing was when we were at Claire’s during one of my older daughter’s “attempts”, there was an older lady (about 75ish), had hers pierced and when it was over she said, “I waited 70 years for that.” It was funny.
Good luck, Annie!
Becki says:
Claire’s has been great for me. (Have 2 sets in ears.)
Key issue WILL SHE KEEP THEM CLEAN.
I was 13 when allowed to pierce them and still wasn’t responsible. Don’t remember the actual first piercing but I sure remember Dad REPIERCING the hole that had closed due to infection. YIIIIIIIIKKKKKKKKKES
Casey says:
My daughter had them done when she turned 4. I just wanted her to be old enough to ask for them. After all, it’s her body (which is why I didn’t do it as a baby). Her pediatrician’s office actually did them! They had two nurse practitioners on staff who each did an ear at the same time. Ellie WAILED! She cried for a solid hour after that. I honestly think that if we had gotten one at a time, she would be walking around with just one ear pierced. Anyway, just throwing a plug out there for the doctor’s office…or at least doing both ears at once. My daughter is almost 8 now and she still loves having them pierced.
Val says:
I was EIGHTEEN when I finally got my ears pierced because I was a big huge chicken about the pain. It hurts and people who say otherwise are dirty liars. And they got infected and never healed properly and I had to let them close.
Then I got them pierced a second time when I was about 26. I had an allergic reaction to a cheap pair of earrings and had to let them close again.
I’m considering doing it again at a tattoo parlor because I’m convinced the guns are the problem. I’m 35 and am still mostly concerned about the pain. Honestly, the worst part for me was turning them while they were healing. That feeling grossed me out so much.
Kristi says:
Avoid Clares! So… my 10yo just got it done three months ago. Hubby didn’t want to let her but I convinced him. We went to a piercing shop. She paid for the piercing, I paid for the earrings. The first one was easy, the second one bled. We kept them in for 8 weeks. Took them out, tried to put new ones in and we couldn’t angle it in right. Put the others ones in (I shoved them in, she cried). We took them out a week later, same problem. and she said NO EARRINGS FOR ME. So nothing has been in them for two weeks and she hasn’t said anything. Ugh.
– do it before you get actual referees for soccer games. That is around age 8. They make you take them out.
– do it around sports, like above. Summer or winter.
– You can’t swim for about a month. You aren’t supposed to… bacteria.
– Think about getting small hoops instead of studs. Studs are really uncomfortable to sleep in and they have to sleep with them for weeks.
– wait TWELVE weeks… not eight. Just my experience.
*sigh*
Anna says:
Great idea about the hoops! Sleeping in earrings is the worst, but hoops would be much more comfortable.
Bianca says:
I suppose the only thing is that hoops would only make a very tiny hole, whereas studs make a wider hole and can accommodate a wider range of different types of earring, not just hoops.
Jess says:
Eh, if she has them done at a body piercing place, they could put in captive bead rings so there are no backs to be irritating and the hoops come in the same gauges as standard studs.
Erin says:
Heather, this is all just brilliant. My daughter is Annie’s age and we’ve been having this same conversation. My major concern is that she will freak out when we actually go to get it done. Love that you have her a preview. So smart!
Alexandria says:
Love this! My daughter just turned 5 and she wanted them pierced. I explained that it would be a pinch and she said ok. She didn’t shed a tear and was VERY responsible with keeping them clean. We used Claire’s and no issue. Just ask how long the girl has been there and pick the one who has been there the longest. Annie is mature for her age, she will do great.
DawnK says:
Sorry but I am going against everyone and telling you to go to Claire’s. My girls both had their ears pierced there when they were five. It was a great experience and they did fine. I would suggest paying extra for the 14K earrings and skip the surgical steel. It contains nickel which can cause contact dermatitis. Save the tattoo parlor for when she is a teenager and wants her cartilage pierced. They do a fabulous job on cartilage.
Heather Muska says:
I used to work for piercing pagoda (I was a manager) I had some employees who used to work for Claires. They have you piercing on the first day at Claires. When they came to pagoda, they said they learned so much; there is a while training you go through and you learn everything from cleanliness to drawing the dots straight. I would advise against Claires from the literally thousands of piercings that I did and what I have seen Claires do. Also, pagoda carries two different brands of piercers, inverness and studex. In my experience, inverness is much better than studex, their piercing instruments don’t jam like the studex ones and the backs on them entirely cover the sharp edge so you don’t get your head poked when you lie down and you don’t push the back on too tight which causes infections and could encourage the earlobe to tear.
Paula says:
I was going to write about my personal piercing story but after reading some of the other comments I am just going to say DON’T TAKE HER TO A TATTOO PLACE!! Because, well then she will be counting the days until she turns 18 and can go back for her 1st tattoo.
jane says:
Haha! My daughter had hers pierced @ Claire’s, and still ended up getting her first tattoo on her 18th bday. Ironic right?! ? (It’s a pretty little flower drawn by a talented artist friend of hers, and is behind her ear.)
Chris says:
Another voice chiming in to say please don’t do it at Claire’s with a gun. Go to a tattoo/piercing place. There’s tons is research on why, but everyone commenting here is right- a hollow needle removes the tissue much better and you’ll be getting a sterile environment with a trained professional. My four with-a-gun piercings have been nothing but trouble, and my three needle piercings have been great. I’m 30. That’s a lot of years of trouble. (I was 11 and 18 at the time of the gun piercings.)
Skye says:
I got mine done at Claire’s in middle school, hated taking care of them and found it gross, and let them heal. I didn’t get them re-pierced until I was 24 and I went to a tattoo and piercing studio. They were awesome. Another great reason to go to a piercing studio (in addition to the ones other people have listed) is that the piercer will do the first earring change for free (after 8 or so weeks) – I was worried I wouldn’t know if it was fully healed. You can bring in your own earrings for that.
Since Annie is a pool girl, definitely warn her about not being able to swim afterwards, and maybe wait until the end of pool season!
Kirsten says:
I realize that it may be an unpopular opinion but god I HATE people getting babies ear’s pierced. It’s painful and the children don’t understand why its happening. Not to mention that they can’t take care of them on their own.
It’s purely for the parents. You shouldn’t permanently alter your children’s body when they can’t give consent. ESPECIALLY for trivial cosmetic things.
The whole “well they won’t remember it thing” makes no sense to me either. Not remembering something in 10 years doesn’t change the pain when it happens! If I kicked someone I knew in the shin they probably wouldn’t remember it a decade from now but they still wouldn’t appreciate it!
I saw a baby getting her ears pierced once and the poor kid turned so red as she screamed and never forgot it. I don’t understand purposely inflicting pain on your own child for vanity. Just my unsolicited two cents lol.
Good luck with Annie. She’s old enough to manage them I think but I would be sure to explain to her that she’ll have to take them out for sports and stuff because my first ones closed up after I had to take them out for soccer. I was convinced it would hurt to put them back in.
Bridget says:
My girls were 5 when they had theirs done. I took them to a jewelry story. I was 16 when I had mine done.
Michell says:
Might as well add my story. Down here in South Texas, ear piercing is something that happens to most babies at birth, I think it is the culture. I remember being asked in grocery stores why my baby girl’s ears were not pierced. Fast forward a few years, when the BFF had a 3 and a 7 year old, and mine was 5. 3 year old’s “auntie” picked her up from Nana’s house one afternoon and took her to the mall and just had it done, didn’t even ask. 3 year old loved it, the 7 year old got jealous and had to copy that day, and the 5 year old in the middle thought about it for about 5 seconds and decided if a 3 year old whiny butt could do it, so could she and away we went, all three girls, same week. None of the 3 of them could take care of them at all, so it was all parental care all the time, but 20+ years later, they still have their holes. BFF and I however have lost our sanity raising the 3 of them!(Even with spouse help.) By the way, we did Claire’s in the mall. Only option….our doctor didn’t believe in it.
Meg says:
I have the same attitude you have. My mom let me get my ears pierced the first time I asked (because she was not only not allowed to get her pierced, she then pierced them HERSELF with a needle and a block of ice, while living in a camper for the summer as a teen, barf!) so when my daughter said she wanted hers done, I kept telling her “it hurts really bad, worse than a shot” because I wasn’t going to BS her. She screamed like she was DYING. And freaked out the first few days getting them cleaned (I had to tell her to quit it if she wanted pretty earrings forever – otherwise I was going to take them out and be done with it.) But now, easy breezy, and I think she looks cute as heck.
Lauren says:
Hi Annie,
I’ve been reading your mother’s words since before you were born, and your mom wrote about how you wanted your ears pierced. You sure are getting big! Getting your ears pierced is a big step, and it takes a lot of work to keep your ears healthy after getting them done.
You probably think that ‘everyone has their ears pierced.’ Guess what? That’s not true. I’m 34 years old and I don’t have my ears pierced. My sisters and my mom do, but I don’t. People are amazed when they realize that I don’t have my ears pierced. It is kinda fun to be different that way. There are other ways you can make your ear prettIER (cuz I’m sure your ears are gorgeous to begin with)!
If you decide that getting your ears pierced is really what you want, then be sure to pick out a great first pair of earrings. I recommend little green jewels, but you probably will like pink or purple better. I hope that if you get your ears pierced, it is because YOU want them done. It is kinda fun to be different though.
Your friend,
Lauren
Bianca says:
I got my ears pierced when I was 11 by the same guy who had done my cousin’s ears, my mum’s, and both my aunts’ ears. He’d done it for years and was very professional. Never had any problems with my ear piercings. But guess what? He used a gun rather than a needle. (I’m glad he did, as needles terrify me, and with the gun you can’t see it as much!) So I’m highly inclined to think the whole guns/needles debate is a crock of s**t. What matters is SKILL and HYGIENE. Gun does NOT automatically = bad. Look for a place where both you and Annie are comfortable, and where you are happy that they are well-trained and hygienic in their practices. That’s all that matters.
Susan from Colorado says:
I’ll chime in, too!
I recommend a tattoo shop that has an experienced piercer. My daughter had her ears pierced when she as fairly young and for some reason, she probably removed her earrings at some point, the holes closed up. When she was about 16 or 17 she wanted to get them repierced and we took her to a local tattoo shop. The woman was examining my daughters earlobes and and asked if she had had them pierced with a gun. Evidently, there was quite a lot of scar tissue or something like that because the gun isn’t the best method for piercing. It’s quick and cheap but damages the tissue. It makes healing more difficult, too.
Also, food for thought. I have an allergic reaction to certain metals and when I have my ears pierced I’ve learned to only ask for titanium. It’s what is used in surgical inplants and the body will not react to it. It can be ordered in all kinds of fun colors, too! Someone mentioned the loud music at tattoo shops and how that might scare a young child. I was thinking you could always ask the shop to turn the music down if the music was a problem for Annie. I’m sure they would be happy to accommodate you for the brief amount of time it takes to get in and out if it helps to make her feel comfortable. ?
Mary says:
I had mine pierced for my 13th birthday — at Piercing Pagoda at the mall. I recently found my original studs and they are soooo tiny. My seven-year-old has been asking for years. I said she can have them for her 10th birthday. She doesn’t want to wait that long, but I just say that she will get them three years earlier than I did so she can’t argue…too much.
Pattie says:
My 5-year-old got her ears pierced at a Claire’s on New Year’s Day. She didn’t cry and it didn’t hurt at all. That said, even though we were religious about cleaning her ears three times a day for the first six weeks like we were supposed to, she got an infection not long after and her ears closed up. So now she’s trying to psych herself up to get them pierced again.