Post # 1
Member
1552 posts
Bumble bee
I already have my ears pierced, but I’ve decided to get a second piercing in each of my earlobes next weekend. Yay!
It just got me to thinking about my first piercings. My mom had it done when I was a baby. I wore earrings for several years, then stopped and the holes closed up. So when I was about 19, I got them repierced at Claire’s, which is where I plan to go this weekend. I may be a little out of their demographic at 25 years old, but whatever. I don’t see the point of paying a huge amount of money for something that is difficult to mess up.
I’ve never had a problem with babies and young kids having pierced ears, but I know some people are horrified by it. If we have a daughter, I’m sure my husband would let me get her ears pierced while she’s young, even though he might not like it lol.
So, when did you get yours done, and where? And do you think it’s ok to get a young child’s ears pierced, or do you believe they should be able to make the decision on their own when they’re older?
Post # 2
Member
2251 posts
Buzzing bee
I have total of 6 ear lobe holes. My first 2 I got as a child at age 12. Then I got another one on the left ear, but my mom was pissed at me, so i stopped getting holes until my 20s. Then I pierced an upper portion of the ear- cartilage. I don’t recommend to do that because it took me 2 years to heal that one, plus most people develop an ugly bulbous scar on the back of the ear. I got lucky – no scar. The remaining 3 lobe holes i pierced myself with a thick sewing needle. Very easy and free!
Post # 3
Member
5517 posts
Bee Keeper
- Wedding: December 2019 - Paris, France
I got my daughters pierced at the doctor when she was months old
Post # 4
Member
2251 posts
Buzzing bee
Forgot to answer your question. I think its fine to get ears pierced as a child, i don’t judge other parents at all. But when I become a parent, I’ll let my child decide when she wants the piercings done, because they do hurt a lot, and it’s difficult for a young baby to understand why her ears hurt so much. Plus baby won’t sleep well for a while, who needs that shit to deal with. …
Post # 5
Member
1552 posts
Bumble bee
MrsNeutrino: You can get it done at a doctor’s office? I’ve never heard of that.
Post # 6
Member
5517 posts
Bee Keeper
- Wedding: December 2019 - Paris, France
Willow90: YEP! pediatricians do it all the time. I did it before she could pull at them… I will admit, I cried though lol
Post # 7
Member
9519 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
My parents didn’t let me until I was 16, and then I went with my mom to a local jeweler’s to get it done. And now, honestly, I wish I never did (just for aesthetic reasons… I want naked, untouched earlobes!). I’d try letting the holes close, but I’m worried that it’d still look weird, so I just wear small studs.
I don’t judge parents who pierce their young children’s ears, but based on my own experience, I’ll probably do what my parents did. I like the idea of leaving it up to my daughter to decide when she’s old enough to make an informed choice.
Post # 8
Member
1831 posts
Buzzing bee
I must have been between 5-7. I remember going and being excited and picking out my first studs. I’ve always found it uncomfortable sleeping on freshly pierced ears, so I wouldn’t do that to my baby or toddler. Whenever she brings it up I’ll take her.
Post # 9
Member
7627 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
Willow90: I got mine done at Claire’s when I was 7. At that point I was begging my mom to let me get them pierced! I went to an actual piercing shop for my belly button but as you said, ears are hard to mess up.
I don’t judge other parents who pierce their children’s ears but I’ll probably wait for my (future) children to decide if they want them pierced.
Post # 10
Member
2127 posts
Buzzing bee
I’d steer clear of Claire’s personally. Piercing guns should be banned full stop. Slamming a blunt earring through your flesh causes unnecessary trauma, not to mention they are unsanitary and impossible to sterilise.
I had my ears pierced as a baby. I would definitely have my daughters’ ears pierced should I ever have any daughters, though it would be by a doctor or specialist and it would be done by an aseptic technique with a needle.
Post # 11
Member
5184 posts
Bee Keeper
One of my earliest memories was getting my ears pierced. I think I was about 3. I still have my first pair of earrings, they are tiny amethyst (my birthstone) studs in yellow gold.
Post # 12
Member
588 posts
Busy bee
Pleaaassee consider getting them done at a good tattoo shop with a new, clean needle! The piercing guns that a lot of places use can’t be cleaned, so unless they are brand new each time….yuck. Also, the way they do it at claires is to shove a blunt object at great force through the ear, which can lead to damage (more likely if you get cartilage done, but still possible with lobe piercings).
If you can’t tell, I’m pretty against piercing guns. I’ve gotten my lobes done twice (separate holes) a cartilage, an industrial, and an eyebrow piercing done and I don’t think Id ever trust my body to anyone but my certified, vetted piercer. The one time i tried getting my second holes done at claires, they got infected. Plus, if I ever have a problem or need help changing something out, my guy is always willing to see me and help me out at no charge. They know what rejection and migration and infection and hypertrophic scarring and keloids and normal discharge look like.
I took a friend who wanted a piercing to a shop once and her mom flipped that I was taking her to such a ‘scary’ place but really it had a 5 star rating for cleanliness and professionalism. It may not be your thing, but please please consider it.
http://www.safepiercing.org/piercing/faq/#guns
^what the association of professional piercers sat about guns
Post # 13
Member
8027 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
I let my daughters decide when they wanted to get their ears done. My older daughter was 7, my younger daughter was 3. Unfortunately I got them done at the mall because I didn’t have other options: I would have liked to get them done by professional piercer at a real shop, but after calling around I found that no one would pierce a child under 15- even just ears. Which is a shame. But i was not going to make them wait to turn 15 to get their ears pierced- that seemed silly. Neither of them had any problems.
Post # 14
Member
6868 posts
Busy Beekeeper
Piercing Pagoda – is that a chain? No idea. One of those little kiosks in the center of the mall. I was 13, which was mom’s rule. I wanted them well before that, but she was probably right. They got infected more often than I’d like. My sis didn’t want them at all at that age and was in her 30s before they were pierced, I think. So another good reason to wait and let the kids decide for themselves. I only ever got one piercing and hardly ever wear earrings now – comes with the territory at work.
Post # 15
Member
766 posts
Busy bee
My godmother took me just before I turned 12. It was nice, kind of a right of passage. She took me to Caryl Baker and bought these beautiful studs. I’ll probably leave it till later if I have a daughter as well. My SIL got her daughter’s ears pierced when she was a few months old, though. I have no problem with it. I pierced my tragus when I was around 14-15, but it grew out, so I have a little notch in it now.
I went with my friend when she was about 20-21 to have her ears re-pierced, after the holes closed up when she was a kid. She has a low pain threshold so they did both at the same time, and she nearly broke my hands from squeezing them!