When to get your daughter’s ears pierced can be a big decision for many parents. For some cultures, piercing a baby’s ears is as natural as birth. For others, parents set a specific age, often times in the double digits. It’s a personal choice. Since I’m not really that into body piercing (didn’t get my ears pierced until my big sis and boyfriend dragged me into the piercing pagoda at age 16!), my only rule is that my daughter needs to be old enough to take care of it herself.
So Ansley is now 8 1/2 and has been nagging for a good year and a half. I decided to tie it around an incentive program for her to improve her grades. I’ll do anything to get her math scores up! You can bet she delivered and then some! The very day her report card came out, conveniently on a Friday, she had already arranged for her entire entourage to accompany her to the mall that night for the big event. I have to say, I was quite impressed with her strategery. She naturally invited her b/f/f’s but she made sure the one who had already gotten her ears pierced was top of the list. Brillz at such a young age!
Surprisingly, I hadn’t done a lot of research on this. In fact, I had done none. Everyone I know who has gotten their ears pierced has gone to a Claire’s Boutique. So we packed up the girls and decided to make it a pizza outing as well. SouthPark is the closest location to me and I just assumed you could walk on in. Normally you can, however this night, the ear piercing gun was broken. Are you kidding me? Isn’t that their main source of revenue? My disappointed crew hopped back in the car and headed down to Carolina Place. Note to self: next time, call ahead! By this time, it was getting pretty late and the ‘lil miss party planner herself was getting cold feet. We arrived at the 2nd Claire’s location and I think this was a blessing in disguise. We were greeted by the store manager and assistant store manager, which made me feel like we were in expert hands, not just the evening high school help. The staff at Claire’s was extremely professional about the entire process including liability waivers, parental consent, gloves, the whole shabang. They also dotted her ears with marker first to make sure the holes were even. Now it was time to rock and roll. And Ansley was definitely nervous and got out of the chair.
I certainly didn’t want her to feel like she HAD to do this. This was 100% her doing. I stood back and watched the power of girlfriends kick in. The only thing I said to Ansley was “Sweetie, don’t feel like you have to do this. Remember, this was your idea. The only thing I’ll tell you that may help you make your decision is this. I’m not coming back ANY time soon for a do-over.” That said, she reached for her friends’ hands and squeezed tight. This is the coolest part. Her friend who already had pierced-ears coached her the rest of the way, while her other friend contemplating doing this sometime soon herself just listened in awe. Her friend gave her an example of the pressure by pinching the skin between her thumb and pointer finger. She told her it would hurt for a second and then it would stop. Right then I nodded to the managers and they simultaneously did both ears. That was another thing I did not even think about but was thankful for the expertise at Claire’s. The managers sensed Ansley’s apprehension and without even asking, stood by both ears at the same time. That was key in my opinion. My best friend’s daughter in Florida was inspired by Ansley but her ear-piercing place did her ears one at a time. Well, sweet little Karlyn is walking around with only one daisy earring and feeling completely defeated. So make sure you request both ears at the same time.
I would highly recommend Claire’s at Carolina Place Mall. For a complete list of Claire’s locations, click here. There is a cool free-standing Claire’s Boutique in Stonecrest too, which may have been a better choice with lots of kid-friendly restaurants within walking distance. Our outing turned into a sleepover too since we didn’t roll out of the pizza place until 9:30p. But it was a success. And Ansley couldn’t be more proud. I did ask her if we had done one ear at a time, would she have agreed to the 2nd ear. Her answer: “no-way, hurt way too much!”
So Smarties, how did you decide whether or not to pierce your daughter’s ears? What age do you think is appropriate? Where did you go – Claire’s can’t be the only place? We’d love to hear from you!
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15 comments
My daughter turned 7 in December and she has been asking. I would love for her to wait until she is 10 but I'm not sure it's worth the battle for 3 years. So maybe when she turns 8!
I think all little girls should have their ears pierced it’s better to do it while they are younger. I’m a first time mom of a 14 month old son I though about piercing his left ear but I think it may be too much. But lil girls should have their ears pierced in my opinion!
I don't have a daughter, but I'm thinking the double digits are more where I feel comfortable letting her do it. But like the previous comment, it might not be worth the nagging, ha! I definitely don't agree with piercing them at birth or under 5. Just doesn't look right to me! My mother was 35 when she pierced hers. I'm almost 40 and have yet to do mine. And won't. 🙂
We had been back and forth on the idea. My 7 year old was nervous. So I left it up to her. Well, we were in Myrtle Bch after Christmas, at Broadway at the Beach, we walked past Claire's and she told me "I'm ready"! So in we went. No problem. Although, it would have been better to do the ears at the same time! ( we didn't have that option). She has been very responsible, but needs help with the cleaning. Don't want to get infected!
I had mine done as a young girl and was unable to care for them myself so we let them grow up. Had them done again around 10 or 12 when i was old enough to care for them and change them. My 5 year old wants her's done but once i told her it would feel like a shot, she has changed her mind.Great point about having them done at the same time!
We let our 10 year old get hers done on the last day of 4th grade. She did great with them. We changed the earrings 8 weeks later with another pair of 14kt gold and they got super crazy infected. After 10 days of antibiotics and no earrings the holes closed. She just had them redone in January and so far so good. We will not be changing earrings until just before her uncles wedding at the end of May. Piercing Pagoda did them, and I thought they were great and she was very happy with them too. She had them done 1 at a time and did fine.
You can get ears pierced at your pediatrician. It may cost more but you know it will be safe and clean!
What a cute story! I love how her friends were so supportive. So sweet!
My daughter begged me to get her ears pierced at 4 years old. I was completely shocked – I didn't think she even paid attention to earrings. I said she could if she wanted (reverse psychology) but told her it would hurt. She quickly changed her mind and said she would wait until she turned five. As her fifth birthday approached she reminded me of her ear-piercing plan and so on her fifth birthday she had them pierced. I thought it would be a disaster but she hardly flinched and she cleaned them and twisted them every day. I guess when they have their young minds/hearts set on something, they will deliver!
I have three daughters, and so we are going with Fourth grade as the year to do it, however, my oldest girlie has yet to even ask, so we'll wait until she shows some interest. I am an only child and my mother was so protective, a.k.a. nuerotic, that she took me to a Plastic Surgen to have it done…it was no fun, he didn't have the gun thing and what ever device he used was really painful…gotta love a mother with good intentions!!
I think 10 is a good age, old enough to take care of the cleaning not to mention keeping up with the earrings! I HATE seeing small kids and especially babies with pierced ears, looks so cheap and trashy!
What a sweet story. I had my baby's ears pierced at 6 months. We had them done at her pediatrician. The key is to have a bottle or lollipop ready. She cried for a minute, and has never played with them. FOR THE BLOGGER that said it was cheap and trashy. I'm far from that and disagree with you. It's part of my culture and am sadden to hear that you are so judgemental.
Age 6 is when my girls have both had it done. We went to Claire's and did one ear at a time without any problem.
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Claire’s no longer does both ears at one time. Any other recommendations in the Charlotte area?