Ear Piercing for Infants

Updated on September 22, 2006
A. asks from Elmhurst, IL
39 answers

I would like to get my 2 month old daughter's ears pierced. Does anyone have any recommendations of where to get it done. I do not want to get it done at the mall. I would prefer if someone in the medical field did it. Any suggestions/personal experiences?

Thank you,
A..

2 moms found this helpful

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So What Happened?

Thanks everyone for your advice. I got my daughter's ears pierced at Claire's in the mall! It was great. They are very hygenic and it is so quick. My daughter cried for 10 secs- THATS IT! It was just like getting a shot! I am glad I did it right now. As she gets older, I know that she will also be apprehensive. Now she is done and had no clue what happened. It was over before she even realized what was going on. Even though I am grateful for a lot of responses, I felt that many people were just unnecessarily rude! I did not ask anyone's opinion on WHETHER i sholuld get her ears pierced, I just asked WHERE!! I had my ears pierced when I was very little and dont remember it. When I was older, I thought about getting another hole in my ears but was freaked out by the thought of it! I am glad that mine was done and I am glad that I did my daughter's when we were so young! I think these days everyone makes too much of an issue on giving "Choices"... Jeez.. its just getting the ears pierced. If your daughter grows up and hates it so much, let her stop using earrings - the holes will close soon enough. For the others, thanks for your responses. They really helped.

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A.L.

answers from Chicago on

I know there are a lot of opinions about this, but I just wanted to share my experience.

My sister had hers done at an early age and then had to have part of her ear cut off because of it. Granted this was 10 years ago, and I know there are a lot of people who do this with no problem, but my suggestion is to wait.

I had to wait until 13 years old and then on my birthday I was allowed to have it done. I felt so important and it was a very special day for me, I still remember the day clearly many years later.

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E.W.

answers from Chicago on

Hi Aarti,

My daughter had her ear pierced in the Mall while she was three months old and she is fine. I know, I was scared to death even after a while. Good Luck!

Fikirte

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J.S.

answers from Chicago on

Hey Aarti

My suggestion would be that 2 months is too young to get ears pierced, try doing it after 5 months. i had my daughters ears pierced at 5 months. i did it at an jewellery store in devon. They have those guns that use seperate parts, os there is no danger of contamination or germs. After piercing i kept applying soframycin to the ears. with infants it heals very quickly. so it was fine. my daughter is 4yrs now.

J.

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J.S.

answers from Chicago on

I got my daughter's ears pierced at 3 months of age and her doctor did it. It's best to go to your child's doctor and see if they pierce ears. I believe most of them will. I know if you were to go to some place like Claire's, they would want the baby's shot records to make sure they are up to date.

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L.

answers from Chicago on

Hello Aarti,
Most people won't pierce your baby's ears until they are 3 months old because they need to have certain vaccines before ear piercing can be done. I would speak to your pediatrician. Some doctors have someone in the office that will do piercings, if your doctor does not you can have them recommend someone who will. Also on a side note I had my daughter's ears pierced when she was 3 months old and a friend gave me a little trick of putting ambesol on her earlobes before the piercing to numb them. It worked great.

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A.A.

answers from Chicago on

My best advice - don't do it. Why would you want to do something to put an unneccesary hole in your childs body (and it hurts!). When she's older and can decide for herself if she wants her ears pierced that's another story.

If you're going to do it anyway DO NOT go to a mall store or have them pierced with a gun. This causes serious trauma to the tissue. A professional piercer is what you need but there is nobody I know of who will do it for anyone under 13 or so, even with parents. I've never heard of a peds office doing it (that's crazy to me!)

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S.G.

answers from Peoria on

i would suggest waiting. i too wanted my baby girls ears pierced as it looks so cute but when they got infected the first time we removed them, complained about the place we got them pierced and decided next time we were going to take her somewhere else. we also switched to a sterling silver earring just to be safe. we got them pierced someplace else and thought they were doing fine until i found my son chewing on her earring back that had been pushed off by the abscess of infection that stood 3 inches from her ear on the back of her ear by her head. this happened when she was 3 she is now almost 6 and still has a knot behind her ear and will not get her ears pierced until she is at least 12. i know this doesnt happen in everycase of piercing in infants but i would hate for you to have to go through the er visit i went through where they drained the abscess and she screamed and cried and i cried cause i felt like i had caused it by getting them pierced again. i wish you luck if you get them pierced.

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M.

answers from Chicago on

some doctors do it, but I would call tatoo places, they have professional piercing people, I know that sounds INSANE, but they are better at piercing than anyone else and they are very sanitary, they open all the equipment in front of you and it is very very clean, that is the way I went b/c I would not go to the mall and do it.
Just an idea

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N.

answers from Chicago on

I had my daughter's pierced at Claire's at the mall, after talking to her pediatrician about it. We decided to get it done there because people who work at Claire's and other earpiercing stores are much more experienced in doing it. Dr's do not perform earpiercing routinely at all... My concern was really cleanliness and having a sterile area, but, the ped. said that is not a concern, that they (mall employee's) wear gloves and use antiseptic etc. and that should not be a concern when making a decision...my daughter was 3mos. when i got it done, she cried for like 30sec. and that was it...now she is almost 2 and i know if i would have waited, i could never get it done now..and she loves to buy new earrings, so it was worth it..good luck!!

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J.F.

answers from Chicago on

My SIL had both of her daughters ears pierced as infants and her pediatrician did it.

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K.B.

answers from Chicago on

Hi Aarti~

I had both of my girls ears pierced at 3 months. That is the earliest they will do it. I asked my peds. office and they suggest Claire's at the mall. She said they do the best. I did it twice and was very happy. It's basically like having a shot. They cry for a min. and it's over.
You will hear mixed reviews as I did. All my nieces on my side had them done as infants. No problems. Only once niece has to wear pure gold. My husbands side will not do it until they are at least 10.

I feel the early the better. They get used to them being in their ears and do not get infected like when you are older. I have heard many stories from moms wishing they would have done it earlier. The earring is part of them so they don't bother with them either. You should do what you feel appropriate for your family!

Best luck!
K.

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M.T.

answers from Janesville-Beloit on

I have my 3 year old's ears peirced and she has never had a problem.I got them done when she was 4 months old and I don't regret it. I don't know yet if I will get my 3 month old's years peirced though. Good luck with your decision. Oh and I got it done at claires.

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A.G.

answers from Chicago on

My sister had her daughter's ears pierced by her pediatrician. They are much more expensive, about $60.00 I think, but at least you know it's done by a professional and in a clean environment, unlike a high school student working part time in a mall shop. If yours doesn't do it, they should be able to give you a referral of another pediatrician near you that does.

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M.H.

answers from Chicago on

There's an article/clipping right now in Parents Magazine. I believe the sept. 2006 issue.

They recommend that the child have had the tetanus shot, I'm thinking it said at least two doses. Also, they claim that a pediatrician can do it in there office which would be sterile, or be sure that the supplies are sterile at the mall type places.

M

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J.F.

answers from Elkhart on

Some doctors do this. check with your pediatrician. If he/she doesn't do it, they probably can refer you to one that does.
J.

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M.B.

answers from Milwaukee on

My sister had her daughter's ears pierced at the mall (at 6 weeks old)but I think she asked her pediatrician about it first (to get a recommendation). Maybe your pediatrician would have a name of a place to send you.

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A.B.

answers from Chicago on

My doctor advised me not to get my daughter's ears pierced too early. She suggested for me to wait until she was 6 months old and had all of her vaccines taken first.
I did wait and then took her to the mall...at Claire's.
Their equipment is safe.
My daughter was fine...and has never had a problem.

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S.

answers from Chicago on

Hello Aarti,
I did get my daughters ears pierced at 3 1/2 months and I am very happy with the results. The problem I had was that I paid $50.00 to get them done and then I received another bill for $24.00 for use of the room. Like they were going to do it outside at the car or something. I guess the important thing is that she was in a very safe environment and I got great instructions on how to maintain them after they were done. So, besides feeling like I was dupped a bit I guess I am happy. I did it at Loyola Hospital. Unless the child has a medical card you can look forward to this if you go to Loyola...not sure about other places.

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C.U.

answers from Chicago on

I had my daughter's ears pierced at the mall (Claire's) and they are great, in fact we are at the 6 week mark where I can put in different earrings, the mall makes you wait until the child is 4 months old. We had a great experience at the mall.
C.

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J.W.

answers from Dallas on

A few years ago, some pediatricians used to do it in their office. Just ask your pediatrician!

If not, I have had both of my daughters ears pierced at the mall with no problem at all and the ladies who did it were really great!

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L.

answers from Chicago on

DO NOT DO IT. She is a person not an accessory.
She should be able to decide for herself, pain and all, when she is an appropriate age. It's just one more thing you have to tell your child not to do and you cannot expect an infant to know to leave them alone.

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S.A.

answers from Bloomington on

I had my daughter's done at the mall when she was 5 months old (she's now 16) and she has never had problems but I understand you don't want that. Have you checked with her doctor, I believe some of them will do it. I think it's best to have them done early so that they don't play with them. Good Luck.

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T.E.

answers from Chicago on

Aarti
i had my daughters earspierced when they where both infants at 2month i had my youngest one done and it was at th mall in gurnee my daughter is 12 now and the only problem we had was when we tried to put other earrings in not the ones she was pierced with (she needs real gold ones) so that would have happened at any age!!! the use steril supplies and when they are that young they dont remember anything (personally i think its better when they are younger) neither one of my daughters where mad at me for doing it!!! good luck!!T.

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J.

answers from Chicago on

I had my daughter's ears pierced at Dreyer Medical Group in Aurora. Here is their address 4100 Healthway Dr. One of their ear, throat, and nose doctors was the one who did it. It was a bit pricey but well worth the piece of mind.

You should also inquire at your pediatrician's office. Sometimes they either have someone who can do it or can recommend someone. I also did not want to go to a mall when my daughter was just an infant. She is now four and has been wearing her earrings ever since.

J.

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H.F.

answers from Lafayette on

Unfortunately, doctors really don't do it anymore. I know my doctor did mine 25 years ago, but that was a quarter century ago! So, most moms (me included--my daughter's just over 2 months) have to go to Claire's. They're really good and inexpensive--$20 for 14K gold posts. P.S. Don't get the cubic zirconia studs--they tarnish.

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K.H.

answers from Chicago on

Hi Aarti:

My daughter's pediatrician pierced her ears at the age of 3 months. I would check with her doctor's office or a local pediatrician. It is just much safer and cleaner!! Good Luck!!

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S.F.

answers from Indianapolis on

I wanted to get my 14 month old ears pierced as well. But, I asked her Pediatrician what she recommended or experiences with other children that have come in or had any problems. SHe strongly recommended not getting them done until school age. SHe has had many come in having to cut a portion of the girl's ear to get the earing out. ?? She also said many infections occur.? Just passing the info on... I have decided to wait until she's about 5 or 6.

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V.

answers from Chicago on

A lot of pediatricians offices also offer ear piercing. Ask your doctor. It's very sterile, just make sure it's also evenly placed (malls are very concerned about the looks, so no need to worry about that there.) Most doctors (and malls) will not do it until your daughter is 3 months old and has had her tetanus shots.
P.S. My daughter got hers done at Claire's (in a mall) on the advice of my OB/GYN. It was totally fine and they have a good selection of earring styles. All the posts are sterile and we had no probs.

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K.B.

answers from Chicago on

Our pediatrician's office does it. It's associates in pediatrics. They have offices in schaumburg and elgin

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S.N.

answers from Chicago on

Hi Aarti,

I have friends whow have taken there infants for ear piercing to Claires'. It is in woodfield Mall. If I am not wrong there is one in spring hill mall as well.

You might want to try that. If nothing else comes up. U can also ask your baby's pediatrician if he recommends someone.

Soniya.

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J.

answers from Chicago on

ask your pediatrician
my daughter had hers done at 11 weeks at piercing pagoda it was wonderful

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M.B.

answers from Chicago on

Check with your daughters doctor...My daughter's ears were pierced by a doctor within the same practice as her pediatrician at the age of four months

M.

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K.

answers from Milwaukee on

Hi My name is K. and I am a hairdresser at Kid dos hair salon in Menomonee falls. We do earpiercing and have many kids that young. We also have 2 guns so we do it at one time. The salon phone number is ###-###-####. Thanks and good luck

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M.

answers from Bloomington on

Have you tried calling any of the pediatricians in town? I don't know anywhere medical, so I'm no help there.
I have had all 3 of my daughters ears pierced. We never had a problem with any of them. My biggest advice is the younger the better! It is much more challanging when they get older!

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C.Y.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Most pediatricians do ear piercing now, I had my daughters done at the doctor's office. I would also recommend Blomdahl earrings, my daughter had plastic earrings. It sounds funny, buy your guarantied not to be allergic to them and she had no problems.

Good luck

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V.B.

answers from Chicago on

Try your pediatrician. Our's did it in the office.

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D.P.

answers from Indianapolis on

My oldest I did get done at the mall, she is now 13 and there was no problems. My second daughter, Wal-mart would not do it b/c she was so young but they sold a self piercing kit. the marked the ears and a friend of mine held her and I did her ears. There was no problems and she is now 10. I have never heard of anyone in the medical field doing it. It is safe to go to Clairs in the Mall.

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B.S.

answers from Fort Wayne on

I don't know of any ear piercers in the med. field.

But, my experience was when my daughter had her ears pierced at 2 years old and I am so glad that I waited until then to do it because it ended up being her decision, not mine.

She felt important for a day because she was able to make her own decision for a change and sit up there like a "big girl". She did very well and has left the earrings alone too.

As a mom I felt more comfortable (still a bit nervous though) at an older age than as a baby.

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