I am not a huge fan either - I got mine done for my 8th birthday and I remember them getting infected. I have always thought that I want my kids to be old enough to look after their own ears - clean them etc - as well as their own earrings and stuff. It's a responsibility thing. Also, as a PP mentioned about the positioning of them - I have a couple of friends who got their ears pierced quite young and they have had to have them redone because the positioning hasn't worked as they have gotten older.
If you plan to get your baby's or toddler's ears pierced, apparently there is a numbing gel from the chemist that you can apply half an hour before they have it done to help with the pain. I have friends who have used it and swear by it, but no idea what it is called.

