my parents got my first lot done when i was 11 months (or 13 months - can't say for sure - i got glasses on one, earrings on the other!). never a drama with them

when i was 13, i got a second set done, and another at the top of one ear at 21.

my intention is to get any daughters ears pierced as early as possible. My mum just got my nieces ears pierced for her eighth birthday - she didn't get infections, but from a week in, she was asking when she could wear different "pretty" earrings. she's now had them less than six weeks, and her parents caved, and got different earrings in for her just to stop her asking

i think you either need to do them very early, or wait until they're significantly older so that they're responsible but understand about waiting for a time before changing them so that they heal/avoid infection properly...