When did you get you daughters ears pierced?

[Jellyfish]

I don't have my own ears pierced and never have. I will allow DD the choice to when she is old enough to understand the entire concept and look after them. Just because they don't remember the pain, doesnt mean it didn't happen.

[Cranky Kitten]

I'm another that believes in doing it when the child asks and is old enough to look after them. DD had hers done when she was 7, to my disgust X-MIL had them done at the hairdresser with a gun when I was planning to take her to a proper piercer, and sure enough they got infected for a couple of weeks. She eventually let them close up and doesn't have them anymore. I'll think about it if she asks again but she'll get them done properly or not at all.

I had mine done the first time at 5, let them close up and then again after I left school - the private school I went to didn't allow earrings at school. Which is an entire other can of worms worth thinking about in relation to this discussion

[Gigi]

i had mine done as a teenager and they were fine for about six years, then it went wrong. 20 years later, i still get stuff coming out of the holes. i haven't been able to wear earrings for the last 20 years, (and i had a fantastic earring collection too), so i feel ripped off.

My DD is 4.5, without earrings, has never asked for them, it's never occurred to me to get them done on her (apart from reading about change in ear lobes, when having it done on babies e.g the hole may not be symetrical by the time they are grown up). She uses play jewerelly and has enough trouble looking after / not losing that. The amount of kerfuffle we have already, about "what's she's going to wear", i don't want to add to that, with earrings as well.

i remember when i first put her in childcare (at 17 months) and it occurred to me, we don't let babies have things smaller than what can fit into a film cannister (choking hazard), yet there are multiple children with earrings in (in the childcare baby room), and their earrings are smaller than a film cannister, and are metal. I wondered if babies in childcare, who are at that age of grabbing and MINE MINE and liking sparkly things - ever came to grief, involving earrings. Prolly just me thinking over cautiously. Can't help it, i only have one and i'm lucky to have her at all.

i wore earrings for years, sometimes the little butterfly backs come off when you didn't realise they did.

Guess i'll find out when she starts school (all the peer pressure) what my deal breaker is, on this topic. Right now, i'm leaning towards the "coming of age" e.g a way to celebrate her first menstruation.

[Glamourcide]

I had a similar problem with my ear piercings, Gigi - the first ones I got pierced as a baby healed up with no problems whatsoever, then I got second and third holes pierced in my earlobes in my teen years and they never 'settled' properly, and developed cysts - in my late teens I had 3 cysts removed from the piercing sites and to this day I have a cyst in the third hole in my right earlobe that flares up every few months and starts oozing and gets inflamed and very painful

DD1 had just started daycare when she got her ears pierced and luckily she's never had an issue with them being pulled or fiddled with by other kids - I'll admit I'd never even thought of it! We might just be lucky

I personally have always only ever used Studex brand earrings for DD1 and myself, they're allergen-free (some earrings contain metals that react badly with some people's skin and can cause irritation and infection) and the stud styles have notched posts so the butterfly backs 'snap' into place and are practically impossible to get off. DD1 has only lost one earring yet and it was when she yanked a tight shirt over her head and got the earring caught in the collar I'd never use any other brand on small kids personally, just because the backs coming off is a concern for me, as well as the irritation risk (I can't wear earrings from jewellers because they hurt after a couple of hours).

Totally understand your feelings and each to their own - you raised some very good points and just thought I'd offer my own perspective on those for the benefit of others who are considering getting their little ones' ears pierced

[Astrid]

I wont let DD1 get hers done till she is much older. She wont even brush her hair properly and carries on when we do, so I can just imagine what would happen if she got her ears pierced. To me it is something that I prefer her to be of an age where she can make the decision and deal with the outcome. I am thinking 10th birthday at this stage.

[Charlotte91]

I got my first set at 6 (I think) and my second set at 16, and then another hole at 18. All were birthday presents. Well, the second set where a present to myself. :-) Nana actually bought me the third piercing, lol. :-) Planning to get another peircing/set in a few months,
As with DD, not until she's at least in school.

[*Efjay*]

Isla is 4 & half & has asked for earrings like her cousin But I am not getting them done yet. Simply told her no she is too little. I was looking for the little magnet studs you could get a while ago but I can't find them now.

My oldest son however has shown interest in having his ear pierced. But he is only 8 & half....

[Traveller]

Have a look on ebay for 'magnet earings', they have quite a few listings for them. I have just bought some for DD, she will be so pleased and this will hopefully be enough to stop her asking for the real thing until she is a bit older.