Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

HELP! I’ve messed with my daughters ear piercing and can’t get the earring back in!

62 replies

GoldyGoldie · 23/07/2023 00:46

DD is 8 and got her ears pierced after begging for literally years. They were pierced 2 months ago but she caught one on something a couple of days ago and it bled. Over the next couple of days, we ensured we used the cleaning spray but DD was complaining of discomfort. We decided to remove the earring to clean the area more thoroughly, but unfortunately couldn’t get it back in the hole. DD became really upset and in too much pain to try any more so has gone to bed with the earring out.

Will the ear close up overnight? What’s best to do. Do we let it heal up and have it re-pierced if DD wants to? She has taken such great care of them, I’m really upset with myself for suggesting to remove it. 😢

OP posts:
Alloveragain3 · 23/07/2023 00:53

I know the holes heal super quickly for some people but there should still be a quite obvious hole at this point?

What about quickly trying as she sleeps. Maybe a bit mean but if she's a deep sleeper and you pop it in quickly it could be the easiest solution.

RichardsGear · 23/07/2023 00:55

Sometimes when you go from the back to the front it's easier to get it in. Then take out and go front to back.

DramaAlpaca · 23/07/2023 00:56

Try a bit of vaseline or Sudocrem on the post of the earring, pull down on the lobe slightly to open the hole and the earring should slip in easily.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Beauty Children's health Clothing General health
Original poster
GoldyGoldie · 23/07/2023 00:56

I actually tried in her sleep but it caused her to wake up in pain. It’s really sore for some reason, and I couldn’t seem to find any angle that the earring comfortably went through. 🤦🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
Original poster
GoldyGoldie · 23/07/2023 00:58

Oh I’ll try the vasoline trick in the morning. And also the back to front idea! I just feel so guilty for taking it out when she’s done so brilliantly following all the aftercare. Hopefully we get it back in 🤞🏻

OP posts:
HappiDaze · 23/07/2023 01:22

Put a normal stud in made of silver or gold or titanium because the post will be thinner than the one she got her ears pierced with

Somewhereovertherainbowweighapie · 23/07/2023 01:26

Wait until morning and put her earring in backwards. It might sound strange, but you can see where you are pushing the earring if you come in from the back. It quick. Once it’s settled in a few days you will be able to take it out and put the earring the right way.

SirenSays · 23/07/2023 01:43

If you can't get it back in, go back to your piercer. They're usually really helpful, I've had them sort out piercings I was sure were completely closed.

Bookish88 · 23/07/2023 02:06

It's likely swollen from all your failed attempts. Ice cube on both sides of the ear lobe before attempting again in the morning.

LordSalem · 23/07/2023 02:17

Take her back to the piercer. If it was a decent studio who did it without a gun, they'll be able to help you. In the meantime keep it clean and tell her not to touch it. It will be sore and swollen from the attempts to get it back in. Any touch without just washed hands will introduce bacteria. If the fistula is still open you risk trapping infection inside. Sanitise the jewellery too.
If it was a gun job, at worst, keep it clean and let it heal - once healed go to a reputable piercer to get redone. In future don’t remove jewellery from a piercing so early in the healing period. There's a reason they tell you not to change jewellery until x amount of time, same goes for taking it out.

Useruser0912 · 23/07/2023 02:22

I was also going to suggest going from back to front. I do this with mine on the odd occasion I wear earrings and I do it when my older daughter's close up as well. My youngest daughter got hers done a few weeks ago with a needle and the earrings actually go in from behind and the crystal ball screws on the front.

Useruser0912 · 23/07/2023 02:26

Also if they were done with a gun I'm sure the earrings are thicker. Mine definitely were when I was younger I remember I never managed to put my original studs back in. I'm sure my older daughters were the same. So it might be easier to put in ones with a thinner post. Maybe try a piercing studio to buy some as they are usually medical grade titanium (I think).

StarchySturgess1 · 23/07/2023 05:41

LordSalem · 23/07/2023 02:17

Take her back to the piercer. If it was a decent studio who did it without a gun, they'll be able to help you. In the meantime keep it clean and tell her not to touch it. It will be sore and swollen from the attempts to get it back in. Any touch without just washed hands will introduce bacteria. If the fistula is still open you risk trapping infection inside. Sanitise the jewellery too.
If it was a gun job, at worst, keep it clean and let it heal - once healed go to a reputable piercer to get redone. In future don’t remove jewellery from a piercing so early in the healing period. There's a reason they tell you not to change jewellery until x amount of time, same goes for taking it out.

I came to say this.

Original poster
GoldyGoldie · 23/07/2023 15:44

Sadly I tried all the tricks and couldn’t get it back in. we actually live overseas and had the piercings done at a piercing studio in the U.K, so can’t just pop back in. Not sure if the places I’d want to go to here pierce children’s ears. Only other option is Claire’s. Either way, she won’t let me take the other earring out so she’ll be keeping one in for the time being. 🤦🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
MargaretThursday · 23/07/2023 16:15

Depending on how calm your dd is, you might have luck with a sharp needle.
Boil the needle first though to sterilise it.

Then gently put it through from the back, stopping if you feel resistance, but gently twisting. Once it's through, use the earring to push the needle back out again.

When dd's closed up, that's what I did for her.

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 23/07/2023 16:18

Don't keep prodding at it, you'll give her an infection.

Take her to a reputable piercing studio or tattoo parlour and get them to sort it out for you.

RhymingGuitars · 23/07/2023 18:56

GoldyGoldie · 23/07/2023 15:44

Sadly I tried all the tricks and couldn’t get it back in. we actually live overseas and had the piercings done at a piercing studio in the U.K, so can’t just pop back in. Not sure if the places I’d want to go to here pierce children’s ears. Only other option is Claire’s. Either way, she won’t let me take the other earring out so she’ll be keeping one in for the time being. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Please don't go to Claire's....they are not qualified in any way. I second what PO's have said about going to a reputable local piercer. They may charge, but they can help and are really knowledgable.

My concern right now would be if three is an infection in the piercing....if you can get an earring back through that will help keep the hole open and allow any infection to drain.

Hope you get this sorted and your DD is ok

Mommasgotabrandnewbag · 23/07/2023 19:01

Why do people still not follow the advice given to them about piercings and tattoos and think they know best?!?!?!

Original poster
GoldyGoldie · 23/07/2023 19:08

@Mommasgotabrandnewbag i did follow the advice to the letter. They were pierced 2 months ago. There was a build up of blood at the back of the piercing, which was difficult to remove. We believed the piercing was healed well enough to remove it momentarily and clean the ear. Sadly, it wasn’t as simple to put back in as we had hoped. There’s no need to be rude.

OP posts:
Original poster
GoldyGoldie · 23/07/2023 19:10

Thanks @RhymingGuitars. unfortunately there’s no way I’ll get the earring out. Luckily the ear looks okay. I will keep spraying with the cleaning spray and give it time to heal before taking her to get it re-pierced.

OP posts:
cinnamonfrenchtoast · 23/07/2023 19:10

Unfortunately eight weeks is too early to be fiddling about with piercings - despite what many places tell you, you really need to leave earrings in for a good three months before removing them, ideally longer.

Like PP I would be concerned about infection if you've removed the earring - you really do need to go and see someone ASAP to get it looked at. Don't just let it close over and hope it's okay - the advice for infected piercings is to leave the jewellery in until you get treatment so the infection doesn't get trapped.

Original poster
GoldyGoldie · 23/07/2023 19:12

@cinnamonfrenchtoast youre totally right. Lesson learned on my part here definitely. 🤦🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
Original poster
GoldyGoldie · 23/07/2023 19:13

I will take her to a piercing place tomorrow but I don’t think they pierce children there, so not sure how much luck I’ll have.

OP posts:
Mommasgotabrandnewbag · 23/07/2023 19:14

Clearly you didn't, all guidance since I was a child has been to leave them in for a minimum of 4 months before even thinking about removing them or changing them.

So many people always always think they know better and then expect piercers to fix something or to take the blame for their fuck up.

A warm water only soak in the bath would have sorted the buildup at the back which uou could then have removed carefully with an earbud. Dry thoroughly using kitchen paper, done.

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 23/07/2023 19:14

GoldyGoldie · 23/07/2023 19:13

I will take her to a piercing place tomorrow but I don’t think they pierce children there, so not sure how much luck I’ll have.

It shouldn't matter - any reputable piercing place should be able to help you :) I'm sure it will be fine but I wouldn't want to risk any kind of lingering infection, especially as you've been unable to re-pierce it and your DD has said how sore it is.