Getting DD’s ears pierced (7) – when and where?

[OneMintTraybake]

DD is 7 and has started asking to get her ears pierced. I’m a bit nervous about hygiene and where is actually safest / most child‑friendly.

At what age did you get your DD’s ears pierced and where did you go? Would you recommend it and is there anything you’d do differently?

I got my 7 year old dd's done in Claires.
It's a single use gun, which they open in front of you, so it is clean.
I think what makes the difference is the quality of the earring. I only allowed her choose from the 9ct gold ones. They are expensive, around £65, but they will not cause a reaction/irritation. They healed fine.

You have to keep buying high quality metals though, because they can easily react to the cheap ones and then they have to heal again.

Too young. Wait until transition to secondary school.

I’d wait until the summer holidays so they have the full 6-8 weeks to heal before they need to be taped/come out for PE. I don’t think it’s too young at all, DD had hers done at 6 and could do the after care herself no problem- we used a spray saline for cleaning so easy peasy. Yes I had to remind her but I’d do that anyway after seeing 2 of my nieces wait until they were preteen then no one bothered because they were supposed to be old enough to care for them themselves but didn’t and they got infected…
Perhaps a controversial opinion on here but I don’t personally think that the guns are a massive no no for a lobe piercing. I don’t know anyone of my age that didn’t go down the route, DD’s paediatrician in the US also offered ear piercing and used a gun. The issues usually occur if not cleaned properly or cheapo earrings that cause a reaction. That said though if you do have a needle place near you that’ll do kids I would go down that route because it’ll be much better value (Claire’s is a complete rip off) and the piercer will be more experienced.

Too young.

As others have said, go to a tattoo/piercing shop, but I know all of the ones around here don't do children under 8.

I had my second holes done at Claire’s when I was 16 and the gun got jammed while still in my ear. I had to tell the staff member to stop yanking the gun otherwise I was going to pass out.

Claire’s is going under now isn’t it anyway, so not sure it’s still an option.

I had my first ones done at 10 and it was fine.

I would echo getting personal recommendations for local piercing shops, but I also think 7 is too young.

Similar here. She was told when she was old enough to understand, consent and look after. In the end it was the summer holiday at the end of year 6.

Having witnessed the shock and horror of the very young push chair age toddler being held down in Claire’s accessories many moons ago ago I had vowed never ever in there. So I did my research instead. In the end we went to a great tattoo place in Cambridge the woman insisted on speaking to Dd twice alone for consent (she was 11) and at length but easy to understand twice about infection, care etc
DD had it done returned after a week for a follow up appointment and then again after a further two weeks. Check up appointments weren’t really needed as the ears were nice and healthy after. No mark it up trying to build more earrings. She kept in the studs for 12 weeks and never had any issues.

I bet my daughter will want hers pierced young, but I think 7 is far too young as others have said dealing with the aftercare. I struggled at 12, they got sore at times and made me feel a little squeamish.. I don't think I'd have coped at 7!

Yes i’ve just checked at a piercing shop i had one of mine done at and it also says minimum age of 8.

My dd was 8 getting her firsts, went to a local place who did it with a needle. She did the aftercare herself after being shown (I don’t understand this “they are too young” attitude)
she was 11 getting her seconds….again no issues.

My six year is asking as well as most of the girls and I think one the boys in her class have their ears pierced. She is a drama lama and we’ve only just managed to get hair washing done without drama so I’ll be giving the earrings a skip for a while. It depends on your dd to be honest. Older DD was 12 before we got them done last Christmas and no issues at all.