Getting your ears pierced as a child can be a rite of passage. In some cultures, ears are pierced when the child is an infant. It is a deeply personal choice each family must make on their own. However, we are here to make the process a little easier, hopefully. 

First, ear piercing should be done by a professional using sterile equipment in a clean environment. Full disclosure, this author had one of her ear piercings done by a friend in a bathroom using a sewing needle, an ice cube, and a potato. Zero stars…definitely DO NOT recommend it. The piercing should be done on the earlobe and not the cartilage, as this can lead to more pain and complications, especially for a child. 

Healing time varies depending on the child’s age, health, and the aftercare instructions followed. Generally, it takes four to eight weeks for an earlobe piercing to heal completely. And honestly, some children may be allergic to different metals, so it is essential to keep that in mind. Piercing has risks such as infections, allergic reactions to the earring material, and keloid scars. It’s critical to choose a reputable piercer and high-quality jewelry to minimize these risks.

Here is the real kicker…the aftercare! Aftercare is crucial for the proper healing of a piercing. Parents/guardians/grown-ups should clean the piercing site twice daily with saline solution (mixing salt and warm water) and avoid using alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or any other harsh chemicals. I mean, I think we all know how follow-up and care can go with kids, so this is a crucial component. Some pediatricians recommend avoiding ear piercing in the summertime as water activities, and sweating can increase the risk of infection.

You will have to both give consent to get the ears pierced. Permission is required from the child and the parents or guardians. It’s important to ensure that the child is willing and able to care for their new piercing. In addition, ear piercing can be painful for some children, so consider your child’s pain tolerance and whether they can endure that level of discomfort.

It is important to communicate with your child about the piercing process (and the different options) and the importance of following aftercare instructions. It’s also important to keep an eye on the piercing and seek medical attention if there are any signs of infection. 

Now we have an understanding of the process, let’s check out what is out there regarding places to get your ears pierced. There are three main options: store piercings, piercing studio piercings, or pediatric ear piercings. 

Store Piercings

You can go to a place like Claire’s in the mall. It is the same pilgrimage that millions of other children have taken for the last several decades. They use piercing guns…that sound scarier than intended. But it is a little contraption that is put up to the earlobe, and it punches a hole through the ear. Once again, that sounds much scarier than intended. There is some controversy around the guns and piercing at stores in general. There are concerns about the level of training with the staff and sanitation concerns. We leave that research to you to see if that is a good fit for your family. Claire’s has been the go-to spot for years for families across the country, and they are an inexpensive option. This author had her first ear piercing at Claire’s at age four and has lived to tell the tale. 

Piercing Studios

What has become very popular for the last several years is taking your children to a piercing studio for their first ear piercing. Piercing studios typically go hand and hand with a tattoo studio. What is different and appealing about them is that the piercing is done with a needle with a hole in it. The ear-piercing hole is a little larger and can help with healing. As a person who has had this type of piercing, the healing process can be much quicker. For a detailed comparison of getting your ears pierced with a needle versus gun, check out this article.  

In the Portland metro area, we have some great places to go to get our kids’ ears pierced. Here are three awesome places. 

Adorn Body Art: With several locations across Portland, Adorn Body Art is a reputable piercing studio that specializes in ear piercings for kids, teens, and adults. They use high-quality jewelry and have experienced piercers.

Black Hole Body Piercing: This is a popular piercing studio that offers a wide range of piercing services, including earlobe piercings for kids. They are limiting themselves to clients eight years old and older for the time being. Younger folks tend to take a bit more time, and they would like to get used to their new system before they accommodate them.

Ritual Arts: This studio has a team of highly skilled piercers that use only high-quality jewelry. They specialize in ear piercings and offer a wide range of options. They try to be as gentle as possible with matching ear lobe piercings. Your child must be able to consent to being pierced. Proof of guardianship is necessary as well. 

Pediatric Ear Piercings

Now this is an option that many people may not know about. Some pediatricians will pierce children’s ears in the doctor’s office. Metropolitan Pediatrics is one of those places. They offer ear-piercing appointments for these ages: Babies aged 2-6 months and children five years and older. At Metropolitan Pediatrics, their pediatricians are specially trained in medical ear piercing. We use medical-grade products and best practices to ensure the safest piercing and healing experience for patients and their family members. They use a “gun” ear-piercing system with single-use, disposable cassettes (no shared piercing instruments), medical-grade plastic or titanium ear-piercing studs (hypoallergenic and worry-free), fixed stud backings, and longer posts (promote healing with better airflow), and wider posts to create larger holes (less skin damage when changing earrings). For our family, this was the option our child chose. 

As you can see, there are many different paths to choose from, and someday you may select one or more. Have you thought about getting your child’s ears pierced? Have your kids wanted to get their ears pierced? It is a big deal and worth discussing further at your next family meetings.