At some point, it’s likely your child will come to you and ask about having their ears pierced, so if you’re not sure how to approach the conversation, then we’re here to help. Every family is different and every child is also different, so your approach will vary depending on what you’re comfortable with. However, we’re here with a few things to consider and how to approach different conversations around it, as well as some tips on what to do on the day itself, to help make sure your child is ready. Steps like this are important for their holistic developments, so taking the time to get it right is really beneficial.
Decide At What Age They Can Take Responsibility
The first thing to establish, potentially before they ask you anything, is to decide what age you have in mind for your child to have their ears pierced. This decision should largely be based on when you think your child will be ready to understand exactly what it means and to take responsibility for cleaning their ears and preventing infections. For some families this might be 7 or 8, for others, it will be 13 or 14, so this is all about doing what is best for your family and child.
It could even be when your child is slightly older and wants tragus earrings or daiths! Usually, you’ll know when your child reaches a position where they’re ready to have their ears pierced, but if your child wants a specific age from you to know when they can have it done, then aim for a year older than you think sounds about right, then if it’s earlier, then great!
Be Positive Whilst Highlighting All Information
A child getting their ears pierced is a really exciting time, especially if they’ve been waiting a long time, so you should take a largely positive approach. Tell them that as long as you go to a reliable piercer, you put solid gold or sterling silver earrings in, you clean them twice a day with the right cleaning solution and you’re careful with them whilst they’re new, then it’s a safe thing to have done and it’s also an exciting thing to help them express themselves through their jewellery.
You should also make sure that your children understand the process of having their ears pierced so nothing comes as a surprise. Simply explain to them that it can hurt a little bit but it’s very quick and feels like a pinch. This combination of being positive and also providing them with all of the information will help them know what to expect.
Choose A Child-Friendly Salon
Something else that is advised if your child is younger than 13 is to find a specifically child-friendly piercing salon. They will be prepared and will have experience with all kinds of different things to do with your child getting their ears pierced, so may be better equipped to make them feel relaxed and comfortable. Especially if it’s their first time getting their ears pierced, it can be strange for them to be taken out of their comfort zone and try something completely new and this can throw them off, so choosing somewhere that’s prepared to help your child enjoy the experience is important. It’s normal for them to be nervous, so helping them by choosing the right studio is key.
Take some time to do a bit of research in your local area. Whilst the popular accessories shops might be child friendly, in order to get the safest experience and best piercings, it would be best to an actual piercing studio that has experience with children’s piercings. They will likely go into more detail about the aftercare and help your child to take responsibility for their new piercings which will be an important part of the overall experience for them!
Make The Day Special
Getting ears pierced is actually a really big day for a child, as they will feel grown up! You can help to make this day even more special by planning something special for after the appointment to spend quality time together, like an afternoon tea or a trip to somewhere new in the local area. You could also shop for earrings after the appointment! This is a great opportunity to spend time together by doing a mother-daughter day or father-son day and also show that you want to make their big day special.
Speak To Them About Problems To Look Out For
Something else you can do is speak to them about the signs that there might be something not quite right, so they can tell you and get it resolved. Things to look out for are pain after the first few days, redness, and any kind of swelling or hotness. Just making them aware of these things and making sure they let you know if they’re experiencing any is important to helping their new piercing heal well. This will also help them to be aware of their health and learn healthy habits moving forward when taking accountability and prioritise their health.
Know How To Keep Them Calm On The Day
If your child really wants their ears pierced but also seems quite nervous, you should find ways to help keep them calm on the day. Things like taking a comfort toy with them, telling them to take deep breaths, talking to them when they’re having it done and anything else you know calms them. Speaking to them and explaining the process can also help to keep them calm as you’ll know what to expect. You should also remind them that it won’t take long at all and it’ll be over in no time and then they can enjoy their piercings! If you do plan something for afterwards, then you can also talk about this and look forward to it. Your child might not be worried at all which is great, but just in case they are when you arrive, having a few things in mind ready to help them relax is important.
Final Thoughts
As parents, there are so many things that need to be navigated as our children grow, one of which may be them asking to have their ears pierced. You should make sure that you listen to them when they’re telling you about why they want them, as this can really help to indicate whether or not they’re ready. If you don’t think they’re ready, help them find alternatives like clip-on earrings, bracelets or necklaces. You want to make sure your child is ready and speaking to them openly is important to help you make that decision.