Changing earrings--how long?

[Pooh Crew]

My dds just got their ears pierced earlier this month. The "piercer lady" told us to wait six to eight weeks before changing the earrings to another pair. Is that the norm or do most people change them out before that time period is up? It's been many, many years since I got mine done, so I can't remember anything about it.

 

[Ride Junkie]

My niece got her ears pierced last year, and she took the piercing studs out early. They got infected and closed up. Bad idea!

She had them re-pierced this year, waited to change them until the time they had told her to wait, and they healed up just fine.

Just have her follow the directions she was given (cleaning them & waiting to remove the earrings), and she'll do just fine.

 

[elgerber]

Yes, 6 weeks is standard before changing the earrings. Then they are supposed to have a post type earring in (as opposed to the hook types) for the first 6 months, at all times. I know this well, as my dd is at the 5 1/2 month mark and is dying to wear her Nightmare Before Christmas hook earrings she got.

 

[RealMickeysGirl]

I had my ears pierced when I was 25. They said wait 8 weeks. I tried at about 5 weeks and they bled so I would say wait the full 8 weeks - just my opinion though. (I had bought some new earings that I couldn't wait to try on)

 

[Freyja]

I had my daughters wait for 8 weeks. They never had any problems.

 

[Turtle]

I would wait the length of time the piercer lady said to. It's not fun when your ears get infected. I'm allergic to nickel, and even real or hypoallergenic earrings will bother me sometimes.

Not to jack your thread or anything, but how young is too young to get your ears pierced? My niece is two months old, and her mom is dying to get her ears pierced. Now. I keep telling her she should wait til she's at least a year or two.

 

[AKL_Megs]

Wait the six weeks that they told you to wait. I also took mine out before the six weeks, and I also got a major infection (I still have the scar to this day ) I wish I would have just been more patient!!! She has her whole life to switch earrings, right? What's another six weeks! Have fun, go earring shopping while you wait!!! Good luck!

 

[Pooh Crew]

Not to jack your thread or anything, but how young is too young to get your ears pierced? My niece is two months old, and her mom is dying to get her ears pierced. Now. I keep telling her she should wait til she's at least a year or two.

I waited until my girls asked to get it done and they are almost 8 (next month). I wanted it to be a special time for them...something that they would remember. We all three went together while my sons were off doing something with dh. I took pics and we got a Frosty at Wendy's to celebrate (we'd never done that before either!) They loved showing their ears to all their girlfriends. It's a BIG deal for our second graders!

 

[Pooh Crew]

You've all convinced me. I'll wait the specified time. Thanks for the advice!!!

 

[Mom21]

Not to jack your thread or anything, but how young is too young to get your ears pierced? My niece is two months old, and her mom is dying to get her ears pierced. Now. I keep telling her she should wait til she's at least a year or two.

My opinion is that she should either have it done now (at the dr's office) or wait until the child is much older. Doing it at 1 or 2 they are too young to know not to play with them, but old enough to know something is in her ears. If the parent really wants it done they should do it at a very young age, and then the child just considers it part of themselves...KWIM or wait until the child is old enough to be responsible? I am not endorsing either way, but just letting you know what can happen when the child is a toddler and has it done.

 

[fraggle551]

I would wait the length of time the piercer lady said to. It's not fun when your ears get infected. I'm allergic to nickel, and even real or hypoallergenic earrings will bother me sometimes.

Not to jack your thread or anything, but how young is too young to get your ears pierced? My niece is two months old, and her mom is dying to get her ears pierced. Now. I keep telling her she should wait til she's at least a year or two.

my mom did mine when i was 4 weeks old. i dont remember it, and ive always had cute ears, so it worked out for me!

 

[milkabum]

My dds just got their ears pierced earlier this month. The "piercer lady" told us to wait six to eight weeks before changing the earrings to another pair. Is that the norm or do most people change them out before that time period is up? It's been many, many years since I got mine done, so I can't remember anything about it.

That's normal When I got mine, the woman told me to wait a bit over six weeks, and until then use a disinfectant around my ears every night.

 

[Turtle]

My opinion is that she should either have it done now (at the dr's office) or wait until the child is much older. Doing it at 1 or 2 they are too young to know not to play with them, but old enough to know something is in her ears. If the parent really wants it done they should do it at a very young age, and then the child just considers it part of themselves...KWIM or wait until the child is old enough to be responsible? I am not endorsing either way, but just letting you know what can happen when the child is a toddler and has it done.

Hmm, I didn't even think about it that way. That a toddler would be more likely to mess with them, you're right. Thanks all. I got mine done when I was a baby, and I guess I was just worried since my ears have puffed up and bled so many times.

 

[KTSMOM]

My DD got her ears pierced about 2 wks ago and the lady told us about 8 wks before we could switch to another stud type earring. We are going to probably get her a new pair for Christmas, so she will have something to look forward to and not want to change the earrings out any earlier.

 

[Nicolepa]

My daughter actually had to wait several months. Every time I'd take the studs out and put something else in she'd get an infection. Plus it was very painful for her to switch them out.

It's been a year now and we have no problems. But the first 6 months or so were really, really hard. I wished several times we had waited (she had just turned 6).

 

[donnajon]

I used to pierce ears. You do need to wait the 6 - 8 weeks. The earrings we used to pierce with had bigger posts on the studs. That is so the hole is a little larger and your earrings will fit better. And the reason you don't want to wear the hook type for six months is because they are thinner still and your hole will still shrink - then you wont be able to wear posts. After six months, your hole is completely healed and you should be fine.
Another tip for teens (and others who are on the telephone a lot) who like to wear really big earrings is to take the earring out of your ear before talking on the phone. I've seen several people who have had one hole ripped down and didn't know why. When I asked them if they talked on the phone on that ear and wore earrings, they would say yes! It happens slowly over time and they didn't realize it until they had a long slit instead of a hole.

 

[maelstrom]

Keep an eye out for infection. There is nickel in gold and if you have a nickel allergy, piercing your ears is when you're going to find out.

I had my ears pierced with medical plastic and haven't had a problem. I had another set of holes done with supposed hypoallergenic earrings and one of those got seriously infected; I was on Levaquin for five days and let me tell you, that is a *strong* antibiotic; I felt high, and not in a good way. I let that set of holes closed. I had my cartilage pierced with surgical steel and it has behaved for the most part; no major issues.

Definitely wait eight weeks; better to be safe than sorry. You'd be surprised how fast those holes can close up if they aren't healed all the way.

 

[Green Tea]

We were even more conservative than what was recommended. Follow the directions, especially the wearing of earrings all the time even once they can come out.