Where to get dd's ears pierced

[Bibbidi]

I've been told that a lot of people around where we are go to Piercing Pagoda, but now that my dd's are wanting their ears pierced, I am getting nervous about having their ears done at a kiosk at the mall. About how much does it cost and has anyone gone to their child's doctor instead--if so, how did that go?

 

[reenie1]

We did it at the ENT's office and I would highly recommend having it done at a doctor's. They made my little girl feel special and had lots of choices of studs. And I was confident that everything was very safe and sterile. Also, her holes are the most perfectly placed holes because the woman who did it knew all the detailed anatomical landmarks to look for - it was great! I don't remember the cost, but it was very reasonable - maybe $20 or so including studs. She had an allergic reaction to the cleaning solution and I was glad to be able to call the doctor for help.

 

[mommapea]

I took both of my dd's to Claire's in the mall. I think the ENT's a great idea, too. Because they were little, there were two ladies who worked with my girls (they had them done at different times at different stores). They were very patient, and everything was very sterile. They gave great instructions on the cleaning, and neither have had any problems. In fact, my youngest had hers pierced the day before we left on our last Disney trip! I brought the cleaner with us in a tiny spray bottle, and kept it with us at all time. I can't remember the cost...I think between $20 and $30? not sure.

 

[FINFAN]

My DD had hers done at PP and I went to to add a 2nd to one ear.....the actual piercing part went fine, but the weeks following were not so good, and she followed the cleaning/turning to the t. My PP piercing has been ok, tho more sensitive overal than my orig piercings years ago.
Long story short they were bothersome from the start, DD let them close up. 2 years later she went to her pediatrician to get them done, turned out great! Then 2 years later, decides to add more holes to her head, goes back to PP, and so far so good.
I think it is hit or miss...literally!
I would go to the doctor is you are uncertain, but ours was not covered under insurance and more $ than PP, but certainly worth it since DD was now able to enjoy having pierced ears. She was 12 when all this started and is almost 19 now.

 

[SCHBR'smom]

My oldest daughter had her ears pierced at the mall, I don't remember where exactly. Here Nanny took her for her 5th birthday. No actual problems, but it was pretty traumatic at the time. So, I had my next two girls' ears pierced at the pediatrician when they were about 6 mos. Easier for the girls and more piece of mind for me. When the newest one is 6 mos, I'll do the same. Our dr doesn't have a lot of choices for studs, silver or gold, but that doesn't bother me. The piece of mind was worth a lot to me.

 

[Disney*Dreamer]

My daughter's pedi did hers. It was $40.

 

[janni518]

I worked at a pediatricians office, and used to assist during the ear piercing, but got my dd18's done at PP when she was 4. Our office charged $50 to do it and obviously it wasn't covered by insurance. At PP you just pay for the earrings. (Usually $10 and up) The only thing I did do was ask for the manager to be present (I made an appt) and also asked that they do both ears at the same time.

My daughter has had a few piercings since then and we have always asked that the owner or manager be present. Never had a problem.

 

[motherhen17404]

I also vote for going to your Dr. office. However, if your Dr. can not do it, then what ever you do, DO NOT go to a place in the mall. Believe it or not, the best place to get ears pierced would be a tattoo studio that does piercings. In most cases they can do a better job at making everything sterile. Most tattoo places use an autoclave to clean all their needles and other instruments. The gun they use at Claire's and other such places can not be fully cleaned. Tattoo places also use a needle that makes a hole rather then the gun that "tears" a hole through the skin. A needle piercing will heal faster then a gun piercing.

 

[FINFAN]

I also vote for going to your Dr. office. However, if your Dr. can not do it, then what ever you do, DO NOT go to a place in the mall. Believe it or not, the best place to get ears pierced would be a tattoo studio that does piercings. In most cases they can do a better job at making everything sterile. Most tattoo places use an autoclave to clean all their needles and other instruments. The gun they use at Claire's and other such places can not be fully cleaned. Tattoo places also use a needle that makes a hole rather then the gun that "tears" a hole through the skin. A needle piercing will heal faster then a gun piercing.

interesting, I never knew the tearing vs. hole thing....thanks for the post

 

[Bibbidi]

wow. lots of great advice here. Sounds like I can't go wrong at the ped's---not sure ours offers it, but I'll check. I had heard that info about the tattoo parlors, but if I'm going to go a route other than the mall I think I'll go to the peds. Thanks everyone!

 

[CSwan1]

I also vote for going to your Dr. office. However, if your Dr. can not do it, then what ever you do, DO NOT go to a place in the mall. Believe it or not, the best place to get ears pierced would be a tattoo studio that does piercings. In most cases they can do a better job at making everything sterile. Most tattoo places use an autoclave to clean all their needles and other instruments. The gun they use at Claire's and other such places can not be fully cleaned. Tattoo places also use a needle that makes a hole rather then the gun that "tears" a hole through the skin. A needle piercing will heal faster then a gun piercing.

Actually, The gun does not 'tear a hole in the ear.' The earring cartridge is taken from a sterile container and locked into the gun. The earrings have an extremely sharp point on them that pierces the ear just like a piercing needle. Also, the guns can be disinfected, and are in our school, after each use. The reason the gun does not have to be steralized is because: sterilization is not required for salons it most states and the gun does not come into contact with the skin (ear). The only thing that has contact with the client's skin is the cartride and the earring which both come sterile from the manufacturer. I am a certified ear piercer and teach earpiercing at a cosmetology school. We do the majority of the ear piercing in our area.

 

[Disneyland Princess]

I got all my ear piercings done at Claire's. My 1st hole was done at 10 year, the next at 13, and the third when I was 14. No problems at all and all 3 of my holes are great to this day (never had an infection). My sisters also had them done and her one hole is also doing great and its been about 5 years now.
I would recomend them to anyone, they were realy nice and had cute studes to pick from.

 

[flying_babyb]

I have 4 holes, Been ear peirced 6 times.

The first set was claires and they got really infected. The second set were Clares I believe and they came out great. Third holes were from walmart and were the best peircings ever. No pain, no infection. The fouth hole was done at PP in the mall. That one hurt but got no infection. The last hole was at the tatoo shop. They hurt a little but didnt get infected or bleed.

Peirced at 13,16,17, 21, 23

 

[mjkacmom]

I asked my pediatrician, since they do them in the office, and she told me to go to Claire's, because not only could they do both ears at once, but they do a lot more piercings, and are more experienced than doctors and nurses (and that's where her dd's got them done!).

 

[tluvstink]

Both of my DDs had theirs done at Claire's and we had no problems. I think the cost was around $30. I wouldn't hesitate to go back


Terri

 

[audrabolster]

I also vote for going to your Dr. office. However, if your Dr. can not do it, then what ever you do, DO NOT go to a place in the mall. Believe it or not, the best place to get ears pierced would be a tattoo studio that does piercings. In most cases they can do a better job at making everything sterile. Most tattoo places use an autoclave to clean all their needles and other instruments. The gun they use at Claire's and other such places can not be fully cleaned. Tattoo places also use a needle that makes a hole rather then the gun that "tears" a hole through the skin. A needle piercing will heal faster then a gun piercing.

YES! going to a place like Claire's or PP is not the best. The piercing gun basically just forces the blunt stud through the ear which can cause trauma to the area- resulting in improper healing. my right earlobe is a slit rather than a whole because of it healing poorly!

 

[Disney*Dreamer]

At our pedi, everything that they use is disposible and only used 1 time, including what those here are calling a "gun" I am not sure the technical term of it. The one used on my daughter was taken out of the plastic in front of me, was obviously a cheep plastic, therefore making it disposible, and then thrown away in the sharps container after they were done. I like that so that I don't have to worry about if it was cleaned properly.

 

[cswtmom]

I got my dd's (8 year old) ear pierced at her doctors office. My dd first got her ears pierced at the mall with her father's girlfriend without my permission . Well they pierced her ears wrong and when I took her to her ENT for a check up I asked what I should do. He told me that we would have to let the holes close (which took two years) and then we could repierced them.
My dd got her ears repierced just 4 weeks ago at her doctors with out any problems, she got to choice her earings and two nurses pierce them at the same time.DD was a little scared but the nurses know just what to do. It cost me $20.00 per ear to pierced total $40.00 including the earings. DD's ENT wanted $100.00 to pierce her ears
Good Luck

 

[DianeV]

I didnt realzie that many doctor offices still do it.

We went to Claires a few weeks ago as my daughter wanted second holes and they couldnt have been more rude and unfriendly

We went over to Piercing Pagoda which we have done before and the lady was super nice and said they get alot of people comign over from Claires who got turned off. Maybe its just that store..

We paid $36 and that was for 14kt gold with little rhinestones in them. The non gold ones are obviously cheaper

 

[CathrynRose]

Tattoo shop - as a PP mentioned.

They use a NEW needle - not a blunt stud to rip on through your ear lobe.