Anonymous wrote:These are earlobes, people. Not noses or bellybuttons. Claire's, the Icing, Piercing Pagoda - they're FINE.

+1
We went to Claire's and had a great experience. Quick, clean, virtually painless, no problems at all.

Piercing Pagoda. They did my daughter's ears. The pediatrician actually recommended PP. They did a quick and even job.

Piercing Pagoda at Columbia Mall did both of my daughter's ears at the same time.

These are earlobes, people. Not noses or bellybuttons. Claire's, the Icing, Piercing Pagoda - they're FINE.

Piercing Pagoda ay Montgomery Mall.

I took my DD to a tattoo place.

I got mine done when I was 4, after begging for a year. When DD was about 6 I was like "hey, did you want your ears pierced?" and she didn't. So about once a year I'd check in with her, and when she was a few months shy of 11 she felt ready and eager to do it.

A guy with a ton of piercings and tattoos pierced her ears. He was super nice and gentle and went over with her how to clean them, and it's now a year later and DD considers it to have been a great experience.

I would never have taken her to Claires. I'm super conservative in appearance and all "Oh my!" at things, but called up a good tattoo place for an appointment immediately upon DD saying she wanted it done. Claires piercings are done by college-age girls who watch a video and consider that their training.

(and word of advice -- don't rush it with hoops and fancy earrings. keep with the 14 carat posts with no stones or crevices for a good long while. You want these to heal right.)

That can be a nice gift, but keep in mind it hurts. For some people, it is no big deal, but I was queasy for a while. I wouldn't try to make it part of a big adventure.

I agree about going to a place that does it all the time.

I'd go to a claire's or similar. They do it all day long, every day. I actually wouldn't go to a doctor -- they have less practice and aren't nearly as concerned about how it looks.

Anonymous wrote:11 is too young.

let me guess your kids are in diapers or you don't have any

Go to a tattoo and piercing parlor.

Anonymous wrote:11 is too young.

Seems like that's a decision for her parents to make.

Several of my friend's DDs got their ear pierced as 11th birthday or "start of 6th grade" presents. All went to a tattoo parlor. Much higher standards for training and cleanliness.

11 is too young.

I took my daughter to a tattoo place. They used sealed medical equipment and a needle vs a gun. We have had no issues with infection, etc. At a place like Claire's they use a gun and I'd be worried about the cleanliness.

My DM took me to the doctor, who really didn't want to do it - "would be a lot better to pierce the cartilage up here rather than that lobe...." - I don't think I need to go to the ped, but where did you or your DS or friend take DD or DS?

TIA.