Ugh please do not get pierced at Claires. Please find a normal piercing salon in your area.

Anonymous wrote:I was one of those teens who had a zillion ear piercings and because I was under 18 I had to get my mom to come with me and she would only let me go to Claire’s. She thought it was somehow cleaner than a tattoo parlor (doubtful). I survived and so have millions of others. If you are very concerned your child’s piercings a doctor can do it.

Doctors are the worst option. You want someone who does a ton of piercing, not someone who does it once a quarter and wasn't trained in anything even remotely aesthetic. It's misguided thinking, like thinking a plastic surgeon who spends 60 hrs a week doing breast implants and tummy tucks is going to be better at Botox than the NP who does injections ALL DAY and tons of enhanced trainings because the letters at the end of their name are different. You might think this is the best approach, but it's generally not...

I took my daughter there. It was fine. No infections. No issues. No trauma.

I was one of those teens who had a zillion ear piercings and because I was under 18 I had to get my mom to come with me and she would only let me go to Claire’s. She thought it was somehow cleaner than a tattoo parlor (doubtful). I survived and so have millions of others. If you are very concerned your child’s piercings a doctor can do it.

I don't have a place to recommend, OP, because I took DD to a piercing place that would not accept anyone <13 yo. That being said, they were amazing with DD. Everything was explained, everything was sterile, they let DD double check where the piercings would go, and explained how to take care of the ears afterwards.

I had my ears pierced at Claire's as a teen. They're fine but I hate the idea of how the piercing gun actually works so bluntly.

Anonymous wrote:SO, OP, what did you decide?

OP here. Still on the fence but leaning towards a tattoo/piercing place. <sigh> Not doing pediatrician, but I had already decided that. Any recs for places that are good with kids besides Craig’s and Fatty’s? We have some time to decide…

Also thanks everyone for weighing in!

My daughter had her ears pierced at Claire's when she was younger and it was great. Over time she stopped wearing earrings and the holes closed a bit and we decided she should get them re-pierced, and I took her to a tattoo parlor, thinking a needle would be better at opening the original holes (also because I'd heard repeatedly about how tattoo parlors are better for safe piercing).

I honestly wish we're gone back to Claire's. The tattoo place rescheduled us twice on very short notice, didn't have any cleaning solution on hand (to purchase!) and whatever they recommended I couldn't find locally. It was very expensive and the atmosphere was loud (piercing room was walled off not to ceiling).

I understand there's a salon in Arlington with a REALLY nice separate piercing area so maybe my experience was a one-off. tl:dr, Claire's is perfectly fine.

Claire's is perfectly fine. No issues whatsoever. OTOH, our neighbor insisted on taking her daughter to a tattoo parlor, and her lobes subsequently became infected. You just never know, either way.