When can I get my ears pierced?

Your mom and dad get to make this call, but doctors recommend kids wait until they're old enough to care for their pierced ears. That means cleaning your newly pierced ears until they're healed. With proper care, they won't get infected and they won't close up before you have a chance to wear your new earrings! Some parents decide to have a girl's ears pierced when she's just a baby. In those cases, the parents must care for her earlobes until they're healed.

Boys also might want a pierced ear. Even though it's only one, the same rules apply. A boy needs to be able to take care of the pierced ear until it's healed.

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: May 2010