Last year, my daughter started asking about getting her ears pierced. After many months had passed, we realized it was something that she really wanted to go through with. We started doing some research and looking into different options.
One option that our friends recommended to us along the way was the Blomdahl Ear Piercing method. I have heard some disconcerting stories about going to places like the mall for ear piercing, so once I looked a little more into the Blomdahl method, we knew we wanted to go with that. There are several reasons, one being that we liked knowing it was being done carefully in a medical setting.
My daughter also has food allergies and sensitive skin, so we wanted something with less chance of skin irritation or reaction to the piercing.
Medical Plastic contains no nickel which ensures zero nickel exposure. This eliminates the risk of developing nickel allergy. Medical Plastic is recommended for anyone who wants to avoid developing nickel allergy or for anyone that already has a nickel sensitivity.
We found a local pediatrician to do the ear piercing (I checked online, and friends referred me – you can call Blomdahl if you need to find a piercing location). The appointment was booked a month out, and while that is a long wait, it also ensured that my daughter had time to make her final decision.
The day came and my daughter was ready! She picked an extra family member to come with us for some extra support.
When we arrived, a nurse put some numbing cream on my daughter’s earlobes, which takes a while to work. After a while, the doctor came in and used a marker to mark the location of the piercing. She had us check to make sure that we were happy with the location.
The Blomdahl method involves using a piercing gun that inserts an earring that has a plastic post. The doctor pierced one ear at a time, and although I could tell my daughter was braving it, she made it through both ears.
Her earlobes were quite pink for the day, but she did it!
It is recommended to keep the earrings in for 6-8 weeks. My daughter was very insistent on taking out the earrings to change them at 6 weeks instead of 8, and I will tell you that I wish we had waited. She did have some issues with her ears adjusting to new earrings, and had difficulty changing her earrings. The posts on the Blomdahl earrings are large, and I think we should have given the ear piercing more time to rest before switching them out.
Another neat thing about the Blomdahl earrings is that the backing clips on to the tip of the stud, so that there is more room for air to circulate and the ear to heal – plus it keeps the backing on (which is great for littler kids).
After the 6 weeks..
While I wish I could say our ear piercing adventures were smooth, my daughter did go through over 6 months where her ears would get infected or irritated. Lots of other moms told me that they went through the same too. My daughter had a little bit of a phobia about changing her earrings after we had gone to switch them out and had trouble getting them back in.
I will say that when my daughter was on summer swim team, not once did her ears get infected. So 5 days a week in the pool, and her earrings were not an issue. My recommendation is to keep up with cleaning the piercing, and if your child can shower, that helps too.
One year later..
We persevered, and my daughter couldn’t be happier to have pierced ears! The doctor told her not to wear dangly earrings for at least a year, so on her one year “pierce-a-versary”, my daughter insisted on dangly earrings. We let her get a pair as a treat, and after showing us she could be responsible, she is allowed to wear dangly earrings when appropriate (not during sports, etc). We are very happy with the Blomdahl piercing method and our experience, and I would recommend it to anyone.
So glad she is happy! I had my ears pierced at a Claire’s many, many years ago. I never had any issues, but I know a few people with issues from mall piercings.
Way back in the day, I was the first one in my class to get my ears pierced. Mom used two pieces of ice and a (somewhat) sterilized needle. Yikes! Once I returned to school, all the girls wanted their ears pierced and mom did theirs also (with permission from their parents). I wouldn’t recommend this crude way of piercing ears, but this was a long time ago. So glad that these days, it’s done completely differently. So glad she’s thrilled with her ear piercing experience.
Sounds like you had a little bit of problems in the beginning but it worked out in the end. I don’t remember if I had the same problems when I get mine pierced at her age but for me I can only do stainless steel earrings. I’m glad it’s gotten better and she has that cute earrings there.
Yep, I always waited the 8 weeks (3 holes in each ear). She has cute taste in earrings though! Glad everything worked out!
It’s good that things eventually well after some problems in the first time. It’s nice that she become a lot more responsible on managing her earrings.
I love those little wolf earrings. When I had my ears pierced, I changed them at six weeks too. I should have waited.
So pretty! My daughter got her ears pierced when she was one at Claire’s. We had no issues, thank goodness. She loves her earrings.
My daughter (6) really wants to get her ears pierced. We are thinking of doing it in the very near future.
My mother too me to a store called Claire’s for my first ear piercing. Then, during high school, I got adventurous and pieced my own ears!
It’s great that she has people who supported her. I know it can be frightening for kids.
This is such a fun time for a little girl! I love that it was a good experience for her, I know a few girls that had such bad experiences and it still effects them.
I remember when I got my ears pierced for the first time, it was in a jewelry store. I did wait the recommended number of weeks, many years later I had a pair out for a long while and they were starting to close.
Awww, it’s such a milestone when our girls get their ears pierced. I remember taking both of my girls!
The Blomdahl Ear Piercing method is indeed the way to go in my opinion. My niece had her daughters ears pierced the same way. Thanks for sharing your daughters experiences and the information.
I think you made the right decision choosing the Blomdahl ear piercing method. I had my daughter’s ears pierced when she was just 3 months old, so she does not remember anything. I love those dangling earrings your daughter had on. It looks so pretty!
We went to a tattoo parlor. I am very anti going to the mall for piercings. It just seems like there is too much risk for infection!
Cute earring in the last couple pictures! Glad everything worked out for you in the end!
Your daughter is so brave. I know she’s going to be asking you for new earrings now. I think soreness is part and parcel of having your ears pierced. As long as you keep it clean, then it won’t get infected.
I got my daughters ear pierced with medical plastic but she developed dermatitis all around her ear. Anyone hear of this?!
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Thank you for posting this! I have been trying to decide where to have my daughter’s ears pierced and came across Blomdahl but was hoping to find someone who had actually used this, so thank you for sharing your experience!