I've pierced a lot of children's ears. When parents arrive, they tend to have the same questions — and the same anxieties. Will it hurt? Is it safe? Have I waited long enough? Am I making a mistake booking at a studio instead of the shopping centre?
This guide answers all of it honestly. No marketing language. No attempt to talk you into something. Just what I know from years of practice, because informed parents make better decisions — and better decisions lead to better outcomes for their kids.
The biggest question: needle or gun?
If you take one thing from this guide, let it be this: for children, a sterile needle piercing is significantly safer than a piercing gun. I know most parents grew up with the gun at Claire's or a chemist — it's what feels familiar. But familiarity and safety aren't the same thing.
Here's the practical difference:
Why piercing guns are a problem
They cannot be sterilised. Piercing guns are made of hard plastic that cannot withstand autoclave sterilisation (the process that actually kills pathogens). Studios that use them wipe them down with surface disinfectant, which is not the same as sterile. Between clients, blood and tissue residue can persist in the mechanism.
They use force, not precision. A gun stud is blunt. It doesn't cut — it punches. The tissue is forced apart rather than cleanly parted, which causes more trauma, more inflammation, and a harder healing process.
The jewellery is often not implant-grade. Gun studs are typically made from "surgical steel" — a term that has no regulated definition in NZ. Many contain nickel, which is the most common cause of contact allergy in children. An itchy, swollen lobe six weeks after a piercing is often a nickel reaction, not an infection.
The post length is wrong. Gun studs come in one length. Children's lobes vary significantly in thickness. A post that's too short compresses the tissue, traps fluid, and makes infection far more likely.
What a needle piercing offers
A single-use sterile needle is sharp — it creates a clean, precise channel. The jewellery we place is implant-grade titanium (ASTM F136), nickel-free, and sized correctly for your child's lobe. The post is long enough to allow for swelling in the first few weeks, and shorter enough that it won't snag constantly.
The sensation is different too. A sharp needle cuts quickly — most children describe it as a brief pinch. A gun stud involves a stamping sensation that takes longer and hurts more. I've had children tell me our piercing was "nothing" after having a gun piercing elsewhere that they'd found much worse.
What age is right?
Parents often ask me: "What's the minimum age?" But I think that's the wrong question. The right question is: "Is my child ready?"
Readiness means a few specific things:
- Consent. The piercing should be the child's choice. Not something done to them. I won't pierce a child who doesn't want it, regardless of what the parent asks.
- Ability to sit still. Two minutes, without flinching mid-needle. If a child can't do this, the piercing becomes unsafe. I'll stop before starting if I don't think it's possible on the day.
- Ability to participate in aftercare. Children don't do aftercare unsupervised, but they need to understand what's happening — that touching with unwashed hands is not allowed, that pool swimming is off the table for six weeks, that the jewellery stays in.
At Platinum Point, our general guidelines are:
- Ages 0–5: We don't pierce this group. Not for lobes, not for cartilage, not at any parent's request. Piercing someone who cannot consent is not something we do.
- Ages 6–10: Lobes only, with a parent present throughout. Before we start, I'll have a short conversation with your child directly — not to be awkward, but to confirm this is genuinely their choice.
- Ages 11–15: Lobes and lower cartilage considered case by case. Written parental consent required. Parent or guardian must be present.
- Ages 16+: Full service available. Written consent is still good practice for structural placements on under-18s.
These are guidelines, not rigid rules. I've declined to pierce 9-year-olds who were clearly being pressured. I've happily pierced a nervous 7-year-old who clearly wanted it and handled herself beautifully. Context matters.
What happens on the day
Our children's appointments are scheduled for 45 minutes. Here's what to expect:
Consultation and marking
You and your child arrive, settle in, and we talk. I explain what I'm going to do, answer any questions your child has, and take a look at their lobes to check anatomy. Then I mark the placement — a purple dot with a skin marker — so you can both approve the position before anything happens.
Placement matters more than people realise. Too close to the edge and there's a higher risk of migration or tearing. Too deep and the jewellery sits awkwardly. I mark in a position that heals well and looks good long-term.
The piercing
Once you've approved the marks, I set up my sterile field. This involves opening sealed, single-use equipment — needle, receiving tube, jewellery — in front of you. Nothing is pre-set and waiting. You watch it come out of the packaging.
I'll ask your child to take a slow breath in, and pierce on the exhale. The needle passes through in under a second. The jewellery is placed immediately. Then we do the second ear in the same way — usually within 90 seconds of the first.
Most children sit very still. Some wince. A few cry briefly. Almost all are surprised at how quick it is, and most are showing off their new ears within five minutes.
Aftercare walkthrough
Before you leave, I walk you through exactly what to do at home — and what to avoid. You'll get this in writing too. The routine is simple, and I'll answer any questions you have before you leave.
Aftercare for children's ear piercings
The basics are the same as adult lobe aftercare, with a few extra considerations for kids.
The core routine
Twice daily: spray the piercing with sterile saline (NaCl 0.9% wound wash — available from pharmacies). Let it air dry. That's the whole routine. No twisting, no turning, no cotton buds inside the post hole. No Savlon, no antiseptic cream, no tea tree oil.
Many parents grew up being told to rotate the jewellery — that it prevents the skin from growing over the stud. This is outdated advice. Rotating disrupts the healing tissue and can introduce bacteria. Leave the jewellery alone except for cleaning.
What to avoid
- Swimming for 6 weeks minimum — pool chlorine and sea water both introduce bacteria. Shower is fine.
- Hair products near the ears — shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, dry shampoo. Rinse the ears in the shower each time, even if you don't spray directly.
- Touching with unwashed hands — including your child's hands. This is the main vector for infection.
- Hats, helmets, headbands that press on the jewellery — especially for the first few weeks. A loose-fitting hat is fine; tight-fitting headbands are not.
- Sleeping on the piercings — encourage your child to sleep on their back, especially in the first few weeks. A travel pillow with a hole in the centre is the adult equivalent, but for younger children just back-sleeping is sufficient.
How long do lobes take to heal?
Most children's lobes show surface healing within 6–8 weeks — the piercing looks fine, feels fine, and isn't tender. But internal healing continues for 3–6 months. The jewellery should stay in place for a minimum of three months before we consider a downsize or jewellery change. Changing jewellery too early is a common reason piercings close up or get irritated.
Normal healing vs warning signs
This is important to know, because the two are frequently confused. A lot of panicked messages I receive from parents describe normal healing, not infection.
Normal and expected
- Mild tenderness for the first few days
- Some redness immediately after (fades within 48 hours)
- Clear or white crust forming around the jewellery (lymph fluid — this is normal)
- Occasional mild itching
- Slight swelling in week one
Seek advice if you see
- Spreading redness beyond the immediate piercing site
- Green or yellow discharge (not white — white is normal)
- Heat and significant swelling after the first week
- Fever (potentially systemic, rare but seek medical attention)
- The post disappearing into the lobe (sign of embedding — contact us immediately)
If you're unsure, text us a photo. We'd much rather reassure you that everything is fine than have you waiting on something that genuinely needs attention.
What jewellery is used, and why it matters
At Platinum Point, all children's piercings are done with implant-grade titanium (ASTM F136) flat-back labret studs. Here's why each specification matters:
Implant-grade titanium (ASTM F136) — the same material used in surgical implants. No nickel, no copper, no mystery alloy. The most biocompatible metal for fresh piercings. BVLA and other high-end jewellery brands use it as their base post material.
Flat-back (labret) post — the disc sits flush against the inside of the lobe with no sharp edge or butterfly clip to press into tissue. Butterfly clips on gun studs are a notorious breeding ground for bacteria and a frequent source of embedding in children.
Sized to your child's lobe — I measure lobe thickness and choose a post length accordingly. Too short means no room for swelling; too long means it catches on hair and clothing constantly. Getting this right matters.
What to bring to the appointment
- Photo ID for the parent or guardian who will be present throughout
- Written parental consent if you are the legal guardian but not a parent
- A fed, hydrated child — an empty stomach raises the risk of feeling faint. Make sure they've eaten in the last couple of hours
- Their hair tied back — especially helpful for placement marking and to avoid catching the jewellery on the day
You don't need to bring anything else. We provide everything: sterile equipment, jewellery, aftercare spray samples to get you started, and written aftercare instructions to take home.
A note on cost
Children's lobe piercing at Platinum Point is $150 per lobe, including implant-grade titanium starter studs. Both lobes are done in the same 45-minute appointment.
That's more expensive than a shopping centre gun piercing. The difference is sterile equipment, implant-grade jewellery correctly sized to your child's anatomy, a piercer who has done this hundreds of times, and aftercare support via text for as long as they're healing. If you're making a permanent hole in your child's body, it's worth doing properly.
Booking
All children's appointments are at our Parnell studio: 389 Parnell Road, Parnell, Auckland 1052. By appointment only. A parent or legal guardian must be present throughout — no exceptions, regardless of the child's age.
You can book online at platinumpoint.nz/book. If you have questions before booking, send us a message via the contact page — we're happy to talk through any concerns.