Toddlers Ages 11 Months to 3 Years

We generally recommend ear piercing for babies 6 months and under or waiting until a child is old enough to ask for it and participate in aftercare.

Toddlers between 11 months and 3 years fall into a more unpredictable age group when it comes to piercing. This age group has a disclaimer to pierce and there have been times we had to refuse piercing so ensure you read and understand this disclaimer prior to booking

This page has more detailed information for the pre piercing information you should know when bringing and toddler (11 months to to 3 years) in for piercing

Click Here to Return To Before You Book Important Info Page!

Page Overview

1 - Toddler Disclaimer

Our piercing disclaimer for ages 11 Months to 3 Years

2- What to Expect During Your Appointment

General Overview of a typical appointment

3 - Studio Policies

Our various studio policies with more specific information for bringing in an Infant

4 - Piercing Methods

Disposable Cartridge Piercing System or Needle Piercing

5 - Numbing Options

Strict requirements for anyone under 18 years of age

6 - Day Of Appointment Cancellation, Rescheduling, or No-Show Policy

Our 24 Hour cancelation policy and how to cancel when the studio is closed

Toddler Disclaimer

While we have successfully pierced many toddlers over the past 21 years, there are times when we may need to refuse a piercing if the child is resistant or becomes too distressed. Our priority is to ensure a safe, positive, and calm experience, not to cause fear or discomfort.

We generally recommend piercing infants 6 months and under, or waiting until the child is old enough to express interest in getting pierced and can assist with proper care of their earrings. Toddlers are often very active, which increases the risk of earrings being accidentally pulled out, interference with proper aftercare, or trauma to the piercing, which can lead to infection or formation of bumps.

Children in this age group are more aware, and we do not allow them to be restrained during the piercing. Our staff will attempt to distract and comfort the child, but the child must be able to sit relatively still and allow the piercer to safely mark the earring placement and perform the piercing without becoming overly distressed. If earrings are pulled out after the piercing, new earrings must be purchased for any re-piercing.

If you receive pediatrician approval for numbing (which is required to numb), please note that we do not recommend full numbing for this age group. If the numbing cream is rubbed off, it must be removed entirely, as it is only intended for the ears. The child will need to remain relatively still for approximately 20 minutes, as the numbing cannot be reapplied once removed.

What to Expect During Your Appointment

Appointments typically will take 15–30 minutes. During this time, we will:

STEP ONE - Review available earring options. We have different options for piercing with the disposable cartridge or the needle and depending on wether you want to pierce with titanium or gold.

STEP TWO - Go over aftercare instructions. These will also be given in writing so don't feel you have to memorize them on the spot!

STEP THREE - Carefully mark the piercing location before beginning.

STEP FOUR - Pierce! This will be the quickest part of all and should only take a few seconds or a few minutes depending of you pierce with the cartridge or the needle.

Important Information:

Parent/Guardian Presence Required

A parent or legal guardian is required to bring any minor (under 18) in for a piercing appointment. This is a strict policy for both legal and safety reasons.

Siblings, extended relatives, or friends are not permitted to bring a minor in for a piercing—even if they are over 18. They may attend the appointment as guests, but cannot fulfill the legal or procedural requirements necessary for a minor to be pierced.

The parent or legal guardian must:

  • Book the appointment using their own contact information in order to receive all necessary pre-piercing information, or if someone else books for them this info must be given by them to book.

  • Sign the waiver prior to the appointment. Waivers signed by the minor or anyone other than the parent/legal guardian will not be valid.

  • Be present at the appointment, at least for check-in and aftercare instructions. If they prefer not to be present during the piercing itself, they may step out of the room or wait in our garden area. In this case, another adult guest may accompany the child into the piercing room.

This policy ensures:

  • The responsible adult is fully informed about the piercing process, healing times, and aftercare requirements.

  • Proper aftercare is understood and followed. Ear piercings require consistent cleaning and care for 2 to 6 months (depending on if you pierce the earlobe or cartilage area). Improper aftercare can result in infections or other complications.

  • We uphold our responsibility to obtain parental consent and awareness—as unfortunately, there have been instances where individuals have attempted to have minors pierced without proper permission.

We do welcome guests at appointments, even if they cannot act as the responsible adult for the child. You can read more about this in the section below titled “Who Can Attend the Appointment.”

If you have any questions about who qualifies as a legal guardian or whether your situation meets the requirements, feel free to reach out before booking. We're happy to clarify.

Earring Policy

We only pierce with our sterile, in-house earrings to ensure safety and hygiene. You can learn more on our Prices and Piercing Systems page.

One Ear at a Time

One Ear at a Time:

For infants and toddlers, we pierce one ear at a time. At this age they cannot confirm to us they will remain completely still for both ears to be pierced at once.

Guest Policy

We understand that ear piercing can be a meaningful moment, and we welcome support during the appointment. However, please keep in mind that we are a small studio, and space is limited. Keep in mind a parent or legal guardian must be physically present at the appointment for any minor receiving a piercing.

For Minors Being Pierced:

  • Up to two adult guests may accompany a minor during their piercing.

  • Only two adults may be in the piercing room with the child during the procedure. This ensures our piercer has enough space to work safely and comfortably.

  • If a third adult would like to attend for support, we can typically accommodate one additional guest standing in the hallway just outside the piercing room. They will still be able to observe the appointment but may not be directly inside the room.

Additional Guests:

  • We do have a small garden area in the back of our studio where extra guests are welcome to wait, weather permitting.

  • Please note that large groups cannot be accommodated inside the studio due to space and safety limitations.

Bringing Additional Children:

  • If you need to bring other children with you because childcare is unavailable, that is okay as long as they are well-behaved and remain under the supervision of a parent or another adult.

  • Our staff cannot watch additional children during the appointment, and for health and safety reasons, children must not be left unattended at any time.

  • It is essential that we maintain a sterile, calm environment to ensure the safety and focus needed during the piercing.

We do our best to be flexible and accommodating, so if you have a unique situation or special request, feel free to contact us in advance—we’re happy to work with you whenever possible!

Strollers

Due to space limitations, strollers are not permitted inside the studio. However, we provide car seat stands for your convenience.

Timeliness:

We operate by appointment only, and it’s very important that you arrive on time. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate late arrivals beyond your scheduled appointment, and we also ask that guests do not arrive excessively early.

Your appointment includes sufficient time to:

  • Review earring options
  • Discuss aftercare
  • Carefully mark the ears
  • Complete the piercing

Please only arrive early if you plan to use full numbing and meet the requirements for numbing. We cannot apply numbing cream unless all listed requirements are met. If you're interested in numbing, please review the full numbing information below prior to your visit.

Rescheduling, Cancellations, and No Shows

Because we work by appointment only, each time slot is reserved specifically for you. If you are unable to attend your scheduled appointment, please notify us as soon as possible.

A $25 dollar deposit will be required to rebook if you cancel, attempt to reschedule, or do not show up on the day your appointment is scheduled without contacting us by the day prior.

If you need to cancel or reschedule before your appointment day and it is after store hours or on a day we are closed, please text our office at 516 595 9240 with your name, appointment date, and time. As long as we receive your text message by the day before your appointment, no deposit will be required, and we will process the request as soon as we return.

We understand that illnesses and emergencies happen. If you or a child scheduled for a piercing becomes sick or an emergency arises, please let us know as soon as you can, and we will happily cancel or reschedule your appointment at no charge.

⚠️ Important:

  • We do not check voicemail messages. Any cancellations left via voicemail will not be valid.
  • Do not reply to automated messages (such as appointment reminders or waivers); those responses are not visible to us and will not be received.

To avoid fees and ensure proper communication, always text us directly if you need to cancel or reschedule.

Before Your Appointment:

Before Your Appointment:

  • Make sure your baby is , has a clean diaper, and is dressed in comfortable clothing
  • Remember If you'd like to change the piercing placement after approving it, you must do so before leaving the room. Changes afterward will require new earrings and a re-piercing fee
  • If you or your child are feeling unwell, please reschedule

Piercing Methods

We offer two piercing methods for infant earlobes: the medical cartridge system and the needle method.

We offer two piercing methods for infant earlobes: the medical cartridge system and the needle method. Both are safe, hygienic, and effective, and we do not strongly recommend one over the other for this age group though most children this age to tend to choose to pierce with the cartridge.

Why Parents Often Choose Cartridge for Infants & Toddlers:

  • With cartridge piercing, the piercing, stud insertion, and backing placement happen instantly. We can typically complete both ears in just a few seconds, often without needing to restrain the infant, which helps minimize discomfort and stress. Needle piercing takes longer per ear, up to a minute per ear. It may also involve some bleeding, as a temporary plastic catheter is used during the process and removed once the jewelry is placed in and pressure on the ear may be needed before moving on to the next ear, which can be more upsetting for young children.

  • For toddlers (11 months - 3 years), we only proceed if the child is cooperative. We do not allow physical restraint during piercing for this age. If your child is unable to sit still for cleaning, marking, and piercing, we will not continue. Needle piercing takes up to a minute per ear and included three steps so the child would have to remain still for this process

Note: Piercings are still done one ear at a time at this age for safety.

Click the methods listed below for for more info on each methods and general pricing

Needle Vs Cartridge

Cartridge Piercing

Cartridge Piercing

  • Preferred by the American Medical Association
  • Uses a manual, spring-free medical device—not a piercing gun
  • Device is operated by gentle hand pressure for controlled, low-stress piercing
  • Everything is prepackaged, sterilized, and disposable

Why Parents Often Choose Cartridge for Infants:

  • Piercing, stud insertion, and backing placement happen instantly, reducing distress
  • We can often pierce both ears quickly before the baby becomes fully aware

Note: Piercings are still done one ear at a time at this age for safety.

Earring Options for Cartridge Piercing:

  • Titanium: $55 Single / $95 Pair
  • 14k Gold: $95 Single / $165 Pair
  • 14k Gold with 3-point Diamond: $125 Single / $195 Pair
  • 14k Gold with 5-point Diamond: $165 Single / $300 Pair
  • 14k Gold with 8-point Diamond: $250 Single / $495 Pair

Needle Piercing

Needle Piercing

  • Preferred by the Association of Professional Piercers (APP)
  • Uses a hollow, single-use catheter needle for precision

Important: For toddlers, we only proceed if the child is cooperative. We do not allow physical restraint during piercing. If your child is unable to sit still for cleaning, marking, and piercing, we will not continue.

What to Expect with Needle Piercing:

  • Piercing, stud insertion, and securing the back are done in separate steps
  • Takes about 1 minute per ear

Earring Options for Needle Piercing:

  • Primarily flat-back studs or seamless hoops
  • Note: Hoops are not recommended for infants due to safety risks
  • We use longer posts for swelling, and offer post-downsizing once the piercing heals

Important Note on Pricing:

Needle piercing earrings are priced per earring and tend to be in a higher price range due to the use of:

  • Specialty flat-back posts, which are able to be custom fit
  • Seamless hoops, which require more metal to manufacture

Needle Piercing Pricing:

  • Titanium: $90–$125 Single
  • 14k Gold: $150–$250 Single
  • 14k Gold with Diamonds: $200–$1,300 Single

Numbing Options

⚠️ IMPORTANT NOTE FOR NUMBING

For anyone under 18 years old, verbal approval from your pediatrician is required before we can apply numbing cream. Without it, we cannot proceed with numbing.

Most infants and Toddlers DO NOT NUMB THE EARS, and we find they tolerate the piercing very well as the pain feels less than a shot. However, we do offer two numbing options for those interested See Bellow for the steps for either option:

If you have received approval from your child’s pediatrician and would like to use numbing cream, you must inform our staff at check-in. We do not ask every client about numbing, as not all children receive approval, and we want to avoid unnecessary stress or distress for children who are not using numbing.

As outlined on our numbing information page and in the waiver signed for your appointment, it is the parent or guardian’s responsibility to notify staff if numbing has been approved and requested. If this is not mentioned at check-in and is requested right before the piercing, after check-in, jewelry selection, aftercare review, and ear marking, there will not be enough time for the numbing cream to take full effect, and it cannot be applied at that point.

To receive full numbing, please arrive early as specified so the cream has adequate time to work.

FULL VS PARTIAL NUMBING

  • *Arrive at appointment time*

    Partial Numbing:

    STEP ONE - Arrive at your scheduled appointment time. Partial Numbing does not require you to come in earlier.

    STEP TWO - Let staff know at check-in that you received approval. We do not ask every customer about numbing since some children are not able to receive it so a parent is required to inform staff at checkin that they have received approval for the numbing cream.

    STEP THREE - Cream must remain undisturbed for about ten minutes so we will apply it then go over earring section and then piercing aftercare and it should be partially numb by the time we will clean off the ears to mark the placement.

    If it rubs off, we will need to remove it completely, as it can only be applied once per visit.

  • *Arrive 20 mins early*

    Full Numbing:

    STEP ONE - Arrive 20 minutes before your appointment. The cream will need time to sit so if you no dot arrive early we cannot fully numb the ears.

    This options is not available for appointments that would require you to arrive prior to us opening such as Mondays & Saturdays at 10am or 10:15am or Fridays at 12pm or 12:15pm

    STEP TWO - Let staff know at check-in that you received approval. We do not ask every customer about numbing since some children are not able to receive it so a parent is required to inform staff at checkin that they have received approval for the numbing cream.

    STEP THREE - Cream must remain undisturbed for the full 20 minutes. Since our studio is small if you do want to fully numb the ears you must either leave and come back at your appointment time or wait in our garden if weather permits while waiting for the cream to take affect.

    If it rubs off, we will need to remove it completely, as it can only be applied once per visit. Most children this age cannot remain still for this time frame

Same-Day Cancellation or Rescheduling Policy:

Because we work by appointment only, each time slot is reserved specifically for you. If you’re unable to attend your scheduled appointment, please notify us as soon as possible so we can offer that time to another client.

A $25 deposit will be required to rebook if you cancel, attempt to reschedule, or do not show up on the day your appointment is scheduled, without contacting us the day prior.

If you need to cancel or reschedule before your appointment day and it is after store hours or on a day we are closed, please text our office at (516) 595-9240 with your name, appointment date, and time. As long as we receive your message by the day before your appointment, no deposit will be required to rebook, and it will be processed as soon as were back in.

We understand that illnesses and emergencies happen. If you or a child scheduled for a piercing is sick or an emergency arises, please let us know as soon as you can and we will happily cancel or reschedule your appointment at no charge.