The right earrings for a 4 year old aren't the right earrings for a 12 year old. Here's what works at each age: the style, the size and the back, plus our favourite picks.
- Ages 3 to 7: small flat back studs, 3 to 6mm. Comfy to sleep in and hard to lose.
- Ages 8 to 12: fun studs and 10 to 13mm huggies that click shut.
- Teens: stacks, hoops up to 20mm and a bit of sparkle.
- Every age: hypoallergenic metal, like 316L surgical steel, and a secure back.
Earrings by age at a glance
| Age | Best style | Size | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 to 5 | Flat back studs | 3 to 6mm | Light, smooth behind the ear, comfy to sleep in |
| 6 to 7 | Flat back studs, tiny huggies | 4 to 8mm studs, 8mm huggies | Still comfy for bed, with a little more fun |
| 8 to 10 | Fun studs, charm huggies | 6 to 8mm studs, 10 to 11mm huggies | Their own style starts to show |
| 11 to 12 | Huggies, birthstones, CZ | 10 to 13mm huggies | Grown-up but still kid-friendly |
| Teens | Stacks, hoops, sparkle | 8 to 20mm hoops, CZ studs | Second and third holes, mix and match |
Sizes are a guide, not a rule. Every Delilah product page lists the exact size, and there's a full hoop size chart on our kids hoops page.
Ages 3 to 7: small, smooth and secure
Little lobes do best with tiny studs and a back that won't poke. Flat backs are ideal: a smooth disc twists on behind the ear, so they're comfy at bedtime and they stay put at nursery and school.
Ages 8 to 12: fun, colour and their first hoops
This is when kids start choosing for themselves. Fruit, animals, bows and charm huggies are big favourites, and lots of tweens add a second hole.
Teens: stacks, hoops and sparkle
Teens tend to want the same earrings as grown-ups, just kind to sensitive ears. Think plain hoops, CZ studs and a stack up the ear.
What about babies and toddlers?
Our range is designed for children aged 3 and up. If you're thinking about earrings for a baby or toddler, talk to your piercer first, and have a read of our first ear piercing guide.
Whatever their age, check these three things
- The metal. Surgical steel, titanium or solid gold. Avoid cheap plated base metals. See our hypoallergenic guide.
- The back. Flat backs are comfiest, screw backs are most secure. Butterfly backs work loose. See the backs guide.
- The rules. Lots of schools only allow small plain studs. Our School Safe edit helps.
Your questions, answered
What age can kids wear earrings?
There's no legal minimum age for ear piercing in England, but many piercers set their own age rules. Our range is designed for children aged 3 and up. Always wait until a new piercing has fully healed before changing earrings.
What earrings are best for a 5 year old?
Small flat back studs of around 3 to 6mm. They're light, comfy to sleep in and hard to knock out.
What earrings are good for an 8 year old?
Fun flat back studs like fruit, animals and bows, or small 10mm huggies once they can manage a click hinge.
What earrings suit a 10 to 12 year old?
Huggies of 10 to 13mm, birthstone studs and a little CZ sparkle. Many tweens start a second hole around this age, and tiny flat backs are perfect for it.
What earrings are best for teenagers?
Stackable huggies, 14 to 20mm hoops and CZ studs. Our Everyday Hoops come in 8, 10, 14 and 20mm, so they can size up.
Are your earrings safe for sensitive ears?
They're 316L surgical stainless steel, with an 18k gold PVD finish on gold pieces, so they won't tarnish or turn ears green. Many pairs are nickel free too. If your child has a known metal allergy, check with your GP or pharmacist first.
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