DD is having her ears pierced on Saturday. Who wants to bet she comes out of the hairdressers with one side done and not the other?

[Reality]

Judging from her comments over the last few weeks...

DD: 'it doesn't HURT hurt though does it?'

Me: 'Yes darling, it really hurts, you don't have to have them done'

DD: 'Oh but I really want them done'

and so on and so on.

I have finally given in after years of her badgering reasoned arguments. She's nine.

It's going to be awful, isn't it? I shoudl never have said yes.

[poorbuthappy]

DD1 got hers done last Friday at Claires.
They did both at the same time, and fair play they were fantastic.
She just about coped, made her eyes water though!

[squoosh]

It doesn't hurt that much. It's only a pinch.

From the way people go on here sometimes you'd swear it was akin to undergoing a thoracotomy without anaesthetic.

[ClangerOnaComeDown]

Maybe you should try approaching it in a positive manner?

'Yes it will hurt, but it won't last. And you'll be too interested in your new studs to worry about it'

Just reassure her that she can opt out at anytime and it won't matter.

[idobelieveinfairies]

When my DD decided she wanted hers done she didn't cry one bit!!! Her twin brother cried for her instead, he was so concerned!

A year later she has one earing as 9 mths down the line one became infected and had to come out. She refuses to get it re-pierced or take the other one out!

[freddiefrog]

My DD had them done a few weeks ago.

She said that the actual piercing bit didn't really hurt, but they started to sting afterwards

She had them done one at a time, and the first one hadn't started to sting until after the 2nd one had been done, otherwise, I'm sure we'd have only ended up with 1 done as well

[Fairylea]

I think at that age if she REALLY wants them done she will be fine, especially as you have warned her.

Same situation with my dd, same age etc. She didn't even flinch (I was virtually hiding in the corner) and came out beaming! Not a tear in sight :)

I think about 9/10 is the minimum age to get it done really as by then they are able to make the choice themselves really and have a good understanding of what happens.

[LadyBryan]

Can I suggest you take her to a proper piercing studio that will use a needle rather than a gun. Far, far better way of getting them done - will heal better, better for the ear tissue and less chance of anything going wrong.

[Lancelottie]

What is a 'proper piercing studio' and how do you find a good one, LadyBryan?
I'm imagining a sleazy tattoo parlour with skulls on the windows, somehow...

[Reality]

Yeah, I am not taking DD to the local tattoo studio, it's grim. And there really aren't any naice piercing places within fifty miles, I don't think.

[Reality]

She's having her ears done while I have my highlights.

All cosy, like.

[SpottyTeacakes]

I had mine done at the doctors, with a gun, do they still do it there?

[Sparkletastic]

Another vote for Claires - simultaneous is the answer...

[thebody]

my dds had them done at 9 and 10.

went to Claire's and they were fantastic as did both sides at same time.

however you can not mention Claire's on mumsnet unless you want a flaming. apparently it's the work if the devil.//😃😃

and it doesn't really hurt that much op, stop scaring her//😉

[NinaHeart]

I tried to find a naice piercing studio when I had mine done (at the grand old age of 49) but was told over and over again that Claire's Accessories had cornered the market and no-one else was doing it any more.
So I had to go there. And did I feel stupid...?

[LadyBryan]

Google piercing studios near you. When you visit you should be able to see relevant certificates etc.

The thing is when you use a gun (a) it crushes the tissue around the hole - a needle makes a single, clean hole and (b) although the needles are new each time with a gun, a gun isn't cleaned in between piercings.

I'm not trying to frighten you at all, but if she's having them done it is better to have them done the safest way

[Dillydollydaydream]

My dd 10 in August has got hers done as it the holidays and will have time to heal before school. They usually have 2 people pierce one ear each so they're done at the same time but this day there was only one so dd had to have them done separately.
I was surprised at how brave she was. Eyes watered a little but she wasn't too bothered.

[KateSpade]

when i used to have my piercings in, (i had 3 visible face piercings) young girls used to ask 'did it hurt'

my answer was always yes, of course it hurt.

Sorry, just the thread brings those memories screaming back.

[livinginwonderland]

Oh come on, ear piercings really don't hurt that much!

[Lonecatwithkitten]

The British Body piercing association lists members enabling you to find someone locally.
I would suggest really research the difference between guns and single use needles. My DD has been asking me and having done the research a gun will not go anywhere near her ears.

[squalorvictoria]

Doesn't hurt that much? Yes it bloody does!

And I have a high pain threshold, thanks very much

[squoosh]

Well I have a pretty low pain threshold and think it would be easily tolerated by a ten year old. Just the lobes, not the cartilage.

[NettoSuperstar]

DD's just had a second hole in hers, she didn't flinch.

[ManAliveThisThingsFantastic]

Forcing a blunt object through a 10 yo ears WILL hurt. The pain will be a lot less if it is done with the correct equipment.
Please don't go to the hairdressers!

[englishteacher78]

It really didn't hurt that much.cartilage is worse than lobes but more uncomfortable than sore.

[mrsminiverscharlady]

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but what difference does it make by using the gun and the surrounding tissues getting crushed, rather than using a needle? I had them done with a gun and my ears haven't dropped off (yet!) I don't remember it being very painful either.