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DD7 wants ear pierced I'm not sure pros and cons please.

56 replies

lexcat · 10/07/2008 10:13

Two boys in her class have their ears pierced but no girls. So far she liked the idea but didn't like the idea to the pain of the piercing. Has now been told by one of the boys that it hurts but not that much.
I've had my own done when I was about 14 which was when my mother let me. I can't see the problem in been younger as long as they don't wear dangles (friend has ripped earlobe age 10 with dangles).

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seeker · 10/07/2008 10:18

I would just say no. She's got 60 odd years of her life to be a grown up and only 16 at the most to be a child. She should make the most of it. Well, that's what I say to mine!

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mamablue · 10/07/2008 11:11

I am in the no camp. I have fairly old fashioned views about that sort of thing. Putting holes in your body is something you do as an adult, not a child. Luckily, around here it is considered quite chavvy (sorry) for little girls to have them done. So none of her friends have them , yet. I agree with seeker she will have years and years to worry about that sort of thing. I would say no.

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flamingtoaster · 10/07/2008 11:13

I promised my DD if she waited until she was 16 to have her ears pierced we would buy her a pair of diamond earrings for her 16th birthday. She waited.

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Oliveoil · 10/07/2008 11:13

I would say no until they go to secondary school, say 11

which would probably translate to 9 or 10 when they have worn me down!

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seeker · 10/07/2008 11:26

I said 16. dd is now 12, and I've slipped to 14. But I'm not going any lower!

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Bumperlicious · 10/07/2008 11:30

I had mine done when I was 7 (at the local market my step-family at the time who took me were not pleasant people!). But I have had no problems with them. I have nothing against it at 7 really, although it doesn't look particularly nice. The more pertinent point is what you think and what you have agreed. If you have said "not until you are XXX" then you should stick to it.

If you do let her you have to make her understand that she will have to look after them, and bath them in salt water for a few weeks (IIRC).

I would probably be more inclined to make her wait say until going to secondary school, maybe as a treat in the summer before she goes.

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bozza · 10/07/2008 11:31

I wouldn't at 7 definitely. Surely there is not much pressure if none of the other girls do - and also if you start the trend all the other mothers who want to hold out longer will be secretly cursing you!

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Oliveoil · 10/07/2008 11:32

my mum and dad said never

then changed to 16

then sis had hers done at 14 which meant I had mine done at the same time at 12

she moaned all the way home that I had 'got 2 years for free'

hahahahahahaahah

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lljkk · 10/07/2008 11:46

Good post Bumperlic.

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lexcat · 10/07/2008 11:46

Thank yo so far but please all you against why what to the problem at a younger age.
That's where I having problem justifing my choice to say no then all I can see is it been a social thing. We brits don't let or like children having earring till their teens.

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seeker · 10/07/2008 12:00

I have to say this is an area where I do the "Because I say so"!

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porkypoo · 10/07/2008 12:01

My DD was 8 in March and I had promised her that she could have them done at this age. Quite a few of her friends have had them done already. Although I would definately wait until the holidays, so that they can heal up nicely. DS has some lovely ballerina earings and they dont look chavvy at all.

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Flamesparrow · 10/07/2008 12:04

7 is fine by me, but probably because mine were done at 7

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Seona1973 · 10/07/2008 12:33

mine were done at 7 too and I wouldnt have a problem with dd getting them done at that age too. She is almost 5 and doesnt want them doing as 'it might hurt' (she has a low pain threshold...lol!)

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LittleMissBliss · 10/07/2008 12:43

I had mine done at 4 and i think i took them out and they healed over and then again at 7. I don't think there's anything wrong with 7 as long as its just small studs. I don't really like seeing babies with earings but a 7 year old is fine. I reccon think the summer holidays ideas is good as it gives them time to heal.

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lexcat · 10/07/2008 13:50

Got her at home today because she's put her neck out and in alot of pain. Have been talking some more she wants them done but still not 100% sure because of the 'it might hurt' which I have told her it will hurt. But still 90% sure.
Thanks littlemiss that just what I was thinking summer hols plenty of time to heal. Plus less rush in the morning and evening to put in place a good routine of care for those first 6/8 weeks before the studs can come out.
I've not said yes or no yet just tied to explain the cons.

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nooka · 10/07/2008 13:57

16 here. I don't see any need for little girls (and 7 is IMO a little girl) to wear jewelry except when dressing up. You can get clip on earrings for that, so just no need. My ears went septic when I had them done (at 16 and by a professional) and so I am unable to wear earrings although my ears have never healed up, so there can be consequences. I think there is too much pressure for little girls to look like adults, and as parents we have a responsibility to fight as long and hard as we can against it. When my dd has asked I have just said no. She may not like it, but tough, that's how it is.

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flamingtoaster · 10/07/2008 14:53

I agree with nooka . There is also the safety aspect of having to either remove them or tape them up for PE and games.

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SheSellsSanctury · 10/07/2008 15:10

Oliveoil, I had exactly the same argument with my younger sister! I had to wait and when I got mine done so did she, she was 2 years younger than I was.

I still moan about it to this day

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Oliveoil · 10/07/2008 15:13

lol

I will await the same with mine (22 months apart)

although it will probably be nose rings by then [prim]

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choosyfloosy · 10/07/2008 15:15

but the social thing is fine, why not just say that?

my mum said it made her skin crawl and that i could't have it done until 16. i waited. it was a great part of 'growing up' for me.

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SueW · 10/07/2008 15:18

DD is 11yo and has just had hers pierced this morning (rite of passage, going to secondary school in September).

We orig said 16yo but agreed to now because she's had contact lenses since December and has proved herself more than capable of dealing with the hygiene aspects.

We had them done in a jewellers. The £25 fee included the earrings (9ct gold + crystal), a bottle of surgical spirit for cleaning - with page of intructions - and a six-week post-piercing check-up.

She had been warned by a friend it is like a very hard pinch and would agree with that. She flinched way more on the second ear than on the first.

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SueW · 10/07/2008 15:19

FWIW, I had mine done at the same life stage as DD i.e. beginning of summer hols pre secodnary school

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cocolepew · 10/07/2008 15:41

My DD had hers done at age 8. It was her treat after having a MRI scan. She picked to have her ears pierced and I was very surprised as she hadn't mentioned it before. She doesn't look in the least bit 'chavvy', thank you very much

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LittleMissBliss · 10/07/2008 15:43

just re-read my post and it doesn't read well sorry, tired ds still not sleeping through, ho-hum. I just think that you should just decide what works well for your family.

For every 10 people that dislike children with their ears pierced there will be 10 that have allowed their children to have them done.

In lots of cultures very small children have them done as a matter of course.

I think the cons are the fact that your dd will have to make sure she looks after them. (may complain after) It does hurt to have them done and they are sore for a few days after (may disturb sleeping etc.).

Pros they can look lovely and will teach her about looking after her body so that the holes heal well a quickly. It could also be a lovely thing for you to do together and i'm sure she'll feel very proud and grown up after!

I didn't have to tape up studs or take them out for PE as far as i can remeber.

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