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AIBU?

to let my 6 year old have her ears pierced?

77 replies

Soscared100 · 21/12/2016 16:14

I always said she needed to be quite a bit older, mainly so she didn't have the hassle of taking out for p.e days but she's had a horrible time ( she burnt her foot - I have another thread on here ) and asked if she could have it done as an extra present and in struggling to say no.
Is the main opinion that she is too young?

OP posts:

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neonrainbow · 21/12/2016 16:15

If she's old enough to look after them then let her do it. Don't they just put plasters on them for pe?

Wantagoodname · 21/12/2016 16:17

Mine had hers done at 5 for a wedding, she's 8 now and never had to take them out at school or swimming.

jdoe8 · 21/12/2016 16:18

I'd go for it tbh. I know many that let their babies get pieced ears, that is a different thing all together.

Wolfiefan · 21/12/2016 16:19

She asked. You said no.
So no.
Don't let your guilt over an accident be used like this. At six I wouldn't say she is old enough to cope with the aftercare.

Wantagoodname · 21/12/2016 16:21

There is no aftercare.
My dd just led down every time she had a bath and got them wet/ gave them a little twist.
As long as she doesn't keep touching them for the first few weeks she will be fine.

Pollyxcx · 21/12/2016 16:23

There is massive aftercare! They need to be cleaned everyday for a good 5-6 weeks

Our school doesn't let them tape them over anymore they have to be removed.

My DD had hers done at 6 but I wouldn't do it at this time of the year

EweAreHere · 21/12/2016 16:25

If you're going to do it, do it at the very start of the summer holidays so they have 6 weeks to heal and can be taken out for PE at school.

goose1964 · 21/12/2016 16:25

I wouldn't do it DD was 11 when she had hers done, endless visits to the docs when they got infected, would clear it up and a few weeks later they would be infected again despite sterilising the earrings

LottieDoubtie · 21/12/2016 16:26

I agree- guilt over an accident is definitely not the right reason to change your mind.

PickAChew · 21/12/2016 16:27

Definitely tell her you'll consider it at the start of the school summer holidays. Less risk of healing over if it's done then.

Wantagoodname · 21/12/2016 16:27

Really? i think that encourages infection.. Cleaning and touching them everyday.
My lo and my niece did the same thing- none of these special washes/salt water.
Just a couple of twists every couple of days in the bath.
No infection/pain or issues.

Reality16 · 21/12/2016 16:27

No aftercare? Yes there is.

I think it's ok to change your mind of you want to OP, however it sounds like you don't want to and are only thinking of letting her because you feel bad rather than because you now think it's ok at 6.

I have said no to mine until she is 9/10

YoHoHoandabottleofTequila · 21/12/2016 16:28

I think it's too young, but also you have to take them out for p.e. Will she be able to do that herself?

Namechangenurseryconcerns · 21/12/2016 16:28

I'd say a definite no. They have to be taken out for PE here. I've said the summer hols before secondary school at the earliest

lovelearning · 21/12/2016 16:29

She's far too young to have her ears pierced.

Sirzy · 21/12/2016 16:29

As others have said don't let yourself be guilt tripped into something you don't agree with!

IMO she is too young to take full responsibility for the care of them so is too young to have them done.

Ameliablue · 21/12/2016 16:29

IMO too young and not really a good reason for changing your mind. The are lots of other ways to make her feel better.

TeenAndTween · 21/12/2016 16:31

You could take the view that a 6yo who is not sensible enough not to stand on a cooker hob is also unlikely to be sensible enough to do the strict hygiene required for newly pierced ears.

EatsShitAndLeaves · 21/12/2016 16:31

Tbh I wouldn't do it under these circumstances.

What age is appropriate?

Well it's really up to you. Personally I don't like to see earrings on small children (14 was my position) but in reality many other people feel very differently.

I'm quite judgey pants on piercing babies ears, but when a child is asking for it, then I think it's just a question on when you think it's acceptable as an adult.

SausageD0g · 21/12/2016 16:33

I've said not.until senior school. I just don't like them on children.

Lots of daughters friends have though :)

WreckTangled · 21/12/2016 16:35

I would say no too. My rule is between primary and secondary school, although dd doesn't want hers done as I told her it hurts

dollydaydream114 · 21/12/2016 16:36

Any piercing comes with a risk of infection, so be prepared for that. It's pretty hard for little children to stay away from fiddling with pierced ears.

Not saying it's wrong to let her have it done - it's totally up to you and I do think a six year old is probably old enough to understand that it will hurt and may be sore for quite some time afterwards - but just don't assume it will necessarily be plain sailing. My nieces both had theirs done when they were about eight - one had no issues at all and the other had loads of problems with hers, despite them both looking after them in exactly the same way.

Really? i think that encourages infection.. Cleaning and touching them everyday.
My lo and my niece did the same thing- none of these special washes/salt water.
Just a couple of twists every couple of days in the bath.
No infection/pain or issues.

There is a reason why every professional piercer (and I don't mean piercers in places like Claire's Accessories, I mean proper body piercers) tells you to keep piercings clean with salt water etc, and that reason is because it's the best thing to do.

Bathwater doesn't kill germs, particularly at the temperature a child bathes in. Any water that a child is sitting in is frankly not something you should be using to clean what is essentially a wound.

You're lucky if you haven't had any infection from zero aftercare, but it's terrible to advise other people to do what you did. Just because you were lucky to get away with it, it doesn't mean other people's kids will be.

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StillRabbit · 21/12/2016 16:42

She isn't mature enough to understand you don't climb in the kitchen and put your foot on a cooker....therefore she isn't mature enough to take care of piercings. Personally I think no earlier than secondary school age for ear piercing. DD had hers done on the last day of year 7 so that she had the long holiday for them to "heal" as she couldn't wear even studs at school (quite rightly in my opinion).

cornflowerblu · 21/12/2016 16:45

My DD had hers done just before she was 7. She looked after them entirely by herself and he has never even had a moment of soreness and we even had them done in Claire's.

CaraAspen · 21/12/2016 17:10

A 6 year old with pierced ears?? Really?
Wow

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