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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

11 year old belly button piercing

141 replies

Momto3smalls · 25/07/2023 20:52

Is it too young or am I over reacting ?

OP posts:
sadsack78 · 25/07/2023 22:15

at that age I's be worried about the aftercare. Those piercings get infected so quickly and so easily. I'd be worried about a child's ability to keep it clean and not fiddle with it or catch it on clothes etc, not to mention PE at school.

it's too young imo for a child to make a sensible decision abo it something that wil! leave a mark. That and I would have doubts about any piercer willing to give a body piercing to such a young kid without advising against waiting a few years.

don't want to be a judgy cow. I know different cultures have different views about body modification and age. I got my earliest pierced at nine and it was right for me - I kept them clean and just had simple studs but I think the risk of a bell button piercing getting nice fed or caught on something is much higher.

Sometimeswinning · 25/07/2023 22:09

Canisaysomething · 25/07/2023 22:03

So gross, so tacky and SO unnecessary. I can't think of a single reason why you wouldn't make a child wait until they are 16 to have piercings.

Because they do have some say over what they want. If its not permanent then I'd give my dd13 permission for the piercing of her choice.

I may well try and talk her out of belly and tongue due to infection etc. Probably the odd Google image would help. But I wouldn't forbid it.

Canisaysomething · 25/07/2023 22:03

So gross, so tacky and SO unnecessary. I can't think of a single reason why you wouldn't make a child wait until they are 16 to have piercings.

Anothnamechang · 25/07/2023 22:01

I had mine pierced at 11 and my tongue & lip by 13. I had a lot of piercings until recently and had to take them out for emergency C-section. I will be getting them all back though!

Im open with piercings and honestly I’d allow my 12 year old to have them done.

Kyogo67 · 25/07/2023 22:00

Too young.
My DD got hers done at 14 and I was with her. Reputable piercer. We did all the proper aftercare. Still got a horrible infection and despite persevering for a year she has taken it out and now has a scar.

Sennenandolive · 25/07/2023 21:53

Absolutely horrific, far far too young!

cocksstrideintheevening · 25/07/2023 21:52

StressedCats · 25/07/2023 21:00

Reputable piercers have 11 as the minimum age for ear lobe piercings and definitely wouldn’t do a belly button under 13/14.

Our very reputable piercers did Dts with a needle at 9. They certainly wouldn't do a belly button on an 11yo though.

AngelinaFibres · 25/07/2023 21:49

I am honestly horrified. I am older than a lot of people on here so maybe it's that but multiple piercings on a child is vile.Belly button piercing seem far more sexual than ears and I wasn't allowed ears until I turned 16. Hey ho. I'll go and find some pearls to clutch.

DeadbeatYoda · 25/07/2023 21:40

My DD 14 has two in each ear and her nostril done but I won't allow belly until she's 16. If you sanction every whim, where are they going to go to push the boundaries. I'm relaxed but not overly permissive.

zoomiesdrivememad · 25/07/2023 21:40

Year 6 and 11 too young.

Year 7 and 11 most the other girls are probably having theres done.

Mine had to wait till she was 13.

Ponderingwindow · 25/07/2023 21:38

Too young.
not for some arbitrary notion of propriety, but because the body is still growing and placement may change.

TiktokFamousDog · 25/07/2023 21:36

It’s usually about 14 that they start wanting things like that. I’d be concerned of they were interested at 11. Glad my daughter doesn’t want one, I think it looks shit. 😬

SmellyNelliey · 25/07/2023 21:33

I had mine done at 11 as well due to all the other girls in year 7 having there's done...15years later I don't have it in.

RandomUsernameHere · 25/07/2023 21:31

My immediate reaction was that it's too young, but thinking about, why is it any worse than getting ears pierced? Possibly a stupid question and there may be an aspect that I haven't considered...

underneaththeash · 25/07/2023 21:30

The risk if infection is significantly higher than with an ear piercing and it takes much longer to heal. A bacterial infection in a stomach piercing is obviously more likely than an ear to cause more damage to surrounding tissues.

she’s far too young to have a stomach piercing.
(I’ve just had to dig a backing out of my 12yos ear.

Lessstressedhemum · 25/07/2023 21:29

My piercer won't do it on anyone under 14. Even then you need to be accompanied by a parent with photo id who has to give written permission.

No reputable piercer would touch an 11yo.

Wishitsnows · 25/07/2023 21:24

I had mine at 18 over 35 years ago. Hole is still there and only has anything in it for a year. I’m shocked someone so young could get it done

Momto3smalls · 25/07/2023 21:21

I think she’s nearly 12 and she is in all honesty very grown up for her age, I think mum is trying to be more of a friend to try and regain some control and limit destructive behaviour as was caught smoking not long ago but now that has stopped as she’s eased with other rules.

OP posts:
Zanatdy · 25/07/2023 21:20

It closes with a scar - those saying it’s not an issue. I hate my scar, but I had so much trouble with it. Never properly healed. I wore jeans a lot then, and it rubbed on my waist band and was always bleeding or weeping gunk.

Momto3smalls · 25/07/2023 21:18

I guess it’s each to their own then. I was just a bit shocked

OP posts:
Zanatdy · 25/07/2023 21:18

11? You can’t be serious. Of course it’s too young, way way too young.

ChunkyMonkey2020 · 25/07/2023 21:17

I had mine pierced at 10.

It's shocking.

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 25/07/2023 21:14

I don't see why it's any different to an ear piercing really. If she changes her mind it'll close up.

RuthW · 25/07/2023 21:12

Pick your battles.

Over reacting in my opinion.

Gymmum82 · 25/07/2023 21:11

I didn’t think any piercers would do it that young to be honest.
I would say too young. But then I got mine done at 14 because my mum wouldn’t let me get my ears pierced and she couldn’t see that. Back then they didn’t ask for parental consent if you looked old enough. I’m pretty relaxed about piercings. If my dd wanted it done at that age I’d have to think about it carefully. It wouldn’t be a straight no