Ear piercing

I got mine done as my 6th birthday present. I'd been asking for ages. I could definitely consent - I remember it clearly! I was a very sensible (boring) child though. I think these days a reputable place wouldn't do them that young so just look around and check your school policy. But you know your child best as to whether they are old enough or not.

Fyiw I had mine recently pierced (again, as hadn't worn earrings in a few years and they had closed up) and the cheapest I could find in my area was £50 plus £10 follow up.

My daughter got her's done when she was 7. I was forced to get mine done as a young child and waited until she asked to get them done.

My DD had hers done at 10 and I had to hunt to find a piercer who would do it that age. The others closer to me required you to be 12 or over. I think they need to be able to have an independent conversation with the piercer about positioning and care without it being something that mum will take care of.

I wouldn't. You've said 10. All you're teaching her is that pester power works and you're flakey

I’d say 16

@Weallnamechangesometimes go and see a decent piercer for advice.

I hope you won't mine me asking another question on your thread.

I got my ears pierced as a child with a gun. They're wonky plus often get infected/weep with puss particularly one ear. Can I do anything with them. I went years without wearing earrings and they haven't closed up. I now only wear titanium earrings but still have to stop wearing them because of one ear. Is it worth me visiting a piercing shop and get a second hole and abandon the first ones?

This.

It's the impulsiveness as well - even at 8, my DD would not be able to resist touching them.

@BubblegumLolly being in the game 30 years doesn’t mean they’re the best in the business. There are also piercers here locally who are charging £25 a pop who are plenty experienced but they’re also using poor quality jewellery and I don’t trust them in terms of anatomy checking. They’ll literally chuck anything in anybody. They have queues out the door because of their price but their aftercare is seriously lacking and plenty of people remove their jewellery due to healing issues.

I am happy to pay what I pay to somebody who I trust, particularly with my children. I have had over 20 piercings and I know what I’m looking for :)

This. Pretty sure at 6 I wanted to be a penguin. Definitely not mature enough to consent to a metal rod through my ear.
Notwithstanding it looks chavvy on little kids.

Dd got hers done for her 9th birthday. We went to a local piercer since I have around 30 piercings myself I had an idea of what’s good or not.
We paid a bit more for titanium and I think it was about £35-40. They won’t pierce under 8s

There are other issues with using guns besides infection.

https://safepiercing.org/piercing-guns/

Dts had theirs done at 10, just before the Christmas lockdown, didn't know when we'd get a chance again and no swimming to be worried about. Got their second at the end of year 7. No problems at all with either, went to a piercer. I've had a couple done in Louvissa, with a gun, also no problem but I wouldn't want them to do my kids.

Some piercing places won't do young children because of their insurance. I'd also add that despite the oft repeated claims, piercing guns aren't inherently unsafe. Although they can be, if used by inexperienced sales assistants. They are a closed system using single use earrings so as long as the ear is cleaned prior to use and allowed to dry, the procedure shouldn't introduce infection.

PP are correct to identify cheap metals as an issue. But as regards infection, appropriate cleaning and otherwise leaving the site alone (which may be difficult for some young children) is the best thing to do.

I think I'd have to agree with this!

I would even consider it till at least 11

You can't give informed consent at 6.

The piercer I use has been around for over 30 years and are the most trusted in my area and are the only one I go to. I've seen many others that charge a similar price for lobes, and it increases depending on the piercing. Obviously they have a wide range of bars available. Yours are seriously overcharging.

the place I go does 6 and up but then I’ve seen 8 and up and even older. Definitely ask around at local piercing shops. I have a DD but so far no requests for it so leaving it until it comes up!!

@BubblegumLolly i must be lying then that my three local piercers charge that then eh 🙄 if they’re sticking surgical steel in your body then no wonder it’s so cheap. The jewellery costs them pennies! You absolutely do NOT want surgical steel used.

No piercer prices lobe piercings at £65. It's far cheaper than that. Usually £25 for both together with surgical steel or titanium bars & after care appointment a week later.

My Dd was 12. Old enough to look after her own ears, clean them properly etc (I obviously kept an eye, but it was her responsibility). She was warned from the start that if she couldn’t maintain them, they would come out.

we did it start of Christmas hols. Summer we were travelling and in and out of pools etc - decided risk of infection was higher than doing It at Christmas. Maybe we were too risk adverse, but it worked for us.

5 years later and no issues.

Echo others - avoid Claire’s, and use a good tatooist/piercing place. You can smell the cleaner when you walked in ours😂😂

Ask local tattoo places and look for reccomendations online. Ideally get it done the first day of summer hols so they have 6 weeks to heal. That said, most good places will have been fully booked for months ahead of the summer hols. You’ll be better off waiting until next year (and booking well in advance) unless the school allows studs and tape for PE.

My dd's were 4 and 5. I told them it would hurt!! They turned them and helped clean them with surgical spirit. Never had any issues. They 17 and 18 now.