Ear piercing for 9 yr old

[SophieAlexia]

I know this a divisive topic on mumsnet and I'm not looking for a bun fight so please keep it civil.

DD (9) has been asking to get her ears pierced for years. I finally feel now that she may have reached an appropriate age so I've decided to book her in.

Thanks to mumsnet I'm favouring needle piercing. lots of people have recommended a local tattoo studio to me as they pierce adults with needles, good hygiene etc.

I booked DD thinking it would be a needle but the guy has now confirmed they use a gun on children as apparently it hurts less. I've heard of other people also having issues getting anyone to use a needle on children.

So, should I just let her have it done with the gun? Or keep looking for someone who will use a needle?

No reputable piercer uses a gun ever!

Use the UKAPP website and see if there's a piercer local to you.

I personally pierce from 8 (with a needle). There's no actual age limit it's just piercer preference/insurance restrictions.

My DD wants hers doing with a gun.

@DinosaurDiana

My DD wants hers doing with a gun.

If your DD is under 18 then you need to make the appropriate decision that it's needle or nothing.

They can't be sterilised, the jewellery is poor design and quality, you can't be accurate with them. All piercers know they're bad, if they choose to continue using them they don't care, so what other areas are they slacking in?

Also interested in this. I told my DD she could have hers done in the summer between year 6 and 7. Now that’s arrived I have just booked it for next weekend. I decided to make it a bit of a special occasion so have booked Astrid and Miyu at Selfridges. They use a needle but not for under 11s and you have to take photo ID for yourself and the child.

I wish mine had been done with a needle. They were done with a gun at age 9 and I still have difficulty with them 30 years later.

I booked for DD to have her ears pierced aged 13 at a reputable tattooist/piercing place and travelled an hour on the train to get there.

I'd asked when booking if they would use a needle in a child and it had been Okayed by the manager. When we got three I had a long conversation with the piercer, who recommended a disposable gun would be the best option, and that's what we went with. DDs has had no problems with the piercings.

From what I've read, ears are growing until the age of 11, so a babies piercings might not be where you want them when they're adults.

Maria Tash at Liberty London will pierce children over 8 with a needle, but the jewellery isn't cheap.

@TheBodyPiercer you don't happen to be in South Wales do you? 😄

I know this piercer does use needles but just not on children. I might check what age he will use the needle from

Will check out the UKAPP site, thanks

1st piercing with a needle at a jewellers, had an infection
2nd piercing with a gun at the chemists no problems
3rd piercing with a gun at the chemists no problems

I'm not in Wales sorry! There's a member locator map on that website though and it gives you info on what to look for in a piercer.