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Original poster

Would you let your 7yo get her ears pierced? (If not then what age?)

118 replies

Crunchymum · 10/01/2022 11:28

Sorry title is a bit "click-baity". It's more of a hypothetical question.

Our almost 7yo has asked alot but she has been given a firm no from both me and DP.

To me it seems something that is done when they are very young by parents or when they are old enough to make such a decision? (13+)

Although I recall my mum taking me off when I was quite young to get them done (would have been late 80's)

We are not about to relent but does anyone let their young children get their ears pierced these days?

OP posts:
55Jumbo · 10/01/2022 13:01

No, not before secondary school. Maybe 12/13, I'll decide closer to the time.

Anjo2011 · 10/01/2022 13:03

Both of mine had them done aged 10 in the summer holiday. 10 was the minimum age where we live for them to be done with a needle.

Daisy829 · 10/01/2022 13:03

Yes my DD had hers done at 7. It was fine. I helped her clean them but she was really good. Didn’t mess with them. She doesn’t really change them to be honest just keeps the tiny studs they got pierced with. They really suit her.

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Luckingfovely · 10/01/2022 13:09

Secondary school years is the minimum for me - mostly about responsibility to look after them properly. But also because I think earrings on young children look vile - a personal view, of course.

BigMamaFratelli · 10/01/2022 13:10

I think when they're old enough to look after them themselves is about right.
We always said 10 but dd1 had to wait until 11 due to covid.

Also no way I'd get it done at Claire's or anywhere with a gun. Took dd to a proper piercers and had it done with a needle. I was so impressed I went back and had some of mine redone!

PurchaseInvoices · 10/01/2022 13:33

I think the summer holidays between Year 6 and Year 7 is plenty soin enough. I hate seeing younger girls with their ears pierced. Its chavtastic.

Ovenaffray · 10/01/2022 13:35

Summer before secondary school as soon as the schools broke up to give them time to heal

minniep · 10/01/2022 13:35

When they are old enough and responsible enough to look after them and that will differ from child to child. My DD is 9 but has no desire to get them done but some of her friends have had their second piercing done. It's honestly not something I could get worked up about.

Livefortherain · 10/01/2022 13:37

My daughter got them pierced at the start of the summer holidays before year 1, her birthday is in July so she had just turned 5. She had been asking for ages and I repeatedly told her it would hurt. I left the decision up to her, if she wanted them and understood that it would hurt, then she could have them. She will be 9 in July and we've had no problems at all.

Maireas · 10/01/2022 13:39

@Crunchymum

I don't understand the angst about it

@TheYearOfSmallThings

It isn't angst as such. It's just another thing that will no doubt fall to me to take care of.

Also I really don't want to go down the path of my 7yo asking for something I think she is too young for and her getting her own way.

I have told her we'll revisit when she is older.

Sounds like a wise decision.
CoffeeBeansGalore · 10/01/2022 13:42

I work in a primary school. Any pierced ears have to be covered with plasters, brought from home, for p.e. lessons. This can be a faff for some on the pupils. Previously I had known earrings had got caught and been ripped out whilst getting changed.
I do not have pierced ears. My daughters know I cringe at dealing with any piercings. They had to wait until after primary school when I was sure they could deal with everything themselves (cleaning, turning etc).

DaisyWaldron · 10/01/2022 13:44

I told DD that she could only get hers pierced at a professional piercing studio. Where I live, they are only licensed to pierce children over 12, so she had to wait until then.

OhGiveUp · 10/01/2022 13:44

No. I allowed it once they left school at 18.

Mojoj · 10/01/2022 13:50

What is the big deal about pierced ears? If they want them done, what's the harm? I got mine done when I was five many moons ago. And I was the envy of my schoolmates...🤣🤣🤣🤣

Sally872 · 10/01/2022 13:55

I would allow a 7 year old if they really wanted them done, understood its a bit sore and they need to take care of them. I would do it at start of school summer holidays as less hassle for pe and sports clubs.

I would prefer to do it age 7-11 as easier for me to be responsible for taking care of them initially.

That said my dd is 12 and has no interest so not had it done.

theneverendinglaundry · 10/01/2022 14:05

My DD was 9 when she had hers done. She was able to care for them herself at that age. Did it at Claire's (controversial on MN I know!). No issues, we did it at the start of the summer holidays and she just put tape over them for PE.

childbenefitq · 10/01/2022 14:09

Yes, I don't see the big deal AT ALL! My dd had here's hers done at age 7 and wears small studs. She cleans them and doesn't wear them when doing PE etc.

Soubriquet · 10/01/2022 14:10

My 8 year old has been asking and we’ve agreed she can have it done during the beginning of the summer holidays to give it time to heal. She will be 9 then.

80sMum · 10/01/2022 14:10

I would say, not until she's 18.

AuntieStella · 10/01/2022 14:12

Peak age round here is the summer between primary and secondary school

Vapeyvapevape · 10/01/2022 14:16

My dd pestered me to have them done ages about 8/9 , I said she could if she stopped sucking her (bloody) thumb thinking she would never do it ........ she did and told me a deals a deal !

Footprintsinthegrass · 10/01/2022 14:19

I got my first ones done aged 7, 2nd and 3rd ones ages 13. My dd asked a lot at the start of last summer aged 6 and I said she had to wait until the start of this coming summer, I also explained the pain/cleaning side of things and she said she was happy to wait. Tbh I'm not sure she'll be ready this summer, she doesn't deal with pain well and if she gets a splinter or something won't come me in fear of pain so I can't trust her to let me monitor them

DappledOliveGroves · 10/01/2022 14:21

I was obsessed with having my ears pierced from aged 3. I begged, sobbed, pleaded and was told not until 18 by my mother. I was utterly fixated on the idea.

I ended up doing them myself with a needle aged 11. My mother went batshit. Had to let them heal up and I then got them done properly just before I was 12. I think the fact my mother was so anti the idea then led to me getting a whole host of other piercings (had 10 in total including belly, tongue, lip and nipple).

Ironically, now I'm almost 40 I have no piercings - they all closed up and any time I tried to wear earrings my ears would itch.

However, given how much I remember the misery of wanting my ears pierced and being told no, I was very blasé with DD. I think she had hers done when she was maybe 7 or 8? She was fine - looked after them and she never had any issues with them. She has a few other piercings too which I'm sure she'll probably relinquish over the years.

Thatsplentyjack · 10/01/2022 14:23

To me it seems something that is done when they are very young by parents

What? Why would you think it ok for a baby to have its ears peirced against their will, but not let your 7 year old make the choice to get hers done?

Thatsplentyjack · 10/01/2022 14:23

Give her ear a good pinch with your nail. That soon put my ds off.