Ear Piercing - What age is ok?

[WannabeNigella]

My friend is letting her DD have her ears pierced for her 5th birthday. I know it is none of my business but I wanted to plead with her not to.

My DD is just 3 and there is no way she will be having ears pierced till at least 12 or 13 the way I feel about it at the moment, preferably 16!

AIBU? What is an acceptable age? I just think that it looks so chavvy when they are young and it's so unnecessary too.

[Hammy02]

Don't understand why anyone of any age would put holes in themselves. In my 30's and don't have mine pierced.

[newcommer]

someone I know got their DDs ears pierced at 4months old, I do think that is a little mean. She was so proud as her DD didn't cry atall! I think the poor baby was probably in shock :(

[Insomnia11]

I had mine done with a needle, rather than a gun, when I was 10. It didn't hurt apart from the ear freezing bit which was rather uncomfortable. Think it was done the same way when I had subsequent piercings at the age of 20, one further in each ear and one in the top of my right ear. Was obviously done quite well thankfully as I still have all the openings even though I don't wear earrings that much now.

[TheArmadillo]

Me and dh have decided 4 or 5yo for dd - before she starts school I think. Though if the school bans them completely then we'd reconsider on the basis it would be a pain. ATM ds school allows them as long as they cover them with tape for PE.

I've had my ears done several times and don't consider it particularly painful. I had the first lot done at about 9yo. 2nd sets I'd make them wait until they were secondary school I think and other piercings 16yo.

I can see the advantages of getting them done as a baby

[Andrewofgg]

Just a thought - if you have a DD who hates PRE would it be a way to get her out of it for a time?

[WannabeNigella]

I think the difference with doing it to children is ultimately that you are not only hurting them but maiming their body purely for vanity. It's not that unlike plastic surgery and that's illegal. The more I have thought about it the more I think it should be illegal until they are 16. There is no purpose or benefit to doing it and should be done only when a child truly knows their own mind and going into adulthood.

No matter how mature a 6 year old may be to their parents, they are still not old enough to make an informed choice on something like this.

[BrianAndHisBalls]

tw@ts was fine BabyDubs, I agree. I had lots of piercings when younger (late teenage/twenties) but still think people that do it to young children are sick.

[BabyDubsEverywhere]

Sorry, that last bit may be a bit harsh, idiots would maybe be more fitting...hth

[BabyDubsEverywhere]

Ive had/got lots or piercings, and tattoos, so has my DH, we hoik our judgey pants right up around our pierced and stretched ears whenever we see a primary or nursery child with earrings. Dont get me started on babies and toddlers. Maiming someone who cant defend themselves in any other circumstance is unforgivable, unless its a very small child and youre chopping off their forskin or sticking metal into their body parts, and then if you're from the right 'culture' its fine.....

I couldnt give a flying fig what your culture is tbh, and i dont differenciate between the cultures that allow, even expect this, you're all tw@ts as far as I am concerned.

[NewbeeMummy]

I had to wait until I was 16, and had good enough grades (that was the deal in our house)

I recently watched a 2yo having her ears done, and it was one of the most horrible things I have ever seen. Why anyone would deliberately hurt their child, is beyond me.

[ben5]

I would say the summer hols before they go to secondary school but then that could be unfair if they want to go swimming. so maybe easter time before they go to secondary school.
I wasn't allowed mine done at all( my mum was of the ear clip generation!) but then i was really into my swimming and didn't want to miss any so wasn't that upset.
I got mine done when I was 19

[dolldaggabuzzbuzz]

At least secondary school age.

[meltedchocolate]

By the way, I am aware mine is just personal taste and opinion. I used to have twelve piercings in my teens. Whoever said about the gun was right. For anywhere other than lobes, piercings should only be done by needle. A gun shatters apart the flesh (which should heal fine on lobes) whereas a needles makes a clean slice which should heal much better. I am not sure if needles are offered for lobes though? Or has this changed?

[catgirl1976]

It's funny how people who are against ear piercing/tattoos and the like always have such a strong opinion about the people who do like those things.

I have several tattoos but I still think piercings look vile on children.

[meltedchocolate]

If for no other reason I think it looks very tacky on children younger than 12 - 13.

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

It's not really funny to object to inflicting pain on a child. It's 'funnier' to not object. The only judgement I make on adults who do this to their newborn is that they are a little bit stupid. It might be cultural but it still hurts like buggery and any idiot can work that out no matter what their background. They just choose to ignore it.

I have three holes in each ear and a nose piercing so that theory is blown. I can also vouch for the fact that it hurts.

[HSMM]

Thanks for the info about the needle rather than the gun - will remember that

[HSMM]

My DD started begging for pierced ears about approx age 2. I told her she could have them done at age 13 and she has been begging for the past 10 yrs. She is just about to turn 12 and will have them done at the start of next Summer holidays when she turns 13.

Her school have a rule that ear piercing can only be done at the start of the Summer holidays, so it won't interfere with PE. The child will be in detention otherwise. I keep thinking she might change her mind, as she is very sporty and pierced ears will just be annoying, as she will have to keep taking her earrings out and will probably lose them.

[unpa1dcar3r]

It's funny how people who are against ear piercing/tattoos and the like always have such a strong opinion about the people who do like those things.
Yet the people with the piercings/tattoos and so on couldn't give a fart about those who haven't got them and don't judge them at all.

Funny that innit

[sunnydelight]

Depends on where you live and what's the "norm" I guess. When we moved to Australia I was surprised to see lots of 6/7 year olds attending very posh schools with their ears pierced as it is not seen as "common" here, so when DD asked just before her 7th birthday when her best friend had it done, I told her it hurt like hell but if she wanted it for Christmas, fine.

I find the opinion that pierced ears sexualises a child totally bizarre - the clothes that so many UK High Street shops sell so people presumably buy does that in my opinion - but we are all entitled to our opinions so I would say leave your friend to make whatever decision she feels right for her child and you can do the same for yours.

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

suburbophobe actually I think there is a lot wrong with driving a needle through the ears of a newborn baby just out of the womb. but I'm just odd like that...

[monkeyslut]

gorionine I merely used LMGTFY as a way of showing up the different articles on the subject matter so that people can see it is a problem and for them to be able to read the advice from the different sources available.

FWIW I usually do link to one article when piercing threads come up, but this time I wanted to make sure I get the message across about the use of guns. For people to be informed.

It was not meant to patronise.

[MummyTigger]

I agree with debivamp's partner. It just sexualises them.

And if my daughter came to me at 12 asking for a belly bar it'd be a resounding bloody no! When she's 18 she can have anything she wants done, but up until then it's ears and that's it.

[debivamp]

I had my ears pierced for my first holy communion back then that was 7 years old. I have told my dd that she will have to wait until then (approx. 8 and a half). DH thinks earrings, necklaces and bangles on kids is freaky ? thinks it sexualises them. He is against her ever having her ears pierced, mind you he has also told her that she can't date a boy until she is 30. Personally I don?t like them on babies.