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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to let my 6 year old have her ears pierced?

77 replies

Soscared100 · 21/12/2016 16:14

I always said she needed to be quite a bit older, mainly so she didn't have the hassle of taking out for p.e days but she's had a horrible time ( she burnt her foot - I have another thread on here ) and asked if she could have it done as an extra present and in struggling to say no.
Is the main opinion that she is too young?

OP posts:
Kel1234 · 21/12/2016 17:18

Only you can answer that. If you think she is responsible enough then I'd say yes. They can be covered up for pe with tape (I did voluntary work in a reception class in a primary school and we covered up earrings that couldn't be removed with tape)
My mum got mine and my sisters done as soon as we were old enough to have them done, I was 3 months I think, maybe even younger. I know my sister was 3 months.
If I ever have a girl I'll get hers done as soon as she's old enough. The younger they are the better. I know people would say I should wait until she's old enough to decide but it's a personal choice

yorkshapudding · 21/12/2016 17:38

Are you finding it hard to say no because you've genuinely changed your mind and suddenly feel comfortable with the idea or because you're feeling bad about her recent accident? Because it sounds like the latter.

I think you should trust your instincts rather than allowing your feelings of guilt over your DD burning her foot to cloud your judgement.

Six is still very young. Waiting won't do her any harm.

WreckTangled · 21/12/2016 17:44

Yes kel a personal choice for your child to make not you Hmm

Original poster
Soscared100 · 21/12/2016 17:45

Yes I think I just want her to feel better more than me actually thinking this is the appropriate age. Not because of the aftercare and so on, as despite the few people pointing out how irresponsible she was to stand on the cooker ( she is 6 not 16 - she just didn't think when she climbed up ) she is actually very sensible generally, but because they do have to remove for p.e so would only give her a few weeks until the needed to do that in time for p.e back at school.
I will tell her she can have them done at the start of the summer for her entry into year 2 as a little gift

OP posts:
TwentyCups · 21/12/2016 17:48

I had mine done when I was seven and I used to spray with savlon myself to keep clean. I understood it would hurt. My mum had hers done after mine!
Each child is different.

ruthsmumkath · 21/12/2016 17:52

My dd's had theirs done at 5.

I didn't feel strongly against it - although personally I'm not into babies with their ears done.

I waited til they nagged me and I explained it did hurt a bit and they both still wanted it done.

sycamore54321 · 21/12/2016 17:59

Sounds very young to me. It also would add pressure to other parents in her class group "but Susie has her ears pierced" etc

Plus I don't think she fully understands it if she has asked for what is at minimum a painful procedure plus potentially painful recovery as a compensation for her existing painful injury.

GinIsIn · 21/12/2016 18:03

Point out that the earring being shot into her ear is going to hurt much like her foot meeting the hob.... I know you feel bad about the accident but she did a stupid thing, and I t's not a great idea to reward that.

mydietstartsmonday · 21/12/2016 18:03

Far to young and personally I hate seeing young children with peirced ears. I hate saying things like this his but so bloody common. There I said it. Also I had my done at about 8 and now they are ruined. Just say no.

Crisscrosscranky · 21/12/2016 18:07

I always find the views on ear piercing fascinating. My DD (9) has asked to get hers pierced over Xmas - she's been asking since she was 5 and we've said no; she's now the only girl in her class who doesn't have pierced ears so the general consensus round our way must be that at some point between 7-8.5 it becomes OK.

dingdongthewitchishere · 21/12/2016 18:11

She already has a bad foot, do you really want her with an infected ear as well? You mean well, but I am not sure that the comfort I would give her.

disclaimer: Mine are not allowed to have theirs done until they are least 18 Xmas Grin. but regardless, the poor thing is suffering enough at the moment!

StillRabbit · 21/12/2016 18:12

Check the school rules as well as school's have different rules. DDs primary and secondary both so no earrings whatsoever, not even taped up. DSs secondary allow studs but must be removed for PE. Where I work earrings are discouraged but studs are accepted but must be removed, by the child, for PE (we don't allow taping either).

megletthesecond · 21/12/2016 18:12

I'd leave it until the very start of the summer hols. She might catch them on hats and scarves this time of year too.

Fwiw my dd is getting hers done when she's older, in the summer hols between year 5 and 6.

1horatio · 21/12/2016 18:12

I don't think she's too young. I got mine when I was 5, my Italian cousins got theirs when they were babies/toddlers...

1horatio · 21/12/2016 18:14

However, despite getting mine so early I don't particularly like to see young girls with pierced ears. Especially not toddlers.

DH's godchild is 10 and still doesn't have any...

Petalbird · 21/12/2016 18:16

All depends on weather you have to remove them at school as the earrings can take 6 months before they can be removed. Our dsds 5 where removed too soon my her mother and they are now seriously bad and will take a minimum of 8 weeks of cleaning with plastic earrings in (these were done in the first week of the holiday)

JennyOnAPlate · 21/12/2016 18:18

My 6 year old had hers done when the schools finished last July. They've been fine and we've had no problems. We left them in a lot longer than 6 weeks before changing them though, and she's allowed to put tape on them for pe.

justinelibertine · 21/12/2016 18:21

Personal choice IMO too. I wan't allowed mine pierced until I was 13. I have 9 holes in each ear now.
As soon as DD asks I will take her to get them done. I might end up getting judged by DH and Granny but I think it is entirely up to DD to make the decision

misshelena · 21/12/2016 18:26

Dd16 asked when she was 3 and dd13 asked when she was 4. I said yes to both. They don't take them out for PE, just put tape over earlobes.

NicknameUsed · 21/12/2016 18:27

"Don't they just put plasters on them for pe?"

A lot of schools, including DD's, insist on them being removed for PE. DD had her ears pierced at the start of the school holidays when she was 13. After taking them out for her first PE session in September she never managed to get them back in. She will need to have them redone.

Footinmouthasusual · 21/12/2016 18:34

Some nasty responses regarding the dds accident. How horrible ffs!

Op think your decision to let her have them done at the start of the summer is lovely and my dds had then done at 7 and had no problems and no plasters for PE or swimming why on earth would they? They arnt doing contact rugby at that age.

The comment that other parents might feel pressure from their own dds is frankly ridiculous. You parent for your child and not other people's.

1happyhippie · 21/12/2016 18:40

My dd1 was 7 when she got hers pierced. We done it at the start of the summer holidays. Never had a problem, except she has to take them out for pe and sports activities at school. It took her a while to be able to do it herself, so I would take them out on the morning before school.
Dd2 is 7 now and has no intention of getting hers done, she came when dd2 got hers done, and was put off for life!

harrypoooter · 21/12/2016 18:59

Would you let her have her nose pierced? If yes why yes, if no why no? My child is 5 and has started asking and I have told her she has to be 13 and she can make that decision herself. I hate seeing it to be honest. I know it can be a cultural thing but it makes me really uncomfortable!

wigglesrock · 21/12/2016 19:09

My daughters get them pierced around that age - dd3 will be six in a few months and she's getting them done then. She was going to get them done sooner but we pushed it back a bit. My kids school doesn't have a problem with them - they don't need taped up for PE in younger years and they must be taken out for swimming or if they do netball which they start at around age 8, so most get them pierced a good bit before that. Like you said doing it at the start of the summer sounds like a happy medium. I hope she's feeling better and accidents happen. One of my daughters pulled a hot cup of tea onto her chest when she was 18 months - the cup was nowhere near the edge of the table or her. She knocked a bag, which knocked an ornament which catapulted the tea - you couldn't have done it if someone was paying you - it happens.

StillRabbit · 21/12/2016 19:14

As soon as DD asks I will take her to get them done.

What about if she asks for a tattoo? Just because they ask for something doesn't mean they should get it surely....

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