6yo asking to have her ears pierced...

[Whatsername17]

Wibu to let her? I'm thinking at the beginning of the holiday so they have time to heal ready for school. I didn't anticipate her asking this of me so young.

[SquirmOfEels]

No, because although the gun itself cannot be sterilised, the only thing which touches the ear is not part of the gun, it's a sterile cartridge. If it is handles in a way that compromises that sterility, then there is an infection risk, but it is not likely to be blood-borne unless the cartridge is somehow smeared with blood or the operator has blood on their hands.

Poor handling of the cartridge (once taken out of the pack) eg contact with surfaces or insufficiently clean hands, thus causing a bacterial infection, is the real risk.

Not that I like guns for piercing. The spring loading is quite fierce.

Needle is gentlest, but if you are in an area where that is unavailable (under the terms of the special licence) for under 16s, then looking for a proper piercing parlour which uses a cartridge system under hand pressure only is better than gun.

[MyCalmX]

These threads bring out the bonkers in people.

I let dd1 get hers done just shy of 6. She wanted them and I explained how it would be done and she was fine.

Yes I cleaned them which consisted of turning them morning and night and putting the lotion on.

It's really no big deal.

[BigDamnHero]

I think I was around that age when I had mine done. Maybe a little older.

I understood it would hurt and was always a very responsible/serious child so my parents knew I'd look after them (though, of course, they helped me).

My younger sisters were quite a bit older when they had theirs done (I think around 13 and 11) but they're different people to me. The oldest of the two is very anxious so was worried about it hurting and the younger has never been very good with personal hygiene etc. so my parents couldn't be sure she'd look after them before then.

I think the age it's appropriate completely depends on the child in question.

[Andrewofgg]

A woman in my office had a summer job at Claire's. Her "training" was being given a DVD to watch at home; having a go on a soft toy with floppy ears, and watching one piercing being done. Then she was good to go, and she was glad she never had to.

[SarahS2404]

Yes, if you want to get her ears done then go for it. I've had mine done since the age of 2/3.

[NattyBatty]

If you agree to letting her get it done then I'd ask around and see which of your local studios has the best reputation. If you ask people with tattoos and body piercings then you will likely get a pretty uniform response. In my area I was told "go to Rude Studios" or "go to Luke"... as it turned out, Luke worked at Rude Studios.

No one who had multiple piercings or tattoos recommended any other piercing studio. There is always a reason for that kind of uniformity when it comes to body mods.

[tailspin]

I was 5, my sister the same. I don't see the problem with it to be honest. I don't think babies or toddlers should have their ears pierced as it's not their choice and their ears will still grow a lot, so the hole may end up being in the wrong place. But I think 5-6 is about the right age. Waiting until 10-12 seems a bit arbitrary.

Just don't go to Claire's!

[tailspin]

Plus, they would close up again if for any reason she later decided she didn't want pierced ears bit confused by all the people who seem to think it's a form of mutilation... I had a nose piercing when I was a teenager and you can't tell now!

[Morphene]

tailspin no need to be confused. Sometimes it is permanent and sometimes it isn't.

I still have holes and scarring 20 years later. That fits the definition of permanent. Just because yours weren't permanent doesn't mean you can assume the ops daughter isn't making a permanent modification to her body.

[Blossomdeary]

16 is quite young enough. They are old enough to understand that they might one day regret it; to look after the hygiene for themselves etc. Little children with pierced ears is a horrible idea.

I once met someone who had hers done young and was not able to care for them properly. Several times they had been ripped out, and her earlobes looked as if mice had been nibbling them - revolting!

[Morphene]

My ear piercings also landed me in hospital for 6 weeks and permanent damage to the valve of my heart.

If I had had the same problem aged 6 as opposed to 16 as I was at the time, I would have died. This is not speculation on my part, but the opinion of the consultant who brought me back from the brink.

Now clearly that is a rare event. But for the sake of making yourself, or your child look prettier by your own or societies definitions, I personally wouldn't take the risk again.

With antibiotic resistant bugs on the rise, piercings are getting riskier year on year.....

[ProphetOfDoom]

So needle piercing is better? I had my ears pierced at 13 by gun, kept scabbing, trying to heal over. I never wear earrings now as I don't like them but have a permanent scar dimple.

And a licensed tattoo studio is the place to go?

I said to dd she could have them pierced at secondary school age (so now) as long as she could manage caring for her ears herself & can guarantee the rest of the family won't be piercing their own feet on a discarded earring stuck in the carpet. It's the latter she'll have the problem with .

I suggested a navel piercing instead but she looked appalled

[Clalpolly]

Going for my dd to a proper jewellers.

[JacquesHammer]

So needle piercing is better

Better in all ways! More hygeinic, cleaner "pierce", way less trauma, more accurate, easier to heal.

[FlapsMcGee]

I think the sheer range of opinions on this thread go to show it is a very personal choice. I had mine pierced for my sixth birthday. At an independent jewellery shop, with a piercing gun*. I can distinctly remember the excitement. It didn't hurt much (I remember how worried my mum was too, she had hers done a few months before as she had been scared of the pain for years). I looked after them myself and my mum checked them regularly too. I don't know what age I would allow a hypothetical DC have ears pierced, possibly six, but would depend on DC, maturity level, etc.

*I would absolutely go to a proper body piercer though. Mine were fine with a gun, but after years of body piercing, I can say a proper needle is so much better!

[Fluffyears]

I was desperate to get more be done like the girl in the next street to me. I pestered and pestered and my mum gave in, I was 4. I don't remember them hurting but I remember feeling odd and did go into mild shock and remember being given junior disprin.

My mum told me I must not touch them and must let her clean them e dry day otherwise they'll have to come out and will heal up. I was fine and now the holes are permanent but I don't wear earrings often as most metals irritate my ears, even silver and gold. I have had other piercings as an adult.