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.

[Morphene]

its nothing to do with how old you have to be to look after them as far as I am concerned. I just think it is disgusting to let young children bow to the pressure to conform to beauty ideals.

You have the option of sending a message to your child they their body deserves respect, and that they do not need to change to fit with anyone's definition of beauty....and you have the option of telling them that, yes they should permanently alter their body to be like their mates/the person they saw on TV.

I also hope every single person on here who said yes its fine for a 6 yo girl would also be fine with a 6 yo boy getting theirs done, because I'm sure you all wouldn't want to be sexist now would you?

[SoupDragon]

DD has been asking for years. I told her she could have them done during the holidays between primary and secondary and I've stuck to that. Unfortunately that time is now upon us!

I'm too nervous to take her into a proper piercing place though.

[SoupDragon]

I had mine done at 13 and they never healed properly. There is now no sign they were ever pierced.

[Clalpolly]

Try a proper jewellers. I am trying to hold out for the "between primary and secondary " thing and already have a jewellers lined up in a nearby town.
Year 5 and counting- long US holiday this year so hoping to duck it for another summer.

[Enidblyton1]

I wouldn't personally. My 6 year old DD sometimes wears those little sparkly stickers on her ears instead.
Not sure what age I would let her have them pierced - not before 9/10 I think. My main reason for waiting is that my DD would be forever losing earings. I don't want to be wasting time scrabbling about on the floor looking for tiny earings (already spend enough time helping her look for everything else she has misplaced...sigh)

[Montsti]

I'm not letting my girls get their ears pierced until they're 12...there are lots of things my children ask for but I'm the adult and make these decisions...so I say no😕.

Obviously it's up to you - personally I think it's too young and not my thing. Each to their own though...at least she's capable of asking herself though but if you do, explain that it might be sore etc...

[jelliebelly]

Yes YABU - I think earrings on young children look awful

[mollibu]

I had my ears pierced at 3 weeks old and I'm so grateful my parents did it while I was young because I probably wouldn't got it done now that I'm older because the fear of the pain.

Explain to her the pain and how much they need taking care of and then decide.

[LumpySpaceCow]

Our DD asked at 7. She knew it would hurt and that I would need to clean them every day to look after them. She understood the implications so we took her. She was fine and the aftercare was simple. For PE she puts a bit of micropore tape over them.

[nailsathome]

My dd is almost 6 and is starting to ask about having hers done. I'm fine with it and will let her when I decide she is ready, not when she is a particular age. I have multiple piercings and she thinks they are beautiful. I'm teaching her that she doesn't have to conform to beauty standards, she is allowed to make choices about her own body.

[kel1234]

My mum got mine done as soon as I was old enough, 6 weeks it was in them days.
I will get my daughters done as soon as she's old enough (when hopefully I have a daughter of course).
I know that will go against pretty much everyone else on here, but o love baby girls with gorgeous little studs

[TheLaughingGnome]

British people are quite snobby about earrings I think! My daughter nagged from about 4 and I gave in when she was nearly 8. Never regretted it.

[MrsWire]

Some people are so uptight. It's only earrings for goodness sake.

[Badcat666]

I got my 1st ones at 13 and they were bastards.

Reason my mum waited was because my ears were still growing and didn't want me to end up with earrings in the wrong place which was advice she got from a proper piercing establishment back in the old days. Glad I waited as I now have 5 in one ear and 6 in the other and all in perfect proportion.

[Allthewaves]

Check with school. Our primary doesn't allow any earing.

[hibbledobble]

My 6 year old has asked, I have said no.

It is horrible and tacky on young children, as well as the health risks. No way would I subject my child to that.

I'm not sure what age I would allow it, but not for another 5 years at least!

[gettingbacktoresearch]

My DD isn't getting hers done until end of year 6 so they can heal over summer and when she is old enough to look after them.... so when she about 11... she's 7 at the moment

[Whatsername17]

Thanks for all of the perspectives. I think we will wait a little longer. Mostly because I think it's good for her to have something to wait for. As for the 'conforming to beauty standards' thing. I really see it more as her learning to have a little autonomy over her own body. She recently decided she wanted her hair cut short. The hairdresser warned me that cutting it short would cut out her beautiful baby curls which made me feel a bit sad. But, it's her hair, so she had it cut short and it looks awesome. All of the other little girls in her class have long hair, and her cousin (same age) was horrified. But, dd was confident and happy with her decision not to follow her peers.

[Clalpolly]

Op, sounds like your dd has her head screwed on. Presume she's had her hair cut at some point since birth so the baby curls are long gone.

[SoupDragon]

I think DD has been OK about waiting really because I gave her a firm time when she could have them done and stuck to it. She's still asked, hopefully, but knows what the answer is.

[Whatsername17]

No it was her first hair cut! She was bald until she was 11 months old! Curly hair seems to grow slower but it was half way down her back so quite a drastic cut.

[Hotfootit]

My mum allowed us to get our ears pierced at 10, so I applied the same to my DDs. DD1 pestered me until she was 10, then was 11 before she decided to go ahead. DD2 ( nearly 10) hasn't mentioned it - as with DD1 I'll wait til she asks (once she's 10).

[Queenofthedrivensnow]

I'm waiting until the holiday between primary and secondary school. When they stop running g around in the playground I'm fine with it. My dd is 7. She's asked but also accepted she will be 11

[Boring12]

I watched a YouTube video (my LO is too young yet and I watch far much youtube) little girl was about 5 and she was really excited, cried a lot when it was actually being done. But she was really happy after and was really excited getting new earrings long after. It's a tricky one, but if she really really wants it then it might be worth it.

[Dixiechickonhols]

I don't have mine done. Mum said 16 and when I was 16 I liked being different and have never bothered. I've agreed to dd this July as she is 11 and finishes primary. She is mature and able to consent. Only her and one other girl are earring less in her class. I checked and tattoo/piercing places don't seem to do children around here for license reasons. I was planning a jewellers which some one has recommended.