What age for ears pierced?

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Almost 8 year old is asking more and more to get her ears pierced.

I am not going to let her yet. I say she can get them done when she is 18.

But just wondering what age parents have allowed them to get done.

I am thinking 10 / 11 at the very youngest but I will happily push it longer than that.

She did tell me the other day that it would have been easier if I had got them done as a baby

No younger than 11. I would encourage them to hold off until they were 14+ though tbh.

What?! Normal pierced ears? Have a word with yourself

I find it quite unpleasant too, to see ears that have purposely had holes punched in them. I think there are a fair number of people who feel the same. I'd never say so in real life, to someone who has pierced ears obviously. I realise that nobody cares what I think - just making the point that there are likely more people who find it gross than you'd imagine.

Also, go to a piercing studio that uses a needle rather than a gun. Ideally an APP member as they will have to demonstrate good practice to be a member.

I was 33 3/4 - my daughter had hers done age 12 and dragged me into get mine done! Pleased I finally did

I don't find it gross but I do think it's a bit mad that its become the norm. Doesn't really seem at place with a modern society that we let our kids put holes in their body. And yet we don't let them play conckers or play outside alone anymore xD

And really don't get adults who do it to their baby's either, i find that quite wrong tbh.

Never had mine pierced and would encourage daughter to think about it sensibly in that they are essentially, holes in your ears and take months to heal even if they don't become infected.

But as long as I felt it was well thought through I'd probably let her by 11 if she nagged me enough xD not before that though.

I had said between primary and secondary but she’s about to go into year 5 and only a year away seems too soon! She’s very sporty and I can see them annoying her. I’m just going to play it by ear (boom boom) and see when she asks/when her friends start having it done/etc. I think I had mine done when I was 10, but I barely wear earrings now.

Oh! It’s 2 years away! That seems a bit better.

I think age 12 is about right. I think it looks weird to see pierced ears on primary school aged children.

Yes, what are the rules on earrings at school? My brother’s school forbade all earrings (and other jewellery, apart from wristwatches) so it was pointless getting ears pierced.

Where would people go to get needle piercing done for 10-11 year olds? I'm not taking my DD to the local jewellers with a gun, like my mum did for me, but I alsways associated neelde piercing with tattoo parlours, which have older age requirements.

Piercing studio or tattoo parlour.
My DD wants her ears pierced for her 10th bday in a few months. I took her to our local piercing studio to have a chat about the process (they won't pierce earlobes under 10 and only then with proof of age) and they were fabulous. So kind, informative, were lovely to her and me. Made sure we were both comfortable with what would happen. We'll be going back the weekend after her bday to get it done. It's expensive but much better have it done by someone who does it for a living and is a member of a professional body.

First time I was 7, with a gun, and had so many problems we let them heal.

Second time 10, with a needle, no problems at all.

Between 13-16, I had another 11 holes all
done with a gun and no problems.

I was around 5 or 6 first time round, and 13/14 for the 2nd set. They were done by a gun, though (many years ago now).

I got mine done when I was 5. Mum had pierced ears and it was all my sister (yr older) and I wanted for our birthdays (we're a day apart). Mum helped with cleaning daily, my sister's got a bit icky, mine were fine. Did probably 3 years without earrings in late teens, early 20s holes still fine when I put earrings back in.

I don't quite get the big deal...

My little one had her ears pierced when she was a little over a year old. I know she couldn't give consent but I did explain (in basic baby terms) and she sat lovely, didn't even cry.

We had no issues with them and she was, and still is, very good at keeping them clean, not playing with them etc.

She's 4 now and she loves picking out new earrings!

My mom said “teenager” so I was 13 - that was early 90s

I know she couldn't give consent but I did explain (in basic baby terms)

FFS.

No younger than 8, and that depends on how mature and independent the child is. They would have to do all the care themselves, because I refuse to faff about with piercings (barring emergencies).

DD2 was (shock, horror) only 5 and to top it up, we got it done at Claire's.

Mine were done when I was 6 by a neighbour with a sewing needle.

We are both alive and well and still wear earrings.

but on MN, it isn't really acceptable to have them done under 18 and it the piercing must be done by a highly regarded piercer otherwise your ear will fall off with near certainty.

on that basis, YABU to even ask this question given your DD's tender age.

DD1 was 11, when she was old enough to care for them properly.
DSD was 7 and hers got infected, it was very unpleasant for her.

coffee I'm glad you are all still alive...so am I. But I did spend 6 weeks in intensive care as a result of ear piercings done at 15, and wouldn't have survived if I'd had the same experience at 5.

So its not actually that funny to joke about dying from having your ears pierced.

When they don't need to be forced or reminded to clean their ears

They age when they ask.

I dont believe in toddlers getting their ears done, not because of choices or any other popular reasons behind it, but because I think it looks common and tacky.

Anywhere from 6 years I think. When their friends have them done and they suddenly decide that's what they want then why not. If they dknt like them they can be removed.

Dd has just had hers done, age 9. She had been asking consistently for over a year, and as far as I’m concerned it’s her body, her choice. I have said she can have whatever piercings she likes as a teenager as long as she shows that she has thought it through, but that if she wants tattoos she has to wait until she is over 18, as the consequences of regretting a tattoo are so much bigger.

I think it’s important that she understands that her body belongs to her, and that she gets to make choices regarding it within reason. Refusing a piercing for no reason other than parental squeamishness just tells girls that their body and their appearance belongs to someone else.

The only thing I insisted on was a proper piercing studio and a needle, not a gun, to get her into the habit of taking body modification seriously, it that’s the path she chooses when she is older. I went with her and got a piercing too, so she could see what it was like first.

I was 16.

I think when dd starts secondary if she wants, she can get hers done then.

I did explain (in basic baby terms)

"ouchy ouchy, pretty pretty?"

16 ideally as PP’s have said so they don’t have to worry about covering them for PE and can fully consent to something that will mark them for life.