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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think piercing a child's ears with a gun should be banned?

138 replies

lovesthosebeeps · 12/08/2021 11:39

Okay, people must insist it's done because xyz

Mine was done with a needle as a tiny baby. However, it appears most tattoo places that do piercings won't touch a baby/small child.

But I've always known guns are worse. A tattoo/piercing artist I know personally just posted this image on FB

She says the gun isn't a clean go, and can cause damage to surrounding tissue etc.

AIBU to wonder why this is still allowed, with a gun, because it can cause so many issues later on?

Obviously it would be best if people didn't bother getting small children done at all but at least abolish bloody guns?!

To think piercing a child's ears with a gun should be banned?
OP posts:
RedMarauder · 12/08/2021 11:58

@ComtesseDeSpair

Guns are safest and easiest for use by an untrained person - which, considering most piercing and tattoo studios refuse to pierce small children, means they’re the only real option, since it would be more dangerous to let the Saturday girl at Claire’s Accessories lose with a piercing needle.

Parents who want their children pierced will have it done regardless and if guns, and therefore an easy and cheap way to get pierced, are banned then I can only imagine a roaring increase in home piercing.

This.

I know quite a few women over the years who had a parent do their piercings as a baby/young child.

I know my first holes were done at a particular independent jeweller (who no-long exists) because they used a needle. I remember my mum was horrified when she found out people used guns.

I then did two holes myself at home as a young teen, and then had another 2 done at a tattoo studio while a friend was getting a tattoo. None hurt.

Anyway my DD will have her ears pierced when she asks for it to be done whether she is 4 or 14.

GhostCurry · 12/08/2021 11:58

@RedHelenB

My kids had theirs done with a gun aged 7 and have been fine. like nearly everyone else they know. Seems like it's a real mumsnet bee in the bonnet to have to go to a ratio parlour to get them done with a needle!
I don’t think you know what “bee in the bonnet” means Blush
Dixiechickonhols · 12/08/2021 11:58

I wouldn’t even describe it as a pinch. Was F Hinds jewellers I saw them recommended on here and was a good recommendation. You don’t pay for piercing just the earrings. They don’t pierce babies/small children.

Winemewhynot · 12/08/2021 12:00

I think kids shouldn’t have their ears pierced until they’re old enough to give consent, actually want it doing, understand the implications and are able to look after the piercing themselves.

WeAllHaveWings · 12/08/2021 12:00

I would also ban completely until 16. Regardless of choosen piercing method and the temporary discomfort while healing the potential injuries if an earring is caught and an ear torn during normal childrens behaviour is a bigger reason.

Original poster
lovesthosebeeps · 12/08/2021 12:01

@Winemewhynot

I think kids shouldn’t have their ears pierced until they’re old enough to give consent, actually want it doing, understand the implications and are able to look after the piercing themselves.

This was my mum's reasoning for getting mine done at 6 weeks old - Tiny babies can't fiddle and play with the earring, risking infection. So better to get them done really young

OP posts:
Keepitonthedownlow · 12/08/2021 12:02

I had the gun piercing about 8. Absolute agony.

Rockbird · 12/08/2021 12:09

I'm not against ear piercing. I have loads and my youngest has just had hers done at 9. But I've always hated earrings on babies and young children. At the weekend I witnessed, for the first time, a baby having her ears pierced in Claire's. The image of the baby screaming and wriggling and the dad laughing and holding her down will stay with me for a long time. There were a few groups of women outside watching in horror but powerless to do anything. Horrible.

BungleandGeorge · 12/08/2021 12:13

Babies pull at their ears when they have earache so I’m not sure on the reasoning to get them done because they can’t fiddle with them.
I think needles are better but at the end of the day you’re creating a permanent tract in your body and inserting a foreign object whatever the method so there are possible complications. I vote no piercings before age 10 at least too!

LifesNotEnidBlyton · 12/08/2021 12:17

Well neither is ok on a small child or baby so "the safest way" is to ban it. A needle might be "safer" than a gun but it then needs to be done one at a time and can be more painful being done. It's so wrong that it happens at all. Anyone doing this to a small child or baby should have a think about why they think that vanity or "culture" make it ok to cause a pain to someone who doesn't need it and hasn't asked for it, and to modify their childs body to suit themselves. We wouldn't let people pierce holes in their children normally. But if it's to "decorate" them with jewels it's ok is it? Oh but only if it's in their ears, because someone has agreed you have to be over 16/18 for most piercings and body modifications... so they can ban it for children if they want to.... but they haven't.

gamerchick · 12/08/2021 12:18

This was my mum's reasoning for getting mine done at 6 weeks old - Tiny babies can't fiddle and play with the earring, risking infection. So better to get them done really young

This is what I get when the subject comes up. 'better to get it done when young and they'll leave it alone/not remember it'

It's not the fucking law to have holes in your ears. Why is it better to get something totally unnecessary when young? Makes no sense. It's not necessary at all Hmm

Maireas · 12/08/2021 12:20

Six weeks old is a tiny baby.

jackstini · 12/08/2021 12:21

Agree all piercing should be banned until the person can give understood consent. Age 10 seems about right (also coincidentally the age you are classed as criminally responsible!)

Dd had hers done with a needle age 13 and just had seconds done age 15 with a gun as the tattoo place no longer does it. It was her choice; she says gun hurt less as it was quicker but aware it could leave more scar tissue if she decides to let them heal up in future

TheVanguardSix · 12/08/2021 12:24

I had mine done with a gun over 40 years ago.
I'm alive and kicking and have added to those piercings over time.
My DD was fine too though her holes have closed up now.
Choose your battles, OP.

Martianworld · 12/08/2021 12:25

@GhostCurry

@RedHelenB

My kids had theirs done with a gun aged 7 and have been fine. like nearly everyone else they know. Seems like it's a real mumsnet bee in the bonnet to have to go to a ratio parlour to get them done with a needle!

I don’t think you know what “bee in the bonnet” means.

Neither do I then, because that sounds perfect usage to me. Am I missing something?

SquirryTheSquirrel · 12/08/2021 12:27

I had mine pierced with a gun when I was 10 - my mum took some persuading but I was eventually allowed it as a birthday present.

It didn't hurt and I had no problems afterwards. I loved wearing earrings when I was a pre-teen/teenager. I've only ever had one hole per ear. I'm in my 40s and rarely bother with earrings now, but the holes never close up, which is handy.

Meredusoleil · 12/08/2021 12:27

My dd1 (aged 12.5) recently had her ears pierced at my beauty salon. I was so reluctant when I heard it was going to be with a gun because of everything I had read online about them. But the only alternative to get a needle was to take her to a tattoo parlour, which I sure as hell wasn't going to do given I have never (and intend to never) set foot on one myself!

Anyway, I'd warned her it could hurt a lot and she was absolutely fine! She wondered why I had made such a fuss about it all 🙄

callmeadoctor · 12/08/2021 12:27

Guns have been used for donkeys years, in terms of things to get cross at, I don't think this is a big deal. (Over 12s though IMO)

MedusasBadHairDay · 12/08/2021 12:29

@lovesthosebeeps

From Claire's Hmm
I don't understand this at all. I was "trained" at Claire's decades ago, you are shooting an earring post directly into the ear and then it stays there. If they had ultra fine points on them you'd end up cutting up the skin behind the ear. Or do they magically become blunt and safe once they are through the ear? Hmm
Martianworld · 12/08/2021 12:29

I've had mine pierced twice at Claires. Painless. No problem. And their antiseptic is fantastic.

At school I heard stories of girls that used to pierce their own ears with a needle and cork and then pull a knotted thread through, a knot a day. I never actually saw a girl with a thread hanging out her ear and my school would have chopped it off if they'd seen it. So maybe it was just an urban myth. 😄

SquirryTheSquirrel · 12/08/2021 12:34

@SquirryTheSquirrel

I had mine pierced with a gun when I was 10 - my mum took some persuading but I was eventually allowed it as a birthday present.

It didn't hurt and I had no problems afterwards. I loved wearing earrings when I was a pre-teen/teenager. I've only ever had one hole per ear. I'm in my 40s and rarely bother with earrings now, but the holes never close up, which is handy.

Just to add, it was at H. Samuel and I still have one of the original studs I was pierced with!
Martianworld · 12/08/2021 12:34

@MedusasBadHairDay

"I don't understand this at all. I was "trained" at Claire's decades ago, you are shooting an earring post directly into the ear and then it stays there. If they had ultra fine points on them you'd end up cutting up the skin behind the ear. Or do they magically become blunt and safe once they are through the ear?"

They just put a plastic stopper on the back and that stops it catching on your skin. No?

redtulip12 · 12/08/2021 12:35

My daughter had hers done with a gone age 12 and they didn't heal. Ended up seeing a dermatologist due to the mess. Took them out and let them heal. She has just (age 16) had them redone with a needle and has had no issues. Would never recommend a gun.

BeautyQueenIamNot · 12/08/2021 12:38

My dd (nearly 10) wanted her ears lobes pierced I searched high and low for a place which did not use a gun and I couldn’t find anywhere within a 50 mile radius of us, even the tattoo places used guns for ear lobes (needles for everywhere else)

In the end I went with an experienced piercer who used disposable guns (not exactly environmentally friendly) but my dd’s ear have been fine no issues at all, my dd said she felt a hard pinch but that was it. I always said she had to be 10 but wanted them done over the summer holidays so they could heal before school starts back, so she had them done slightly before (after much begging and pleading)

Mine were done with a gun when I was 8 absolutely no issues with mine.

I do not agree with piercing a younger child/babies but in the grand scheme of life I can’t get wound up about what other people do.

I was that impressed I went back and got my Tragus pierced a week later which she did use a needle for!

MedusasBadHairDay · 12/08/2021 12:38

[quote Martianworld]@MedusasBadHairDay

"I don't understand this at all. I was "trained" at Claire's decades ago, you are shooting an earring post directly into the ear and then it stays there. If they had ultra fine points on them you'd end up cutting up the skin behind the ear. Or do they magically become blunt and safe once they are through the ear?"

They just put a plastic stopper on the back and that stops it catching on your skin. No?[/quote]
They never used to, no idea if they do now. It was just a standard butterfly back then. So the end of the earring would stick out.