AIBU to get 6 year old get ear piercings?

[MRIELA]

Hello all, my 6 year old has been asking for months for ear piercings (her cousin got them at 5) , I have talked to her about the importance of daily cleaning, that there is always risk of infection etc and havent brought it uo myself until she asks if I have made an appointment yet and when could I make one. I talked to local piercing salons, of course needle piercings are the best but they dont deal with customers under 14. Which brings me to Claires (or does anyone know another better place perhaps?)- I had gun piercings myself at 7 and luckily had no problems, must say I am in my 30s and would still let no one near me with a needle :). Was I lucky because I read a lot of negative things about gun piercings, does anyone have any good/bad experiences with a younger child,any regrets or all went well?

Why are you asking irrevelant questions? I am looking for other parents experiences with ear piercings as thats what my daughter is asking for. Not here to discuss nose/labia/belly/ear/nipple etc piercings and my views on them.

My nearly 6 DD has asked a few times in the last year, and I've said not until she's 15, which was the age my own mum let me get mine done. I have 2 in each ear, and she likes looking through and playing with my earring collection.

A friend of mine let her DD get hers done as a "first period" gift. Sort of "you're a woman now" bit of recognition, which I kind of liked actually.

In reality I may let her get it done the summer she starts secondary school, but we'll see.

I don't think they are irrelevant questions. It always good to look at things from a different perspective. It's interesting why some people see punching holes in the ear lobes of six year olds as acceptable, but they'd feel very differently about holes punched in different parts of their body. It's good then to think about why that is? Is it actually ok to pierce a hole anywhere in your child's body?! Think outside of what's culturally acceptable and really think about what you're doing. If you'd be horrified about a 6 year old with a pierced nose/eyebrow why are ears ok?

But you are of course free to ignore me and my questions. You're not duty bound to respond to every question!

YABU. She is too young and you shouldn’t pander to her.

Mine was 9. She'd been asking since about aged 7 but then changed her mind. She made the decision and wanted them done straightaway. Even with cleaning them we had a few problems. They seem to be healing now but I'd wait until she's a bit older.

Try Superdrug. They use a gun, they have a good choice of studs, everything is clean and aftercare is great.

Mhm. Does she get everything she wants?

I talked to local piercing salons, of course needle piercings are the best but they dont deal with customers under 14.

That's your clue. It's a definite no from me.

See the other thread not long ago with all the information about why gun piercings aren't actually safe and hygienic too.

But she is not asking for any other piercing so they are irrevelant questions. She might not ever want any other piercings- I havent, no other piercings at all, no tattoos etc and if she does, we discuss it then.

Its her body and thats something she wants, my mum let me have earrings at 7 and I have had no regrets, healing was fast, pain was about the same like having bloods done. I enjoyed wearing Santa earrings at school christmas parties etc, hence why I am not opposing my child request. Not a cultural thing either, I never brought piercing subject up, she asked if she could have proper earrings like mine.

I've seen too many kids' ears damaged by earrings in children's games to think this is a good idea. They get hit, ripped out, infected ... all leaving torn and damaged ears. Otherwise, go ahead.

Don't go to Superdrug. Go to a reputable piercer.

No she dosent get everything she wants, why assume she is spoilt?

Mine had theirs done at the very beginning of the school summer hols so they had 6 weeks to heal. And I think it’s fine at 6 if she wants them.
I’ve never had a problem with Claire’s personally, and they’ve always had two people do them at the same time.

You know your own child best. My DD was 9 and the deal was she cared for them herself.

She came and watched me have my 2nd holes down with a needle but we opted for a gun in the end.

I also insist she doesn't wear cheap earrings (as I made that mistake).

That said I don't like to see very young kids with pierced ears but that's my opinion.

6 years old isn't old enough to understand the consequences of having a piercing done with a gun in Claires compared to having it done with a needle. You sound daft.

There’s a reason proper piercing shops won’t do it below a certain age.

My friend at work is from a culture where it’s normal to have piercings done as a baby. She says there are lots of people with uneven and wonky piercings as adults, as your skull is still growing. No idea what age your head is fully grown though.

I understand that she's not asking for other piercings. My point is that for you, as a parent making this decision, it's good to think about how you feel about other piercings/other holes being made in a small child's body. It's culturally acceptable in the UK to pierce children's ears and that is no doubt contributing to your decision making, but should it be culturally acceptable? It's no different really to pushing a needle through her nose, belly button or eyebrow, but you probably wouldn't do that. I'd just ask yourself, why? And then reflect on that before you push a needle/punch a hole with a gun through her ear lobes.

I agree it's her body and it's something she thinks she wants. I'd seriously question whether any 6 year old is competent to make that decision. And again think about whether you'd deem her competent to decide she wants her nose pierced, for example? If not, why? Surely if she is competent to decide about her ears then she's also ok to decide about her nose/belly button etc. But you don't think that do you? If she's not old enough to decide about her nose/belly button, she's also not old enough to decide about her ears.

I have many piercings, not at all bothered by people doing whatever they want with their bodies but none of my kids will be pierced until they can actively ask for and consent to it while fully understanding the commitment. My 7 year old went through a phase of asking about ear piercing and then changing her mind and saying she was scared. I'll wait until she has firmly made her mind up when she's older and then take her to a needle piercer. Never Claires.

I’d let her get them. At 6, surely she can understand easily that it could be very painful and you’d have to clean them, etc.

I don’t understand how they end up getting infected. Surely parents are supposed to keep an eye on them once they’re done?

I don’t think it’s a big deal at all.

You know your DD so you’ll know if she won’t cope, etc.

My daughter got hers done in the summer and she was 6. Looked after them and cleaned them all by herself with me supervising. No issues at all with them.

Ah, this old debate. In my opinion, 6 is too young. DD is 7 and has been asking about it, but she's also terrified of pain so that's putting her off! I've said 11 at the youngest. I was 12, and it was still too soon, got an infection and was too scared to wear earrings for years.

You're the parent, you can say no.

I wasn’t allowed until I was 14, despite being desperate to have it done. And they got infected too. I have boys but I think around age 10 is about right. At six it would be a no way from me, sorry.

@NuffSaidSam excellent post.

There are plenty of stories about infections and keloids from needle piercings as well, either way, depending on the persons immune system, sanitary conditions, aftercare etc both ways of piercings carry risks.

I'm sure your very young child can definitely weigh up the risks of both from YouTube videos.

At age 6...

It's a right pain for PE. At my school they aren't allowed to just put tape over so the child would miss all their PE lessons.