Boys and ear piercings

[earspiercedornot]

My son aged 8 would like his ears pierced and has asked for it a lot over the last year. Im unsure. Do boys get them done? Is it both or just one?? I would rather he didnt (as hes a boy and im worried about bullying) but he really wants too! Help

He's 8. Say no, be the parent.

The fact he's a boy is irrelevant

But other boys (and girls) his age and younger in his school have them done. Im sort of on the fence

I know of boys of about that age who have one ear done, but not both.

If you don’t want him to get them done you’ll have to tell him he has to wait until he’s older. A lot of kids have to wait and I can guarantee there are girls in his year who aren’t allowed them yet and it’s not just because he’s a boy.

My DD did struggle a bit with them when we caved at ten. I’d try and put him off a couple of years.

My girls had them done in the summer of year 6. I’d say no for now.

I think he's a bit young. His sex is totally irrelevant. If you don't want him to, don't let him.

If you'd pierce a daughter's ears at 8, why not your son's?

It's usually one ear for a boy, the left one. It was considered a bit "rough" when I was growing up, a boy with a pierced ear, but these days anything goes.

I think end of primary school is a better age for ear piercing in general; they are old enough to really understand the nature of what they are doing and what it involves.

Most kids round my way get them aged around 7 or 8, so for me the age is completely normal.
I've seen a lot of teen boys with piercings lately , not seen many younger boys, but if he wants it done, then I'd let him, he can always take it out if he changes his mind at some point.

No to earrings for either sex.

I said 16 for mine-girl and boy. Caved at 14- but I knew I probably would when I said 16!

I’m glad my boys didn’t want a piercing as I don’t like them on boys. I waited until 10 and my daughter was adamant she wanted them done until we did it. I guess I’d have considered the same age if my son’s wanted one then.

He is absolutely a boys boy. Hes very head strong, knows what he wants and is a leader in the class. Im more worried about high school tbh. But as you say, he could always take them out if he changed his mind

I think i would try to hold off for a couple of years when he's only 8. As much as I'd like to say that it doesn't matter if he is a boy or a girl, sex is irrelevant, they can both do whatever they want etc i dont think i would feel like that in this situation. it is still true that it's much more common for girls to have pierced ears and therefore a girl would be less likley to regrett a decision about piercings that they made at 8.

Seems to be the ‘in’ thing for boys at the moment in our area. Know a few who had them done in the holidays.

My son mentioned it a few weeks back as well and I said it was his choice, he is yet to have it done but I would have no problem taking him to get it done.

No - but only because he's eight. The fact that he's a boy is irrelevant.

He's too young.

My son is 8 and there are boys on his class with ear piercings. They love them, but some of the boys are of the opinion ear piercing is for girls.

If my son asked I would explain that he might get teased at school about them and let him make the choice (My son would chose not but others might chose to go ahead anyway)

I do allow my children to make their own choices wherever possible though. I appreciate I'm a lot more relaxed than many parents.

Boy or girl it’s too young imo so it would be a no from me.

if he still wants it done at the end of year 6 then let him.

Not something my boys would ask for, but if they did it would be a flat no for as long as I could get away with, it's not a good look on boys.

What does it matter what other children in the area have? There are kids where I live who vape and drink in the park and have phones at 9. Not things I've allowed my children to do.

Piercings need to be looked after. They need to be taped up in sport. They're not for children.

I’m not overly keen on piercings for children in general, but hearing you describe your son, I’d be inclined to let him.
Sounds like her knows what he wants, he’s not being pressured into it, this is something he has wanted consistently for some time.

It seems to be important to him and I can’t see any harm in it. If he doesn’t like it in future he can just take it out. Not like he’s asking for a tattoo!

Ah sexism is alive and well in 2023. What else isn’t a good look for boys? Wearing pink? Pushing a hoover?

Snap, for me it’s a flat no. I hate it on boys . Eldest did it at 19, not keen but not my decision to make

Hi @earspiercedornot
My brother had his left ear pierced when he was a teenager, my husband also had his left ear pierced when he was a teenager. One of my ex's had both his ears pierced. I know several guys at work who have their ear pierced. It's seen as cool 😎 x

I would wait until 10 and then do it. Gives him a full year for them to heal while he’s at primary school (the 6-week holiday isn’t enough time for them to heal well enough to be out all day). Secondary schools very rarely allow any earrings at all in boys or girls so he won’t be able to wear them in Y7.

Sex is irrelevant and if we got over ourselves more and accepted that boys and girls can wear whatever they want, we might have fewer kids thinking they must be the opposite sex because they associate more with that gender stereotype.

post one: Do boys get them done?
post two: But other boys (and girls) his age and younger in his school have them done.