To get my 7 year old’s ears pierced?

[ToPierceOrNotToPierce]

My 7 year old DD has been desperate to get her ears pierced for ages, since starting school. Have always said no, not until you’re a bit older. So many girls younger than her at school already have their ears pierced.
Would I be a terribly irresponsible mum if I allowed her to get her ears pierced at 7?
I’m worried about them getting pulled when she’s playing but equally it’s not as though she’s a baby or even a toddler and I’m thinking of getting them pierced.
Genuinely interested on others opinions on this as I’m so torn on it.
Thanks!

I think it's too young. 10 or 11 would be my minimum.

7 is very young imo. You’re her mum tho - up to you.

I think it would be fine but I would wait until they break up for the summer rather than having to tape them for Pe days etc.

At 7 I was desperate to have slim fast as I thought replacing every meal with chocolate milkshake was a brilliant idea. What 7 year olds want is not always what is best for them.

Yes 7 is absolutely fine . I had mine done when I was younger than that . Never caused me any problems

I've never understood why people wait or set arbitrary limits. It's ear piercing- not a facial tattoo. Once they're old enough to ask to have it done, and understand it's going to sting a bit... they're old enough, in my opinion.

Not unreasonable at all to allow her to have her ears pierced.

I get pierced by Holier Than Though in Manchester who are a very highly renowned studio. They won’t do children under 8 as they advise their earlobes need to be big enough for the piercings to stay central as they grow, and they don’t think under-8s have big enough ears. So I’d wait it out a bit longer. And whatever you do, go to a decent studio who use needles, don’t go to Claire’s or anywhere that uses a gun.

I'd wait, for the exact same reasons you're thinking twice about it. Seven year olds are not able to fully understand the risks so can't make an informed decision. Get her some sticker ones if she wants to accessorise.

My DD asked at 7. I said 8. She turned 8 and wanted to wait. She decided the summer she was 9 and I let her. It was hard to keep her hair from getting tangled and although she was meticulous about cleaning them we had some issues so I'd say make sure she's ready to look after them

I'd wait until the summer holidays personally so they can be left in longer.

Research shows kids are less likely to develop keloid scars from ear piercings if they are done before kids are 11 years old.

7 is fine IMO, my daughter was desperate to get hers done, it's fine she keeps them clean and enjoys changing her earrings.

My daughter started asking if she was about five. We made her wait till she was ten and got it for her birthday. If you think your daughter is responsible enough at seven, it's really up to you.

My 6 yr old had hers done this summer. Other girls in her class also have them done.

No one has ever pulled on her ears, not before having them pierced or since!

My DS has been desperate for years but I said not until he's 15 because it's making a permanent change to your body & I want him to be sure & understand the implications of anything like that. I've still got holes in my ears despite very rarely wearing earrings.

I'm not someone who thinks it's abuse to do it young I just think it's odd to 'decorate' children in a permanent manner esp as we're far keener to do it to girls than boys 🤷🏼‍♀️

My eldest asked at 6, she understood it would hurt and that we would need to clean them and its been fine. Her body her choice.

Use a professional piercer who uses a needle and ask for flat backs if you can instead of butterfly clips and you'll be able to change the pretty front part without taking the whole earring out.

Much easier for sleeping.

Wait until the summer holidays

My daughter is 6 and got her ears pierced a few months ago. It involved me getting my own ears pierced again so we had matching ears. She was delighted with it and it all healed well and there have not been any issues. I fail to see why earrings would be a big deal.

I got mine done about that age. I wish I didn’t, because one of the piercings gets chronically infected. It’s as if there is a defect in the puncture, or it could be from not taking care of it properly afterwards. I really don’t know. It’s not a massive deal, just unnecessary. Especially as I grew out of wanting to wear earrings.

I think the start of secondary school is a better time.

Get her some of these 80s/90s-tastic little sticker earrings in the meantime (I loved them when I was a wee girl and not yet allowed pierced ears):
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Augsun-Sticker-Earrings-Self-Adhesive-Stickers/dp/B07L4HZ29V/

It's not someone pulling the ears that's the issue.
It's someone else's hair or clothing getting caught around the earrings and ripping them out/ripping the ear.
Or getting caught when climbing trees/pillow fighting/dressing up etc

It’s a no from me for a whole heap of reasons. My daughter can think I’m mean while all her friends are having it done, but hopefully she’ll understand and appreciate my reasons when she’s older.

I said yes when DD was 6. My reasons being- they’re just earrings so really not a big deal because change their mind and out they come, waiting for the sake of waiting seems arbitrary, under 11 and there’s less chance of keloids and based on preteen nieces who were forced to wait until they could take care of them themselves but then got infections because they didn’t do it properly I’d much rather do it younger and clean them myself. I did say it had to wait until the start of the summer holidays though as that way they can be fully healed before it’s back to school so no issue if they get knocked during sport, changing for swimming etc.

With my DC, my line is that they need to have them done with a needle at a reputable piercer, be old enough to understand what's happening and old enough to take responsibility for cleaning and maintenance.
I don't think most 6/7 year olds are capable of that level of consent and responsibility for aftercare.

My sister and I both got our ears pierced for 7th birthday and had no issues. I think if you think she's sensible enough to not fiddle/ let them heal, it's probably fine.

Equally, if you're concerned, waiting a bit longer won't hurt.