When did your DDs get their ears pierced?

[Sundaydress]

I have a one year old DD born in UK where we live.

Dh is from a country where baby girls get their ears pierced pretty much at birth - I think hospitals there even offer to pierce their ears as part of post birth services!!!!

I'm totally against this and so is DH (he's lived many years in UK) its treating baby girls like objects to decorate and not letting them choose if they want it or not. Also could be a choking hazard.

We're visiting family in his country later in the year and one of the aunts is already talking about how she'll pierce babies ears as she's a qualified nurse!!!

I've explained on Facetime that it's not what we do over here and we don't pierce baby girls ears at such a young age etc but don't think the message is getting through. I'll have to be extremely clear when we arrive but it's clearly so ingrained in their way of doing things.

I know I'm not BU to avoid piercing her ears but it's got me thinking about what age is the right age? Baby/ toddler is far too young imo

I was thinking that when DD is old enough to decide for herself - maybe 12? I think i was 10 when i had mine done but I remember I had a friend whose father was very strict and acted like it was the same as getting a tattoo so she wasn't allowed until she was 16.

I haven't got mine pierced at all .. but this is very much a cultural thing. In the UK it's a bit chavvy to get a baby's ears pierced. In many other countries it's a totally normal thing to do. I don't think it's worth worrying about - just do what's right for you and your circumstances.

Absolutely do not pierce her ears until she is old enough to consent (and to actually tell you that she wants them done). Completely wrong and cruel otherwise

DD had hers done at 7 which even in my opinion is still a bit on the young side - I eventually gave in after months of begging!

Many of the girls I know have theirs done the summer after they turn 11, ie before they start secondary school.

This gives them time to get used to them and for the piercings to heal before they have to start taking them out for swimming lessons etc.

Dd and her friends had it done at or in the run up to being 14 I think.

I had them done around my 10th birthday.

My DD was 11. I was chatting to the lady who worked at the piercing place when we were there and she said they won’t pierce children under 5, and most places in the area had the same rule.

The summer between primary and secondary school.

My DD was 7 when she had hers done. She's now 11 and wants her second lobe piercings done (which I'm ok with).

She was 16, it was her "I survived GCSEs" present. It takes about twice the recommended time for her ears to heal - she's gone on to have second piercings with the same results. She's been very careful with keeping the area clean, using non allergenic earrings, etc. I wouldn't want to subject a young child to that.

They weren't allowed to wear earrings in our primary school so after the last day of Y6 all the girls went to the piercing shop to get it done so it would be all healed up for start of secondary (so what's that - age 11)? Only studs allowed in secondary.

12 - I thought I’d hold out until older but actually she was old enough to understand how to look after her and was desperate.

My are too young in my opinion. It’s very common for children to get them done in the summer holidays before secondary school when they’re 11 years old but obviously there is still a wide range of ages.

DD just had hers done at 10 but had been asking for some time. I wanted her to show that she was responsible enough to do the aftercare herself before I agreed. Also I was 10 when I had mine pierced and it was fine, so thought it would be a bit hypocritical to keep saying no. She's in a minority amongst her peers at the moment, but I think that is going to change over the coming months.

19

My daughter was 8 ,quite young looking back but had constantly asked me since 5, she looked after her piercings very well and never had any problems.
I can't believe its actually legal for babies to have piercings.

Apparently they made a real fuss of her at the piercing place 😀

My dd was 'allowed' when she was 13 and didn't get them done until she was sixteen and the other dd (17) hasn't got hers pierced although she has got her eyebrow pierced.

When my oldest was eighteen months old we were visiting my MIL and she just picked dd up and said 'I'll be back later, I'm just going to get her ears pierced'. Dh had to stop her.

End of primary school for DD, I took her as a surprise before her leavers' party. She'd wanted them done for ages, but we had initially said 13 and I had to persuade DH to allow it younger. I then said no more piercings until 18 and she paid for them, and she waited until 20 for a second set of lobe piercings. However in retrospect if she'd asked at 14 ish we'd have allowed a second set. Her body, her choice.

Dc1 wasn't/isn't bothered; dc2 was almost 10 iirc (it was a few years ago) and had them done at a piecing studio. Their website says they have to be 12+ but when I messaged, he said he's happy to do younger children if they themselves are happy for it.

This. Is many moons ago but I had my ears pierced when I was 10. I was so excited, my best friend and I both had ours done on the same day, I still remember us picking out what colour of diamantés we wanted in the little studs and even the smell of the TCP stuff we bought for the aftercare. Everything else aside, I’d hate to not have that memory, I loved it!

I got mine done at 4 after asking for ages. My mum thought she could take care of them and get them healed for school. I remember it a tiny bit and they are still pierced 41 years later. Have never had any issues or had them close up etc even when I don’t wear earring for ages.

My DD is just about to turn 9 and wants her ears pierced. I'd have let her do it last year but she wanted to wait. I don't think I'd have allowed her to do it any younger.

Mine was 9. I said no at 7 and at 8 she then didn’t feel ready.

I work with children and see a lot of children with pierced ears from as young as nursery, though the most common age around here seems to be from year 3, aged 7+, for both boys and girls.

11 and 7 although the 7yo’s got infected and had to be cut out so waited and had them redone at 10 and they were much better.