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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

that 13 is a bit young to have a belly button pierced?

81 replies

GetOrfMoiLand · 13/10/2009 10:58

Picked DD up from a friend's house last night. Asked friend if she would like to go swimming at the weekend. Friend said no, I had my belly button pierced on Saturday and don't think it is a good idea to go swimming just yet (lifted up top to show me belly button bar).

I think my jaw just dropped. That is too young isn't it? I am not just an old fart am I?

Btw, as soon as dd got in the car I said 'don't even ask'

OP posts:
sunnydelight · 14/10/2009 02:53

It's just another piece of jewellery - I can't see what the big deal is, but then I don't really see why people make such a big deal about not having ears pierced until a certain age (and no, I'm not talking about babies!).

I would describe myself as a fairly controlling parent but I am genuinely puzzled by the number of people who stress over this stuff. If your upbringing/culture means you think it' "common" then don't do it, other people haven't got the same hang ups.

CheerfulYank · 14/10/2009 16:03

Well said, lalin.

purpleduck · 14/10/2009 16:21

I don't believe they are sexual at all - just jewellry. I had mine done, but it got infected (like, all the time), and i took it out when I was pg with dd.The hole closed in instantly.

Thing is, I think its a slippery slope, but not into sexual behaviour - just into more piercings, then maybe tatoos.

I just think that there are somethings that are best left to experience in adulthood.

eggshapedbanana · 14/10/2009 16:34

Totally agree sunnydelight. My dd has asked for this for her 14th birthday. I have said she can have it done shortly after. Having seen this thread I asked her why she wanted it done and she said she just did, it is something she wants done for herself. She doesn't wear crop tops, isn't in any way a slag and is beautiful and fresh faced. She is very well brought up, but I also had her ears pierced when she was 2. Until I found this site it never even crossed my mind that there was anything wrong with it. Neither of us like tattoos and they are permanent so she definitely won't be going down that route.

Winibaghoul · 14/10/2009 16:40

YANBU I also think 13 is way too young. I also knew a girl who got hers done at 16, and by the time she was 21 she hated the thing. SHe had a great big hole in her belly, and always had to keep a bar in it, because she didn't like seeing through it. Besides have you seen what the hole looks like on a pregnant belly?! urgh.

ErikaMaye · 15/10/2009 12:46

Winibaghoul my belly bar is still in, am 35+4 and it looks fine.

I do agree with purpleduck though - but saying that have always liked having piercings done, and have always wanted a tattoo, so its not like I had my belly periced and all of a sudden couldn't get enough! I have three in each ear and my belly done. I did want my tounge at one point but don't want it to affect my singing.

Winibaghoul · 15/10/2009 14:11

I guess it varies then Erika - Just I have known a some ladies who had a horrible stretched hole when they were pg. Haven't met anyone before that didn't have this with a belly piercing and pregnancy.

piscesmoon · 15/10/2009 14:26

YANBU-much too young.

BrokkenHarted · 15/10/2009 14:34

Alliterate - As a former Goth also with a piercing or 12 (now just holes and marks in my body) I also think it is too young. Espesh a belly button piercing cos lets face it, what is that for apart from something to attract the boys with?! It is meant to look sexy. Rant rant rant.....

trellism · 15/10/2009 14:53

It's inappropriate and also belly button piercings are the hardest to look after. Since a 13 year old girl is unlikely to even be changing her socks regularly, she's unlikely to take proper care of the piercing.

Also, a tattoo/piercing place that does not check the age of the clients is not particularly reputable. I wouldn't even get my ears pierced in a place that didn't make it absolutely clear that they won't pierce anyone under 18.

trellism · 15/10/2009 14:57

btw, my old piercing looks dreadful at 38+4. As if the weird stretched skin isn't bad enough, the whole site has also gone brown.

mamadiva · 15/10/2009 15:15

My mum dared me to get my belly pierced at 13 because I was always calling her a wimp because she thought it was painful.

We went into the place and because it was in Turkey 6they don't numb it at all, so the guy basically just clamped and stabbed! I screamed and slapped him because of the pain

Although I did like it and it was for me noone else, I liked having it in because at the time I just though it was cool

Took it out when I was 8 months pregnant because the skin ripped even with a pg bar in, OUCH! Not put it in again 3 years on just a strange little holy scar

Pinkjenny · 15/10/2009 15:18

I had mine done when I was 18 and it never healed. Took it out in the end. At 32, the scar is still visible and now stretched over a 2nd time pg belly.

YANBU. Dd would get hers done over my dead body.

pispirispis · 15/10/2009 15:20

My dp is a tattoo artist with 20 years? experience under his belt and owns his own studio. I am in the process of having my whole right arm tattooed with a lovely Japanese phoenix. I think 13 is way too young and there?s no way dp would do any kind of piercing or tattooing on anyone under 16, and those aged between 16 and 18 have to be accompanied by a parent or other carer over 18. My mum asked me at what age would dd (17 months) be allowed a tattoo. I said maybe 25 .

mumfeministmum · 20/04/2015 14:59

Yes you are all old farts. Belly button piercings are fine. Stop being so prudish and get on with life!

titchy · 20/04/2015 15:03

And while we get on with our lives I suggest you read the thread more carefully - the posting dates particularly.

LynseyPynsey · 20/04/2015 15:21

Certain piercings have certain age limits. I got my belly button pierced at 13. Took it our a couple years ago and I have a small stretch Mark that appeared when I was pregnant. You definitely don't need parental consent round here if you're over 16 though, I remember going to get my tongue pierced with my best friend in our school uniform when we had a free period. Same with tragus piercing. We would have been 16 and 17 and this was a proper tattoo parlour.

Sparklingbrook · 20/04/2015 15:25

Blimey. ZOMBIE thread about belly button piercings. Grin Child will be around 19 now. Grin

TheFirstOfHerName · 20/04/2015 15:35

The Teenagers section is full of parents moaning about how the variable nature of some 13 year olds' attitudes to personal hygiene. Some of them can't even be trusted to brush their teeth every day without being reminded. I think the risk of infection in a navel piercing would be higher at this age.

ShaynePunim · 20/04/2015 15:45

I have a couple of small tattoo's, so I'm not a prude or old fart

Non sequitur. Grin

ThingummyJigg · 20/04/2015 15:45

Child could be posting in pregnancy topic - "My stupid mother let me get my belly button pierced when I was 13, now I'm 6 months pregnant and it looks all kinds of ridiculous. AIBU to get rid of the stupid ring and tell my mother she is not allowed to be alone with my dc in case she decides to get the poor babby punctured?"

AmberNectarine · 20/04/2015 15:53

Yes way too young.

If anyone wants a cautionary tale for their DD, have mine. Got mine pierced at 15 (without my parents' consent), ripped it out at 17 while climbing over a fence (slightly inebriated, ahem). Two years later I got it re-pierced. At a festival. Inevitably it got infected. I have a massive scar which doctors frequently mistake as a site of surgery. Don't do it kids.

pinkyredrose · 20/04/2015 15:57

My dp is a tattoo artist with 20 years’ experience under his belt and owns his own studio. I am in the process of having my whole right arm tattooed with a lovely Japanese phoenix. I think 13 is way too young and there’s no way dp would do any kind of piercing or tattooing on anyone under 16, and those aged between 16 and 18 have to be accompanied by a parent or other carer over 18

if he's such an experienced tattoo artist he'll know that tattooing under 18s is illegal.

plumstone · 20/04/2015 15:57

ooooh far too young - I got mine done as a moment of rebellion at 24 - (I was late to the rebellion party) it got infected and oozed, was so painful and swollen and got to the point couldn't sit up straight. Doctor was a bit resigned to my stupidity - I was not the first, to have antibiotics for something so silly Blush would never recommend it to anyone - but hey before it went wrong I thought it was the mutts nuts Grin

pinkyredrose · 20/04/2015 15:58

OMG zombie thread, only just realised!

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