Ears pierced at 9?

[Mowgli1970]

DD is 10 in August and is desperate to have her ears pierced in July when school breaks up for Summer. I'm in two minds about it - what do you think are the pros/cons? AIBU to say she has to wait until she's older? I had mine pierced at 9 and had badly infected ears afterwards which is putting me off...

I have to admit I find it rather chavvy to pierce a little girl's ears so young. I had mine done at 16 and would be holding off until teens at least with my daughter. All part of the sexualisation of young girls that makes me really uncomfortable. Realise the world has changed and they are bombarded with images of kiddy nail polish, mini-skirts and what have you, but I'm all for holding on to childhood for as long as possible.

I don't know if earrings fall into the sexualisation category.

I tend to go with the flow more than try holding back the tide when it comes to personal appearance decisions once someone gets to about 12. I think DDs need permission and approval and support from a parent as they move away from childhood, and I see that as a gradual process that should be teen-led rather than according to a parent's timetable. After all, I expect them to take more and more personal responsibility for themselves in all other areas of their lives during the teen years -- from about 8 on actually, and it seems contradictory to expect them to express who they are in terms of style and personal appearance according to my dictat when I ask them to grow up in other ways at the same time.

Goodness, never realised how common we are - my dd had hers done at birth.
Mine were done at birth too.
Ah well.

Good post, Mathanxiety. A very good point made.

Several posters have said - my DD had them done at birth, or my DD had them done at 18 months, or at 3. Sorry - but they did not have them done, you, or someone else made that decision for them. And why? I presume a lot of the people who have ears pierced very young do it for 'cultural' reasons, and I was just wondering what those cultural reasons are? Not trying to be contentious, just curious.

it is about sexualisation a bit I think

I don't think one can deny that

children ought not to be being delicate at sport and games and mucking around because of their earrings

childhood is a time when you can forget yourself, or it should be

There's lots of thing parents make decisions for DC before they are old enough to decide for themselves.

I'm wondering if the mums who object on the grounds of mutilation also object to circumcision on the same rounds.

As a matter of fact, if we are not to do anything to our Dc until they can make up heir own minds, we shouldn't have any circumcised babies or little boys running around.

Shouldn't they be allowed to make up their own minds when they are 10 or 12 or whatever.