VOTE what age you consider old enough for ear piercing?

[lexcat]

Sorry if this has been done to dead but most links talks about babies. I agree with most of them that it's cruel. Personally (I think) I feel if a child is older enough to understand it hurts and older enough to look after their own ear fine. I would say that was about 6-7 (depends on the child).
Just intrested in people's view as my mother and father don't like piercings at all so I grew up with a very strong view on piercings. But then started seeing 7-8 with ears pierced at dd school, then dd 7 asking for hers to be done made me really think about it. But their is still a small part of my the programming from childhood their going not till she's 16-18.

I think I was about 10/11 when I had mine done. I think it may have been the summer betweent junior and secondary.

I've got boys who've never even hinted at ear-piercing, although my nephew has one done.

I fainted the day after I'd had them done, as they were being cleaned.

Only time I've ever fainted, other than once when pg with DS1.

I had mine done at 10 and always thought that was the right age, but when my DD1, then 8, asked to have them done, I decided to let her as I felt that she was sensible enough to look after them properly. She was fine. That said, I firmly believe the desire to have them pierced should come from the child.

I was 3 when I had mine done.

Dd1 and 2 were also both 3 when they had theirs done. I know I am in the minority here, but neither of them had any problems with them and weren't scared for life by the experiance. Dd1 didn't even cry.

Mum's with sons done think you don't get it too. The only two children with ears pierced in dd class are boys. Mind she will join a class in september where 2 girls have them done.

12

i was 5 having mine done.

dd is 3 now and has asked so i'm going to do them for her in a few weeks (much less painful and cleaner to do it myself than to get her shot with one of those manky guns... eugh).

most of the other girls at playschool have them done so she's really keen and i've explained about them being a bit sore.

have never quite understood this MN hysteria about it tbh... i think it's a bit pointless on a baby but as soon as they're old enough to ask i don't see why not.

16

14

I'm telling dd 16 and will 'give in' when she is 14 and let her think that she has 'won'

bump for evening crowd

For me, definitely no earlier than the summer holidasy between primary and secodary school, so 11y at very earliest. Will be advising () DD that I think 13 is a better age to even consider it though.

As for boys - never! Hate boys and men with earrings.

14 or older.

My mum actually threatened 18 when I was about 11, but I managed to wear her down to about 15yrs old.

Any younger I personally think is a bit weird. No need.

I am a multi-pierced person and would want my son to go to a piercing studio rather than DIY, dodgy hairdresser's or chemist etc. Much better done with a needle than with a gun and less likely to get infected or to have accidents with proper, sterile, ball closure jewellery. I think most piercing places have an 18 year age limit so he'll have to lump it

Remind me about swimming and newly pierced ears. Promised my 11-year old she could this summer holiday but she loves going swimming. Will it mean she can't?

10/11

would say 11 because that's when I had mine done. Will probably be beaten down. I'm not really against having them done at a younger age, though a beauty therapist did tell me there was some reason for not having them done too young - the ear lobe changing shape or something, or was she making that up?

cod you are NOT

11 is way too young

i was going to say 14 until i realised dd is 14 in a few months

16

I think about 13.

It's a nice way to welcome teenagerhood, and at that age the DD can make the decision herself.

In my case my mother always said 13, and while I and my youngest sister were chaffing at the bit to get to Debenhams and have them done on our 13th birthday, my other sister wasn't bothered at all, and has never had them done.

I live in Spain, where they are normally done when girls are babies, and I can see a few raised eyebrows coming up if I ever have a DD and make her wait to have them done.

14
babies with pierced ears make me very sad
why put your child through unnecessary pain?

We told my DD if she waited until she was 16 we would buy her a pair of diamond studs for her 16th birthday. She waited.

Intresting comment made by pinktulip
"have never quite understood this MN hysteria about it tbh... i think it's a bit pointless on a baby but as soon as they're old enough to ask i don't see why not."
Found a different parent forum (no I was not been disloyal in MN just looking) and the average was much was more like 7-10 even talk about babys (in my eyes thats wrong).
It's all just very intresting.

Sorry tinker don't know about the swimming. But their does seem to be those who say yes but at least 48hrs after piercing and clean after swim. Others say not till the six weeks are up. I am talking swimming in a pool not the sea, a lake or a river wouldn't go in those till six weeks are up.