Preteens
ear piercing what's the right age
carnage · 04/02/2014 19:18
My ten year old twin girls want to get their ears pierced and I don't know if it's too early or not. Most of their friends have already had it done. But I'm a single Dad of 4 and I can't decide if this is a good idea or not. Their Mum who doesn't live with us has already said they can do it.
Any opinions???
takingthathometomomma · 05/02/2014 21:59
I'm really surprised at the ages given. Not in a negative way at all, just genuine surprise! I had mine done as a baby just like DD did, and while I know some wait a little longer, when I was in primary school most had theirs pierced too. Most of the girls in DD's school now do too. I never saw it as a "grown up" thing, and have never really stopped to consider why either. I guess it could be a cultural thing. I really thought it was the norm! You learn something new every day eh.
sinningsaint · 12/02/2014 19:18
DD1 got them done at 10 and DD2 at 7, i had offered for DD2 to have them done at the same time as her older sister, she would have been 5, but chickened out whilst waiting for her sister to have hers done, gosh i must be such a bad mother!! Never had any problems with either just check your schools rules. DD2 got her second lobe piercing at 14 and now wants her third age 16 but i'm saying i won't pay until she has finished school in may as she is only allowed one pair in at school, up to her what she does though as i feel she is old enough to deal with the consequence now!
NachoAddict · 12/02/2014 19:27
DD had hers done for her 6th birthday at her request. I had been planning to wait until the summer between primary and secondary school but dsd had had hers done and her cousins had theirs done as babies and I felt cruel her being the odd one out.
As someone else said, pick your battles.
basildonbond · 20/02/2014 08:40
I had said not until the summer holiday at the end of Y6 but every single girl in her friendship group has now got them pierced (partly to assuage disappointment in 11+ results..)
DH and I have decided to pick our battles and if she still wants them done sooner, we'll explain why we think she should wait but leave the decision up to her.
My only worry is she's swimming in a school gala on Tuesday - presumably that rules out getting them done this week? I know the NHS website says no swimming for 6 weeks but that seems a bit ott to me
MirandaWest · 20/02/2014 15:36
DD is 8 and doesn't seem to be interested. Would prefer it to be done over a school summer holiday so will suggest that if it comes up.
I was told not before 18 and when I was 18 and tentatively suggested it, my dad went mad 
. So I waited until I was 19 and at university.
My sister got hers done when she was 14. This still slightly rankles 
.
Wishyouwould · 20/02/2014 22:40
My DD had hers done at the start of last years summer holidays when she was 10. When she went back to school for Year 6 the majority of her friends had theirs done too!
She has looked after them and just loves picking out and buying earrings. The school she goes to doesn't allow earrings at all so she'll pop them in when she gets home and wears them at weekend.
I nearly got in a punch up over this topic IRL.AlpacaLypse · 12/03/2014 10:38
Mine (and most of their friends) had them done on the first Saturday of the summer holidays between Year 8 and Year 9 - so aged 13/14. If they'd asked during the gap between primary and secondary, I would have let them though.
I'm a bit judgey pants if I see a child less than about nine with pierced ears. And extremely judgey pants if I see anything else pierced on someone obviously less than 18.
bunnybing · 12/03/2014 19:41
Mine had theirs done between yr 4 and 5 - aged 9.5, at the beginning of the summer holiday - I think it depends on when you think they can look after them. They both had friends who had had them done for years by that time.
My mum would never let me have them done, so got them when I could pay myself which was aged 16 - which all felt a little pointless by then.
Heifer · 12/03/2014 20:39
Another vote for summer holidays after yr 6. Her junior school doesn't allow earrings/studs at all which makes my life easier as DD knows there is no point getting them done until she leaves.
A nice way to celebrate the end of juniors/start of secondary I think.
Meglet · 12/03/2014 20:45
I had to wait until 16. So I went silly and ended up with 2 holes in each ear, navel, lip and tongue.
Personally I think the summer between primary and senior school is fine. Do it the day they break up then they should have healed nicely before the start of hte autumn term.
Pregnantberry · 17/03/2014 21:05
I don't get the argument of "let them be kids, like in the good old days", because when I was a kid it was really common for parents to get their babies ears done, where as now this tends have ladies clutching at their pearl necklaces in horror.
I think 10 is a good age OP, many many girls have it done by then.
But similarly, if you aren't comfortable with it there is no harm with putting it off for a little while.
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