Ear Piercing

[MmeMorrible]

So the time has come. DD(11) wants to get her ears pierced and foolishly, many years ago when she first asked about it, I said she could have it done in the summer holidays before going to secondary school.

Where is best to get the deed done? I vaguely remember someone saying not to go to Claire's Accessories but I'm not sure why, or where else to go.

Any advice?

Oops, sorry, didn't read the thread! Very valid reasons mentioned upthread :)

Piercing studios need to improve their image if I'm going to take my 11yo DD there to have her ears pierced. So you value shop appearance over your daughter's health and safety?

Well, it'll be a little while before I start looking for a salon, but it does seem crazy that, even there is a strong consensus that needle is better, proper piercing/tattoo places often have policies that mean they refuse to do earlobes of under 16s.

There are so many girls who get basic earlobes done at 11 (at school transition). I can see why they insist on parental presence, but not why many refuse it at all.

DD had hers done at Claire's and has had no issues whatsoever. She has kept them completely clean and they have been perfect as have my nieces'. I had a gun over several piercings over the years, again no issues and would happily do so again.

This thread pops up from time to time on here and there are always some who say no to the gun.
My DD (age 9 at the time) had her ears pierced in a local hair salon with a gun. The holes are neat and even. The aftercare was good and she's never had any problems.

I have various piercings, some done at the local tattoo/piercing parlour. I asked the woman there who does my piercings and she said a gun is fine for earlobes.

Well, the deed is done. I did call a local tattoo/piercing parlour but they said for ear lobe piercing in a child they would use the gun method.

So last Wednesday, having worked out that the start of next term was exactly 6 weeks away, we ended up at Claire's in the nearest big town centre and DD is now sporting a set of small 18ct gold studs. I did like the fact that they pierced both ears at the same time.

No issues so far and she is keeping up the aftercare routine meticulously.

I cannot believe people are thinking this isnt significant or no big deal! Inflicting pain on a baby is child abuse! Its distressing and its against theor little himan rights! All because parents want them to wear earings to match outfits. I am completely shocked that people think this is ok. Smacking a baby is illegal quite right too, sticking needles in their ears and making holes in their ears is far far worse. @againstinflictingpainonbabiesforfashion.

Your outrage is nearly fours year too late I'm afraid.

Have a sherry.

Plus having had a quick scan of this antique thread I can't see that anyone was having a baby's ears pierced. The OP's child was 11.

Maybe, you've already partaken in too many sherries and it's interfered with your reading comprehension.

Gun piercing is fine for earlobes.

DD has her ears pierced at 9 at the “posh” hairdressers in town. She never had any problems. I insisted she left the studs in for 6 months before changing. I think fiddling about with them too soon runs the risk of infection.

She’s now 13 and this summer I let her get 2nd holes. We went to Claire’s. They were great. We paid a little extra for a rapid healing solution and she’s had no problem at all.

Cor this is a Zombie Thread 1Mum you trawled to find a 4 yo thread ! One of my personal hates is people sitting their very young DC down , holding them in a lock . I know Claires have a policy of not piercing a distressed child but I have never seen it in action. I have seen some very distressed toddlers held by force by their consenting parents and I gave a glare to a woman laughing and filming while her DH held a screaming little girl. The piercer carried on.....
My DD made the choices with hers. She chose to have hers done at 11-12 (she's 15.6 now) and when she had her cartiliges, I had to do the research because of her age. It was not a snap decision.

My DD had her lobes done at Claires (when she was early Secondary) and last year had 2 cartilige piercings (done about 8 months apart) both done with needles at a Tattoo/Piercers.
She also had the cartiliges changed at Metal Moprphosis in London - they wouldn't do the piercing because of her age but she was fine to have it done where we live (I had to sign the forms though). MM has a good choice of jewellery which Tattoo Parlour didn't have , you can order online but I needed advice on the type / size of stud.

Someone mentioned upthread about the 'image' of Tattoo Parlours. When we went in there are either seperate cubicles or areas. They look more clinical inside so its a bit Eek to see all the sterilisers and sterile equipment.
And most of the staff we've seen there are decorated with their art , so if you're phased by tattoos , multiple piercings etc that might be an issue.

DD stated the needle piercings (she had a helix then a tragus) are far far less painful. There's no click or crunch that the gun gives you. You feel the pressure from the clamp . Its more fiddly because they feed a thin tube through , insert the stud then take out the tube. Fiddly to fasten the tiny ball end.
We went for titanium , they are more ££ but worth it.

Well that was an essay.