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Original poster

At what age did you allow your DD to have pierced ears?

59 replies

teaandcakeplease · 26/04/2010 20:10

I suspect this topic has been done before.

My DD isn't age 3 until July, so she's very young but she loves my pierced ears and often asks me about it and wanting some too.

The question is, when is a reasonable age to allow her to do this. Without a) other parents looking in horror at her ears and then me b) she'll leave the earrings alone and not try and remove them etc

OP posts:
MrsMotMot · 26/04/2010 20:12

oooh gosh

don't try this one in AIBU...

Hulababy · 26/04/2010 20:14

I really dislike pierced ears on your children. DD is 8y and won't be having hers done any time soon. Mind you I took her with me when i had mine redone when she was about 4y and she still remembers, and is very against having hers done - mine hurt as it went though years old scar tissue.

Bear in mind any future school rules on pierced ears.

At DD's primary school earrings are not allowed in school at all. So, for DD, it would be pointless for her to have pierced ears whilst primary school age at least.

At the infant school I work at studs can be worn during the day but must be removed - in advance - before PE and games or the child is not allowed to participate. the teachers and TAs are not allowed to remove the earrings and simply comvering them over is not an option.

MaineGirl · 26/04/2010 20:16

was wondering something similar, my dd is just 4 and she constantly asks for earrings. i had mine done when i was 6. xh says no way for dd but i am undecided, even after telling her its a big needle and it makes a hole she still asks for them.
i was always against girls having them done young but now dd is asking i can't help but think surely tiny little studs wouldnt be too bad?

Original poster
teaandcakeplease · 26/04/2010 20:17

Oh I didn't know certain schools don't allow it

I'm not a chav, I promise. I'm a nice church girl My DD just loves my pierced ears, so wanted to know what others consider a reasonable age to do it

FWIW my mum didn't allow me to have pierced ears at all. I had it done at a jewellers at age 18!

OP posts:
fruitshootsandheaves · 26/04/2010 20:17

My DD's were 11 before they had theirs done. Mostly because I didn't want to be the main person putting their earings in and taking them out and removing/taping their ears for swimming PE etc. By the time they were 11 they were able to do this easily themselves.

bluejeans · 26/04/2010 20:21

I decided 10 was the minimum age for DD. She's now turned 10 but I'm making her wait until the first day of the summer holidays so they're properly healed before she has PE etc. I think it'll be a nice thing to look forward to as well (apart from the pain obviously!)

Original poster
teaandcakeplease · 26/04/2010 20:21

I'm not a chav, I promise. I'm a nice church girl - hmm probably not particularly relevant saying that in retrospect.

Now worried about being flamed for asking original question, I think that's why I mentioned that

OP posts:
Surprise · 26/04/2010 20:22

My DD was 10. I think pierced ears on very little children can be quite dangerous and doesn't look very nice either, sorry.

Original poster
teaandcakeplease · 26/04/2010 20:23

So it sounds like age 10 or 11 is the best age?

My little munchkin will have to wait a while...

OP posts:
jenduff · 26/04/2010 20:35

if it makes you feel better OP DD is 6 and has been asking for years - she'll be waiting a few more yet.

I think prob the summer hol before senior school I may relent

TrinityIsAPenguin · 26/04/2010 20:37

dd1 is 10 and would love to have her ears pierced ( all her friends seem to)but not a chance until at least 12

Original poster
teaandcakeplease · 26/04/2010 20:37

That does make me feel better Jen.

OP posts:
janeite · 26/04/2010 20:39

I hate pierced ears on little ones. My two had their ears done at the start of the summer hols after leaving Yr 6 and prior to beginning at secondary: a bit of a transition gift and they had time to heal.

Original poster
teaandcakeplease · 26/04/2010 20:39

I don't normally ask questions on mumsnet, but as my DD has kept asking, I want to know what's "normal" so I can tell her. As my mum was so anal with me about ears I have nothing to base my suggestions on in regards to pierced ears. IYSWIM?

Thank you ladies for not flaming me

OP posts:
Original poster
teaandcakeplease · 26/04/2010 20:40

That's a nice idea janeite. Maybe that's what I'll tell my DD in due course.

OP posts:
janeite · 26/04/2010 20:42

It worked for us - and they were big enough to do the cleaning/turning etc themselves. It also helped to tell them (truthfully) that my mum made me wait until 11 and even then I nearly fainted (cowardly lion alert)!

MaisietheMorningsideCat · 26/04/2010 20:42

DD was 10 - it was her 'treat' for going into double figures.

Tortoise · 26/04/2010 20:42

I have told DD1, age 6, she can have them done when she is 13 and at the start of the summer holidays so they have time to heal.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 26/04/2010 20:42

We said 13 and DD is looking forward to having them done at the start of the summer holidays.

teta · 26/04/2010 20:43

I let my older daughter have hers done at 8yrs but there were no schoolrules against it-we were living abroad at the time.I took her to a specially recommended jewellers-picked tiny little diamond studs as i hate adult earrings on little kids.I also put emla cream on 45mins before hand to numb her ears.I think you have to wait until your child is mature enough not to panic and make sure it is done in a really safe secure environment.I saw little kids having it done at 5yrs and they were fine.A lot of nationalitys pierce their babies ears and it is traditional for the grandmother to do it in some cultures.We lived with a lot of spanish/filipino and latin nationalitys so it was very common for kids to have this done.

lifesucks · 26/04/2010 20:45

my dd1 had hers done at 11 months and dd2 at 6 months.im not a chav and think there is nothing wrong with this.i think it is better to have done younger as they dont fear the pain but older they do.anyway if they dont like it as they get older they can take them out.

Original poster
teaandcakeplease · 26/04/2010 20:48

I know what you mean about adult earrings on children This is why I wanted to ask what others thought about it all. Like Mainegirl I was starting to wonder about it and that maybe tiny studs wouldn't be too bad in another year, as my DD asks so often about it. But I'm now back tracking and thinking she can wait until much much older.

I'd always get it done professionally.

It didn't hurt when my ears were done at 18. They just felt heavy afterwards and hot (for want of a better description) Perhaps I was lucky?

OP posts:
Original poster
teaandcakeplease · 26/04/2010 20:53

How old are your children now lifesucks? Have you regretted the decision at all? Has it caused problems once commencing school?

I'm intrigued after previous posts.

OP posts:
dexter73 · 26/04/2010 20:54

My dd had her ears pierced for her 9th birthday.

bluejeans · 26/04/2010 21:47

I remember it being realy painful! Although I think some places (Claire's) do both ears simultaneously so you don't have the anticipation of the pain of the second one!

Teta - what's emla cream?

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