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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Quick poll- belly piercing

43 replies

BrigitBigKnickers · 13/03/2011 13:07

Ok-so how many of you would allow a 14 year old have their belly pierced?

OP posts:
Ragwort · 13/03/2011 20:01

No, chavvy and tarty (at any age).

KashaUK · 13/03/2011 20:31

No no.
From a professional stand-point too.

I do think it's a bit too sexual a piercing for someone of that age, but then I don't think it is right to be imposing sexist ways of thinking onto a child by saying it's trashy for a girl to wear a certain type of piercing. I don't think that's the issue anyway, it's more about maturity, risks and the child's ability to make a mature decision.

Age isn't a factor as much as responsibility.
At 14 years old a person can make their own choice about body modification, but as a parent it's down to you to determine if they are making a choice or if they're just following a fad. Piercings should be treat the same way as tattoos, it's something that may remain for the rest of their lives.

At 14 a parents needs to give consent for the piercing - anywhere that pierces a 14 year old without the parent should NOT be trusted!

Piercing should be taken as seriously as minor surgery If anyone goes to a piercer who is not trained and hygienic then that risks general infection, scaring, body shock, TSS, Hepatitis and HIV. I see many parents just come along to the studio with their kids, but ask no questions at all to ensure safety, which I just find to be shameful. The fact that parents allow their children, even babies, to have ears or other areas pierced with piercing guns implies that many parents are very much ignorant of the risks.

Younger people need to be mature enough to take care of it correctly - often we find they don't clean it properly or remove the piercing, they're especially bad for removing the piercing when infected which is the worst thing a person can do with a piercing. It's a lot more common for younger people to unintentionally pull the piercing out, ripping the skin in the process. You as a parent can check it for them, but then that would imply the 14 year old isn't mature enough for the piercing.

mumeeee · 14/03/2011 20:48

No I wouldn't let a 14 year old have it done. But then not one of my girls like belly piercings or any piercing except ears,

cyrilsneer · 14/03/2011 23:13

Absolutely no way.

cory · 15/03/2011 08:04

No.

ajandjjmum · 15/03/2011 08:12

SIL has a pupil who was in a car accident, and the tummy piercing was caught and tore open. I always trot this out to DD when she mentions it, although I'm sure part of the attraction is that we are so against. DD is 17 - I've told her it's up to her when she's 18, but to be honest, I don't think she'll bother. It's can be a phase.

oldenoughtowearpurple · 15/03/2011 08:23

No. Made mine wait till she was 16. Her choice then, and I must say if I had a lovely flat belly like hers I would have mine done too.

notsweatingthesmallstuff · 15/03/2011 11:13

Both my girls had it done at 14, and neither of them still have it in their late teens. I fought against it for a while, but then decided i was projecting my feelings onto them, eg. Its tarty, it will hurt, it wil get infected (one did, so valuable lesson learned by them). trying to remember that this is a different time to when we were kids is hard, and how we think of something is not how they think of it. When I said to one of them "people will think you are tarty" she said "you have always told me its about what I know is right, not what other people think" and I thought they never listened!

Carrotsandcelery · 15/03/2011 11:23

It can be a very difficult one to heal as it is not practical to go around with it exposed all the time like and ear or nose piercing. It does take a long time to heal and you have to keep a close eye on it if you don't want extra skin growing around it etc.

If you do put anything over it it can affect the piercing by moving it as well as the risk of infections. I doubt they would be keen on a squint piercing!
At 14 they must still have to do PE at school which I think could be a hazard. It would be extremely painful if it was caught on something and pulled and would risk scarring too.
I have nothing against them personally but I think they need to be done at a time when they can be given the months they need to heal.
If they are planning a beach holiday this year I also think it could be a risk as sea water and sand would increase the risk of infection when it is still not entirely healed.
If they do go ahead make sure the piercer is fully qualified and hygienic and that they have all the necessary stuff for cleaning it really thoroughly.

sanjs · 24/03/2011 00:02

Not a cat in hell's chance, WHY would anyone want to sexualize their 14 year old daughter is beyond me!

Liquidpea · 24/03/2011 22:54

I would allow her to make this decision. Then be firm on decisions that affect her future such as doing extra work towards her exams. You could offer to pay for it as a reward for improving in a subject or doing well in a test.

sue52 · 25/03/2011 21:57

Over my rotting corpse. NO

Foyled · 25/03/2011 23:04

I think definitely 18 for this, but I said no ear piercings until 6th form, which on reflection was a little harsh, but only one ever asked me and 19 year old hasn't had it done!

Lins75 · 26/03/2011 15:59

DSD had hers at 15 with parental consent. She's not trashy or tacky... actually if I may say it looks quite pretty and she's not walking around in trashy shirts that show her belly button.

However I would agree that it sends out a sexually mature message and I would not allow it for my 15 year old DD.

JuicyLucy10 · 28/03/2011 08:58

i think its illegal under the age of 16?????????????????

I would let my girls do it once they are 16. (and i am VERY strict !!)

RubyFakeNails · 29/03/2011 16:14

My DD is 15, had this done a year ago, she has a great figure so it looks good from that point of view. It's not something I'd ever personally choose to have done, but I'd probably never wear my hair how she does or dress how she does. It's personal taste.

All my friends are desperately trying to colour their grey hair while the teens and students where we live are choosing to dye their hair grey or shave one side of it off. A belly piercing won't kill her and just be grateful its not a 6 inch winnie the pooh tattoo (saw this yday Shock!!!)

Ineedalife · 29/03/2011 16:30

No way, Dd1 had hers done at 18 but had noithing but trouble with it.

Dd2[15] hasn't even asked thank godHmm.

boldredrosie · 29/03/2011 21:04

BrigitBigKnickers not sure this will help in the no piercing campaign -- I can see this going one way or the other. But I have told DS that when he brings a girl home to meet me (although the same rule will apply if he's travelling on the other bus) there's to be no tattoos and no piercings apart from ears unless she's from some exotic tribe. Tell her boys mums can make girlfriends' lives a living hell if they don't like them.

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