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Teenagers

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

Original poster

Daughter wants belly piercing

63 replies

Butterfly44 · 13/07/2021 17:42

My 15yo is going on and on about having a belly button piercing. It's relentless and she just wants it done as friends are having it done. Any advice from experienced mums on the issue? I'm really not keen and it's causing friction I don't want

OP posts:
bethabean · 13/07/2021 17:47

Mine gave me two big lumps on the piercing sites and it got so infected that it smelt like rotting flesh and I had to go on a lot of antibiotics. There was concern about sepsis even!

Whereland · 13/07/2021 17:48

I had mine done at 15 and it hurt a lot but was absolutely fine. I kept it clean so once she is careful about washing the area it will be fine. I took it out once I turned 30 and realised how cringe it was 😂

wedswench · 13/07/2021 17:48

Mine had hers done at 15. I had a weird feeling about it (possibly something to do with sexualisation) but I couldn't put my finger on it or come up with. Decent argument so I decided it wasn't the hill to die on

FionnulaTheCooler · 13/07/2021 17:49

Tell her it really, really hurts. I had it done at a similar age and the pain was second only to childbirth in my experience.

cathyandclare · 13/07/2021 17:53

Mine both had them at that age. No problems, they loved them at the time but rarely wear a ring now. They were fairly sensible girls and I decided it was one easy one to give in on!

Kjr33 · 13/07/2021 17:56

Is she paying for it? Or expecting you to pay for it? I wouldn’t choose it as a major argument although I think piercing places are a bit more professional than when I was a kid so as an under 16 she might struggle to find somewhere decent and clean to do it? I had it done as a teen and it didn’t really hurt and when I got bored of it and took it out and it healed fine, no lasting damage. I thought it had really gone out of fashion though so I’m surprised.

KOKOagainandagain · 13/07/2021 18:17

Oh god it's gone out of fashion! I had my belly button pierced about 30 years ago. Completely painless. Can't imagine what it would look like sans diamond. Naked - how rude!

Cloudninenine · 13/07/2021 22:04

Just let her. She’s old enough to decide for herself, she has bodily autonomy. Just don’t have the fight, everyone will be happier!

Highwoman · 13/07/2021 22:06

I let mine as a young teenager. It's probably when the belly is at its most show-offable!

Highwoman · 13/07/2021 22:06

She's now 23 and doesn't wear it!

CrouchEndTiger12 · 13/07/2021 22:08

I had no idea it was still on fashion. I saw them everywhere in 2004!

Ummm say it's like putting an ugly bumper sticker on a beautiful sports car. The body looks better as it is.

Prone to infection and scarring which could be permanent. Painful.

MuchTooTired · 13/07/2021 22:09

Admittedly my DTs are only 3, but having had my belly button pierced twice, I think I’d go with it. She’ll either love it or remove it in time. Personally I’m glad I had mine done when I was young and had a flat stomach, it was fashionable and it makes me smile when I see the little marks left now 20 years on.

Purplewithred · 13/07/2021 22:11

In the end I gave in and let dd have one - i thought she might as well celebrate her tummy while she could. And it was fine.

AntiWorkBrigade · 13/07/2021 22:15

She should be aware that it is likely to scar and some people don’t heal well - mine never fully settled down. But it was at the bottom and not the top (had to be different!) and I don’t think that helped.

But other than that, I don’t really see any downsides. I enjoyed getting mine, and it’s pretty harmless stuff. Let her get it if she wants.

Tee20x · 13/07/2021 22:16

My mum didn't like piercings of any kind. Naturally that just meant I did them anyway but without her permission :)

girlmama32 · 13/07/2021 22:22

I got mine done at 16 and wish I hadn't, it got infected multiple times and although it did eventually heal I took it out around 23 and I was left with a horrible scar.

Cookiedough123 · 13/07/2021 22:26

I wanted it done and watched my friend had it done and the needle put me off! Why not show her some YouTube videos of piercings and say she can do it when she turns 16.

DramaAlpaca · 13/07/2021 22:30

I really don't like them but as with all things with teenagers, it's important to pick your battles.

I'd let her. It'll make her happy and most of the time you won't even see it.

toastantea · 13/07/2021 22:38

It wouldn't bother me. It's just a piercing. Provided you go to a reputable piercer and she takes care of it after them the risk of any infection is minimal. The worst that can happen is she doesn't like it and takes it out.

SirenSays · 13/07/2021 23:54

Amazed at people saying it hurts. I had the top done and it didn't hurt more than a pinch. I did the bottom myself one afternoon when I was bored no big deal.
Why don't you get her a few fakes and see if she's still desperate to have it done. Being able to change it up with pretty jewellery might be more appealing to her than keeping the same boring bar in while it heals.

Maggiesfarm · 14/07/2021 00:00

That was very fashionable 2+ years ago. I knew plenty of girls/young women who had a belly button piercing. I didn't realise it was such a thing now.

Tell your daughter she has to wait until she is older, by which time she might have gone off the idea and her friends will removed their rings.

Nikki360 · 14/07/2021 00:04

I had mine done when I was 20. My two oldest daughters both got there's done. I agree with other people pick your battles ! Make sure to go to a reputable piercers. In the grand scheme of things in my opinion it's not a massive deal.

Lorw · 14/07/2021 00:14

Yeah I would just let her get it done as long as she’s well informed of risks and goes to a reputable piercer, also she may actually not have the correct anatomy for it (hence why some people’s just don’t heal)

Original poster
Butterfly44 · 14/07/2021 18:28

Thanks guys. All your comments have been massively helpful!! Have had a conversation and now she is 'not sure' so it's been helpful to say about possible downsides and it's not just as she sees in the models online Smile

OP posts:
FindingMeno · 14/07/2021 18:32

As far as I know its one of the least painful piercings and less likely to cause problems.
Let her. I did.