What age did you let your daughter get her ears pierced

jackyann

I haven't read all of this thread, but just wanted to add the point of view I came from.
I told all of my children that I would never consent to an unnecessary operation or invasive procedure on their behalf. At the age of consent they could make their own decisions based on their own understanding of the risks & benefits.
That meant I didn't have to deal with any of the issues about "how it looked" or "what messages it sends", and effectively allowed the law to set the right age. l entered no discussion, just made that simple statement that they understood as we had discussed any operations or medical procedures they had undergone.
Now adults, none has had tattoos or pierced their ears.

penguin83

My daughter will be waiting until 16. She is 11 now and her secondary school that she is going to in September doesn't allow them at all so she wouldn't really have the opportunity to wear them. She has lovely clip on earrings that she wears.


As an aside my OH (her Dad) doesn't like piercings at all and wouldn't allow her to have them done before 16 even if her secondary school did allow it. I would probably let her have them done about 13 but his opinion is important too. x

heartbreak_star

Does nobody else think clip-ons are painful? I detest them, and I always think they look bulky when compared to nice neat studs.

Just my opinion of course

HBS x

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Never get them done in Claire's. Or anywhere else that they use a gun.


Go to a proper piercing/tattoo place. They've been properly trained, served an apprenticeship, understand hygiene rules and do it day in, day out.

Plus, a sharp needle piercing is a whole lot less painful than a slightly pointy lump of metal being punched through the flesh.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

I had all 3 of mine done with a gun. I hadn't realised there was any other way? I think it's like with anything though, if you take care of them well, keep them clean with TCP (that's what we used, I remember he smell well lol!) then you shouldn't really get an infection....as long as you've gone to a place that is clean and has a good reputation.

I got my first holes done when I was 13 and remember having to cover them over with plasters for PE, so getting them done in the Summer holidays is good advice. I was about 16/17? When I got them done for the 2nd and 3rd times, and just used to wear 3 sets of studs. I don't wear any now, but the holes are still somehow open even after years of not wearing any earrings!

Don't use TCP.

Use warm saline - boil the kettle, let it cool a bit, create a saturated solution with salt - keep adding it until not more will dissolve in there. Then just bathe the piercings while it's still warm. Don't pick at them, twist them about or dig around, the salt draws moisture out of any bacteria that has got inside from the skin, the bacteria die. The yellow crusting isn't infection, it's just the natural healing process starting - don't pick it off, the bathing will gently remove the bits that aren't needed by the body anymore.

It's really simple to look after new piercings.

balletshoes

heartbreak_star wrote: »

Does nobody else think clip-ons are painful? I detest them, and I always think they look bulky when compared to nice neat studs.

Just my opinion of course

HBS x

I havent attempted to wear clip~on earrings for over 25 years but i do remember them squeezing my ears painfully. my DD tried magnetic earrings for a while but they didnt stay put and she gave up on them.

i wear small gold earrings mostly and i love wearing them. i,m really glad i got my ears pierced as a teen and i,d feel like something was missing if i didnt have earrings in (same as when i,ve forgotten to put my watch on ~ i notice that all day long!)

ttc39

BigJockKnew wrote: »

Earrings on children younger than 12/13 is really low(no)-class.....

It's as chavy as a cheap arm tattoo or wearing PJ's to the supermarket....


When I see a young child with earrings I know that's the next generation of single mothers, 2 or 3 kids by different fathers and the rest.....Vickie Pollard mark II

My mum had my ears pierced at 6 months, I didn't marry until I was 38 and have always worked and have no children ....

minerva_windsong

I was 13 the first time I got my ears pierced, but didn't wear earrings enough so the holes closed. I got them redone at 16 and they're still there (I'm 26 now). Don't regret having them done twice but do wish I'd worn earrings more when I was younger and saved myself the money! I'm still not very good at wearing a mix of earrings though, both pairs I own were presents so I tend to wear one every day and the other on special occasions (though I've just bought another pair for my wedding as I want my hair up).


I'm in the old fashioned camp as I'd say 11-13 is about the right age, but I think it depends on whether your child is mature enough to remember to look after them properly - and you're the best person to answer that.

rachhh wrote: »

I got mine done when I was 10 and cried my eyes out after begging for years to have them done!
I got them pierced again when I was 18 (second hole in each ear), took me months to work up the courage to tell mum, and I cried... again. Needless to say there have been no more since!

I got a cartilage piercing when I was 17, and didn't wear my hair back for months because I didn't want my mum to see it! Mainly because of how she'd reacted when my sister got a tattoo...

Harryonesock

I was 12 weeks old, I'm now 45. My daughter was about same age when I had hers done, and my grandaughter was 4 months when hers were done, shock horror!!!!!! The benefits are that we never played about with them so no infections. There are a lot of judgemental people about. Chavs we are not!!! IMO it's a personal choice and you shouldn't berate people if they choose to pierce!!! I have friends who wouldn't allow their children to have it done until they were 6, 9, 15, who then got infected as they wouldn't leave them alone.

tillyenna

Wow, so many people having them pierced so young! Just another perspective, I was DESPERATE to have my ears pierced as a tween/teenager (between the ages of 10 and 15), and was always told 'not under my roof'.


I'm 24 now, and although I have my bellybutton pierced, my ears remain unadorned. I've got a friend who makes me great custom clip ons, for when I really want some, and other than that, I'm really pleased that I wasn't allowed to have them done - once they're done, they can't be undone (unless you're lucky and they close over). So I'm really grateful my parents made me wait.