Okay, I ask the question is it right to pierce a childs ears when they are tiny.

Aside from the fact that I think it looks common and chavvy, kids when I was growing up saw it as a right of passage when they were old enough to go down the market with their mum to get those tacky gold studs put in.

Also, I would consider it to be ABH, how would you like it if someone dragged to to meadowhall and had you peppered with holes against your will?

No. Its not right. Make them wait till theyre old enough to make decisions for themselves, and are mature enough to take care of a fresh piercing during the healing process. Any good piercer wont touch anyone whos under 16 anyway.

Good question! I had mine done when i was two, but when i have kids i dont think i will be taking them for it done, until they are old enough to ask for it!

unfortunatly there are people out there that will do kids under 16 slh73 :( same as there are dodgy tattooists that don't ask for ID and you see little 15yr olds with tattoo's!

I had one of my ears done when I was like 10 or something, my friends mum did it :hihi: ice lolly to numb my ear (which I then ate) then a big ass needle with a rubber behind my ear :? of course it was then I found out I shouldn't wear silver and got a badass infection in my ear after I swapped the gold stud for a silver one :?

You are right SLH but as you know there are stacks of kids being pushed around in prams with studs in their ears (possibly a pair of fake burberry bootees to match).

So who is doing this to children if its not allowed?

Originally posted by xafier
unfortunatly there are people out there that will do kids under 16 slh73 :( same as there are dodgy tattooists that don't ask for ID and you see little 15yr olds with tattoo's!



Which is why I said any GOOD piercer wont do it. And until the laws are brought up to date, the bad ones will carry on working.

Originally posted by fox20thc
You are right SLH but as you know there are stacks of kids being pushed around in prams with studs in their ears (possibly a pair of fake burberry bootees to match).

So who is doing this to children if its not allowed?

Thats the problem. It is allowed, theres no law against taking your kids to claires accessories and letting some 16 year old trainee fire a blunt stud through their ears with a "piercing" gun.

Anyone know whether it is against the law to pierce a child's body? If so, what is the minimum age?

If there is such a law, then I must see scores of kids each day who's parents are guilty of aiding and abetting the breaking of these laws.

Anyone know for sure?

Originally posted by slh73
Thats the problem. It is allowed, theres no law against taking your kids to claires accessories and letting some 16 year old trainee fire a blunt stud through their ears with a "piercing" gun.

Sorry slh73, just beat me to it!;)

This is a really good question!

There's no easy answer, because puncturing a child does seem a little wrong, but it's very socially accepted for kids to have their ears pierced.

It's a can of worms really... Parenting is such a huge responsibilty and children are totally at the mercy of their mums and dads for the first few years of their life, yet any bugger do the deed that kicks it all off.

Perhaps we should be looking to education to solve these problems. More social and parenting education in our secondary schools? Or parenting education as part of anti-natal classes?

It's a difficult one...

My kids must be strange. Eldest son is nearly 11 and worryingly getting to the age where looks mean EVERYTHING.

At the moment he doesnt want designer labels stating that "why would he want to be a sheep and look like everyone else",

Similarly I hope he has the same view on piercings and tattoos.
I am so grateful to have born sons instead of daughters, alot of these vanity issues hopefully won't come up.

wouldnt peircing children be classed as cruelty to children? Piercing isn't exactly pain-free, you'd have the social on your back if you hit your child, or randomly pricked them with needles! why is peircing their ears different then?

Seems wierd to me that I live in a society where even as a responsible adult I am forced by law to wear my seat belt for my own safety....but I am quite at liberty to allow someone to stick bits of metal into one of my kids, if I so desire, without the kids consent.

In fact, I can disfigure them to my heart's content, but I would have to be careful not to leave a red mark on the backs of their legs should I be cruel enough to smack them..once. :loopy:

I think it looks horrible and is just another example of parents treating their kids like fashion accessories. I've seen tots nearly being held down while they have holes puched into their ears. Whose benefit is that for?

It's the 'aww don't she/he look cute' syndrome.

There's nothing wrong with wanting your kids to look clean and presentable obviously but dressing and adorning them as though they are mini adults is gross!

Originally posted by slh73
No. Its not right. Make them wait till theyre old enough to make decisions for themselves, and are mature enough to take care of a fresh piercing during the healing process.

Thats exactly what my dad did with my sister, for years she wanted her ears pierced and for years he said no.. He's a meanie...

Little girls toddling around with pierced ears looks cheap and chavvy!:gag:

I sense I'm not missing much then by not having any piercings :)

lol- no. I had my ears pierced at 14 (in the castle market - OUCH)

Can;t be bothered with earrings most of the time because Im always losing them.

BTW has the trend for piercing little boys dropped off?
(the trend not their ears! lol)

From the Health And Safety Executive website:

Age and consent issues

11 Currently, a person must be 18 years of age before they have a tattoo but there is no such statutory age limit for ear piercing or cosmetic body piercing.In the London Boroughs age restrictions vary because each Borough can independently use its licensing powers to impose conditions relating to age.

* in parallel with tattooing, some London Boroughs allow no body piercing (except ears, nose and navel) below the age of 18 years;
* some impose no age restrictions;
* others allow only 'above the belt' piercing at age 16 - 18 years or require either proof of ID or an adult's consent for this age range;
* others stipulate under 16 year piercing only with a parent or guardian present;
* most piercers should be advised to request that the client sign a consent form prior to any piercing, and
* body piercers should be advised to adopt reasonable age restrictions. A piercer with a successful business would then avoid parental conflict and legal complications, while enhancing his or her reputation for high standards.

Thats for London, but the law is pretty much the same all over the country, AFAIK. If it were up to me, piercing any part of the body would be illegal on anyone under 16, and any "sexual" piercings (nipples, genitals) should only be performed on over 18s. Id also ban all forms of piercing gun, theyre unsafe and unhygenic, and Id ban any form of body piercing or tattooing from being done in hairdressing salons or cheap jewellry shops, only allow it to be practiced in licensed, health inspected premises with proper hospital grade sterilisation equipment and first aid trained staff. But thats in an ideal world. Meantime, anyone can set up a shop and call themselves a body piercer without any training in the field whatsoever.

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
for SLH

btw would love to hear from the people who voted that it was fine, if you think its so acceptable please state your case we would love to hear it.:rolleyes:

Originally posted by fox20thc
:clap: :clap: :clap:
for SLH

Yes, summed up what I was going to say.

A few more :clap: :clap: :clap: then ;)

My daughter has wanted her ears piercing for a couple of years.

I don`t believe in it until they are above 16. I have nearly given in for her 11th birthday, as most of her friends have but I resisited the temptation.

I don`t think it looks nice when they are little, but each to their own.

I think the rules that a lot of the more reputable piercing establishments have adopted areacceptable, in that:

No body piercing under the age of 18, including facial piercings other than ears (most schools don't allow any more than one stud per ear anyway and definitely no facial piercings).

Ear piercing on under 16s only with parents consent (although I think this area is a little shady and there should be a lower limit of an age where a child is deemed to be able to decide for themselves i.e. so parents aren't asking for babies to be pierced).

At my daughters school they don`t want any piercings because they can be pulled out during PE and for Health and Safety reasons.

my mate had her son ear done at the age of two,now i dont think that was a good idea as now he is 6ys old and forever asking his mum to take it out but she wont let him,

my daughter now 10 has been wanting her ears done since the age of 5y old since her freind had hers done but i told her to wait,but every birthday she asked for it to be done,so i let her have it done at age of 7ys old..she always love to shop for new earings and i let her have it done at this age as she was asking me so i knew she wanted it done not becuase i ask her to do it, i have piercings in places some people wont like to have but that my choice as well as hers,, she did want her belly button done one time has i know of some child on there 10th birhtday to have it done,i had to ask the lady in the shop to tell my kid that it not a good idea at that age as she still growing,so that is now out her head for now but she wants it doing but she have to wait till she older..


to me i like to make sure the kids want it doing for them self and not for the parents to look good with kids ears pierced,but that me,some monther like my own and my dad did not want me to have mine done till i left school..but on my 10th birthday my aunt took me to have mine done so in a way that why too i let my child have it done has i was at a young age and i knew i wanting it done.

SORRY CANT DELETE...

Originally posted by spinny
my mate had her son ear done at the age of two,now i dont think that was a good idea as now he is 6ys old and forever asking his mum to take it out but she wont let him,


Spinny: I think that mum needs to have a serious word with herself who does she think she is...... Gosh whats the world comming to - really!!!! it makes me soooo mad :rant:

I agree that if a child wants a piercing they would have to show they can look after themselves and prove their hygiene is up to scratch. So possibly 14 years upwards.

I dont particularly have a major problem with teenagers being peirced but VEHEMENTLY disagree with tattoos. Holes heal - tattoos DONT!

I have my ears and belli peirced which are fine. But I also have a tattoo on the base of my back although its very fine (flowers) I wish I'd never had it done, and theres no going back now. At least mine hopefully will fade as its very fine but I feel soooo sorry for people who have had bold celtic bands. as just imagine what they will look like when they get old and saggy!!!

HOW OLD IS TOO OLD???

Originally posted by technophobe
But I also have a tattoo on the base of my back although its very fine (flowers) I wish I'd never had it done, and theres no going back now. At least mine hopefully will fade as its very fine but I feel soooo sorry for people who have had bold celtic bands. as just imagine what they will look like when they get old and saggy!!!

HOW OLD IS TOO OLD???

Doesnt matter how fine it is, it wont fade. Tattoos are permanent. And anyone who offers to do you a tattoo thatll only last x amount of years before fading away are talking out their arse, Im afraid.

There was a young man (about 16 or 17 I think) in the Heeley area who died of septicaemia a few years ago after a lip piercing. Piercers are not registered practitioners. Anyone can set up shop and call themselves a piercer. They should all be licensed in my opinion.

I also think that tattoes and piercings on a child under 14 should be made illegal. That would stop the chavs from thinking that it looks cute to pierce baby in the pram. Ugh - what a revolting sight.

Was in that clares shop at meadowhall last week and a little girl around six or seven was screaming her head off, tears streaming down her face , the parents and the very young assistant that was about to do the piercing were saying"dont be scared it wont hurt for long, look your sister's had it done"the sister being a good 3 or 4 years older than her.

How brutal, poor little thing.

Originally posted by redrobbo
There was a young man (about 16 or 17 I think) in the Heeley area who died of septicaemia a few years ago after a lip piercing. Piercers are not registered practitioners. Anyone can set up shop and call themselves a piercer. They should all be licensed in my opinion.



The side of that story that rarely gets a mention is that he had, and knew he had, a heart condition but didnt mention the fact to the piercer. If he had, theyd have probably refused to do it.

I saw a baby that couldnt even sit up on its own once having its ears pieced. I think it is grossly disgusting!! I think the minimum age for piercings should be 10. I work with a 5 year old with pierced ears and it looks totally wrong!

http://www.religion-portal.com/Enjoyment/Tatoos_N_Piercings.jpg

http://www.religion-portal.com/Enjoyment/Tatoos_N_Piercings.jpg

Here's Junior! :hihi:

Originally posted by Don_Kiddick
http://www.religion-portal.com/Enjoyment/Tatoos_N_Piercings.jpg

http://www.religion-portal.com/Enjoyment/Tatoos_N_Piercings.jpg

Here's Junior! :hihi:
:gag: Just looked at the picture on this link, put me right off mi smarties easter egg :gag:

Our 9 year old boy had asked a couple of times about getting this ear peirced but there has been nothing definiate - you know when a kid really wants something they will talk about it all the time - well it phazed out so I'm quite glad of that :)

now peircing babies is a different matter - yes it looks cute but even at ten (when I had mine first done) it absolutely killed (and no parent was with me) - the parent needs to work out who they are doing for....aand what reputable place would actually let you do it

Originally posted by Don_Kiddick
http://www.religion-portal.com/Enjoyment/Tatoos_N_Piercings.jpg

http://www.religion-portal.com/Enjoyment/Tatoos_N_Piercings.jpg

Here's Junior! :hihi:

LOL - I think that's a bit excessive :D

I don't think it looks cute at all, it looks horrible and chavy.

Originally posted by Moonfire
Our 9 year old boy had asked a couple of times about getting this ear peirced but there has been nothing definiate - you know when a kid really wants something they will talk about it all the time - well it phazed out so I'm quite glad of that :)

now peircing babies is a different matter - yes it looks cute but even at ten (when I had mine first done) it absolutely killed (and no parent was with me) - the parent needs to work out who they are doing for....aand what reputable place would actually let you do it

Still waiting to hear from those 5 people who think it is perfectly acceptable to stick holes in children. .............................

I think piercing on children CAN look common, but I also think its quite sweet. Ear piercings are ok, but i do disagree with belly button piercings on 10 yr/olds.

At the end of the day its all up to the parents...

Right im not against peircings in kids, but i dont think they shud have them when there under ten, i think if a kid about 13 or 14 wants there eyebrow done or whatever fair enough at least they can take it out if its not wanted.

My brother had his ear peirced and i thought it looked fantastic he was only 11 at the time but he liked it, he later decided to take it out and did so its healed perfectly now and you cant tell he ever had it done.

Hes planning to have his eyebrow done and i wanted my nose done (im not now), i am sixteen and he is fifteen now but i think as long as they are over ten and have parents consent then its fine.
It not like a tattoo once you got it you cant take it off.

Now on babies and two year olds its wrong, what if the poor baby doesnt want it done and can you imagine the pain that its causing the baby it should be illegal, Definatly wrong.

There you go said what i think, :D

Originally posted by FallenAngel6


Hes planning to have his eyebrow done and i wanted my nose done (im not now), i am sixteen and he is fifteen now but i think as long as they are over ten and have parents consent then its fine.
It not like a tattoo once you got it you cant take it off.



And when the eyebrow piercing he gets migrates out (which probably 90% of them do, theres just not enough skin there to properly anchor a piercing), itll leave a scar. You cant take that off.

"It's the 'aww don't she/he look cute' syndrome."

Aah - so that's it, then!

I remember a tiny child of about 12months in a local hairdressers being forced to have her ears pierced, poor thing was screaming the place down. I was obsolutely appalled - apparently they believed in the old wives tale that ear piercing improved the eyesight!!!!!

ps - I finally got my ears pierced at the ripe old age of 44 - and it hurt like hell for days.........

eh?!! piercing ears makes your eyesight better? :confused:

Originally posted by fox20thc
eh?!! piercing ears makes your eyesight better? :confused:

I know - some people will believe anything!

Pierced kids! Can't we have summer camp like they do in america, come the 6 weeks hols, ship em all off to learn survival skills!

Originally posted by fox20thc
Pierced kids! Can't we have summer camp like they do in america, come the 6 weeks hols, ship em all off to learn survival skills!

what a good idea - I'd say aged from 5 to 25 lol!

I have two horrible boys I can nominate! lol

When I worked as a piercer I have had mum's bring in small girls and attempt to hold them down to have their ears pierced, whilst in one case the child was wriggling and screaming!! I would not pierce a child under these circumstances and would consider myself abusive if I had.
Unfortunately not all piercers or tatooists are so ethical, usually the ones that also mess up piercings and tat's!!!
Little children are beautiful - why try and improve on nature, it's us poor knackered old adults that need a helping hand now and again, lol.
Under 16 tho only ears and mayb belly buttons for over 14, after that - own decision surely!

Originally posted by girlplusK100
When I worked as a piercer I have had mum's bring in small girls and attempt to hold them down to have their ears pierced, whilst in one case the child was wriggling and screaming!!

Whereabouts was this?

i was just wondering what everyone opinion in young children (under 12) having piercings?
Walking around meadowhall yesterday i saw quite a few babies and toddlers with ears pierced and even one baby who looked only a few days old with them done!
i think this is too young an age and that its also dangerous (infection,ripping them out, choking hazard) how many people agree with me?
i know some people are probably going to say its no one elses business but i do feel there are safety issues.

so the queston is.

do you think there should be an age limit on ear piercing which cannot be overturned with parents permission?

If I was a parent, i would wait until my child was old enough to take care of their own ears before having them pieced..
I used to beg my mother to let me have mine pieced and she always said no! My nanny also said (she was very old fashioned!) "they will make you look cheap and if you do, there is no way your ever coming back in this house young lady!" yes, so i held off for a bit, didn't ..really.. agree with what she said at all but hey.. I just forgot about it and I'm 26 now and I've never had anything pieced and don't think i ever will!

Aren't there laws about tattooing?

I agree Savbaby. At the very least under-fives should be 'protected' by the law, but I agree with the age 12 limit. The number of problems earrings caused in my primary school (and there were very few people with pierced ears there)

I also don't like to see babies with pierced ears. I think when a child is old enough to make the decision themselves and is able to take care of their ears, then it would be OK to have them pierced.

I let my girls have theirs pierced at age 10 because they asked. I have not got my own ears done so never encouraged them to. I told them they had to take care of them. One daughter has still got hers done and is nearly 17, the other who is now 14 took them out soon after being done and couldn't cope with putting ear-rings back in so they healed up!

Now that same child wants her Belly Button doing!!!:loopy:

this topic was done about a month ago.

here (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33823&highlight=pierced)

apologies everyone, i did a search but missed that one:confused:

Yes, there should. It makes me feel physically sick watching screaming toddlers having holes punched through their bodies. If that sentence was about treatment of children in some other countries there'd be an aid group sent out there to put a stop to it!

On a side note, I'm not sure about the point of option 3:

"Should there be an age limit on child piercings?" "Depends on age"

Well, yeah...

edit: just reread that first sentence and it makes me sound a bit weird. I don't go and watch it by choice! Sometimes you just happen to be walking past Claire's accessories and it's just right there in the window. Ick.

Originally posted by spiffymonkey
Yes, there should. It makes me feel physically sick watching screaming toddlers having holes punched through their bodies. If that sentence was about treatment of children in some other countries there'd be an aid group sent out there to put a stop to it!

On a side note, I'm not sure about the point of option 3:

"Should there be an age limit on child piercings?" "Depends on age"

Well, yeah...
what i meant by depends on age is children are classed as children until they are 16, so some people would agree that after a certain age say 10/12 they should be allowed to have it done

[MOD NOTE] Threads merged...

I dont see a problem with kids having their ear peirced, i would have my child's ears peirced but only when they are around 3years old, i wouldnt get a baby's ears peirced, and would only let my child have studs so they cannot pull them out with earings such as hoops. i think young kids with their ears peirced looks really cute.

Originally posted by MissGobby
I dont see a problem with kids having their ear peirced, i would have my child's ears peirced but only when they are around 3years old, i wouldnt get a baby's ears peirced, and would only let my child have studs so they cannot pull them out with earings such as hoops. i think young kids with their ears peirced looks really cute.

You don't think that sticking holes in a 3 year old to satisfy your idea's of cuteness is a little bit like child abuse?

I have had numerous piercings and tattoos for some time, however my mother never let me have mine done until I could look after them.

I saw a very young baby with pierced ears yesterday and the sight revolted me. Not only is it cruel it's also dangerous and irresponsible.

some peolpe may think me a hypocrite as I had some of my tattoos under tha ge of 18 and some piercings under 16 (only my ears), i am covered in tattoos and have not regretted them one bit. i am however very educated in the care of piercings etc and I cannot see how so called responsible parents can let their kids be butchered in this way!

Its disgusting and as said before i know of no reponsible piercer who would do this.

Originally posted by Cyclone
You don't think that sticking holes in a 3 year old to satisfy your idea's of cuteness is a little bit like child abuse?

here here:thumbsup:

You see loads of kids on the Moor with pierced ears, especially near Argos, they also tend to be dressed like little hookers, weird.

it was cool when i was younger for boys to have one ear "done" - i think it looks pants. my freinds kid wants both of his doing like beckham ?!?!? yuk. although in some cultures-its tradition isnt it?

I hate seeing babies and wee toddlers with their ears pierced. It is purely for the vanity of the parents. For christ sake babies are not fashion accessories!! :rant: To me it would be as crazy as dyeing their hair or putting make-up on them. :loopy:

My daughter begged and pleaded to get hers done when she was around 7 or 8. I let her because I felt as I felt she was old enough to look after them herself and it was simple studs - she was not allowed big dangly earrings etc. Now she is a teenager she sports earrings almost the size of hulahoops :o and is always on about being allowed to have her belly button pierced .... my answer NO WAY JOSE!!!!

Originally posted by slh73
Thats the problem. It is allowed, theres no law against taking your kids to claires accessories and letting some 16 year old trainee fire a blunt stud through their ears with a "piercing" gun.

Actually there is a law that states you cannot pierce anybodys ears under the age of sixteen.
The law still does not apply to any other body part, it's all down to the local authorities. Sheffields recommended age limit is 16 and over.
All it needs is an angry informed parent with a policeman and Claires would have to stop this asssault on minors.

I think it does look really tacky on young children. But I also have to admit that I had my ears pierced when I was only 5 years old. But this was because I wanted it done. Nagging my parents to have them pierced is one of my earliest memories, and they always told me I had to wait until I was 5 (which sounds ridiculous now!). So I had them done for my fifth birthday, down in the Castle Market and I remember screaming my head off – but I was really please with them afterwards. My older sister didn’t have hers done until several years later – so it certainly wasn’t my parents who were pushing me to have them pierced. If I have children however, I wouldn’t allow them to have their ears pierced until they were at least 10, and any other body part they can wait until they are 16!

I used to know lots of Latin Americans. With them it was normal, if not universal, for the girls to have their ears pierced at a very early age (as babies, pretty much).

Here, though, it does look "chavvy" - especially when done to boys. Not that there's anything wrong with it - just a cultural thing.

I am a registered piercer in the London Borough of Croydon and it IS illegal to pierce children under the age of sixteen without parental consent. The law is a funny one.. strictly speaking, it is illegal to pierce a child under the age of sixteen even with parental consent, but if written consent is obtained, alot is left to the discretion of the piercer. It is illegal to perform genital piercings on anyone under the age of eighteen.

The laws on body piercing are different to those on ear piercing, hence it would be illegal for me to pierce your navel with a gold plated bar but NOT illegal to have the top of your ear pierced at the jewellers with a gun and gold-plated stud. I know it makes no sense! Also, the laws on piercings tend to vary with different councils. Tis still a shady grey area!

I personally dont like piercing anyone under sixteen.