Turning 17 - do I let her?

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

My dd is turning 17 tomorrow and when asked what she wants for her birthday all she will tell us is she wants her belly button pierced!! I haven't told her no, but I haven't said yes either. Am I being an irresponsible parent if I take her to have it done??? I know there are worse things she could want to do! But I just really don't understand wanting this done - which I don't even have my ears pierced!! lol Is this really worth having stress over???

Do I let her or should I make her wait until she is of age to do it without my consent???

Thanks!
Ellen


PS - Victoria if you are reading this you better not tell!!!

Tell her you'll let her do it if you get to have yours pierced at the same time.

That should take the shine off the penny

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Wow, I didn't think so many people would be for it. It took me 2 months to convince my mom to let me get a cartilage piercing when I was 16 or so. She insisted on showing me horror pictures of people who didn't keep it clean. Eventually she gave in, now I have seven piercings and size 2 gauges. She just smiles awkwardly.

I would not allow my DD's to have their cartilage pierced; it never truly heals and it's a constant source of potential infection into the bloodstream (cartilage is rich in tiny blood vessels).

It's not a social issue for me, it's a health and safety issue.

I told the girls they can have their belly buttons pierced when Claire's starts doing it, then imo it's become socially mainstream...

 

[Darcy03231]

DD#1 got hers at 14 and DD#2 at 16 (she didn't want one before then). I really didn't see it as any different than getting their ears pierced. Both of them took care of them and they never got infected. I will say that both girls waited until the fall to have them done as the place we took them recommended no swimming, especially in lakes or the ocean, until it healed (6 months to a year).

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I would let her get it done.....but after reading the post about swimming, if she likes swimming I would have her wait until fall. Is one year really worth the argument that it will cause if she's not allowed to get it done? Like others said, pick your battles.

 

[Ilivetogo]

I don't know how active your daughter is or will be over the summer ... but PLEASE let her know that she CANNOT go swimming with a new belly piercing for at least 3 months!!! My daughter wanted hers done last fall. It was right before we were to be going to Disney (for Christmas). She decided it was worth it to wait until January -- just after the trip -- because otherwise she would not have been allowed to go swimming at all while down there. As it turns out, the weather was fabulous and we were in the pools a LOT while we were there. She was happy she waited. Once we went to get it done in January, it was only winter months when she was unable to swim. In PA, that was not a problem. She was snowboarding instead!!

Just let her know that.

As far as "where to go" to get it done ... really ... have her ask others that she knows in your area who have gotten piercings done. Most of them already know which places are reputable and clean. Then go online and/or call and check out their policies, etc. That's what I did. The place we ended up at was VERY clean and VERY nice.

Good luck!

 

[CathrynRose]

WOW! I never expected so many responses!! She has gone to the lake with some friends to celebrate this morning. I'm still talking it over with her dad and will give her our decision when she gets home. Now, where does one go for a belly button piercing?????

Ellen

Reputable Tattoo Parlors.

Just ask your daughter - she probably already researched the whole thing.

 

[Camicar]

A while ago my dd asked if she could get a belly-button piercing for her 16th birthday.

I really did not care one way or the other (although she will not be having any facial piercings while living under my roof). I told her , however, that we'd have to do research on it. When we asked around, every single person we found who had a belly button piercing regretted it, largely because of bad infections and sensitivity, plus rubbing on clothing.

So, dd decided it wasn't her best possible option.

 

[zippitydoo]

You should let her do it. But also let her know that she can't go swimming for a while bc the piercing could get infected

 

[KimR]

My DD is 17 and got hers pierced last year. I didn't even know about the no swimming thing. She had it done in June and went swimming all summer with no problems. I guess she was just lucky.

Also, she said it didn't hurt at all. But then again she also has an industrial piercing and claims that one wasn't so bad either. I think she has a high pain tolerance.