Would you let your 12 year old have her belly button pierced

[Puffy2]

Absolutely not.

 

[zagafi]

Just wanted to add my reasons for saying no. The exposed belly, low riding jeans look is inappropriately sexual for a young girl, in my opinion.

BINGO.

 

[Rokkitsci]

Your child - raise her as you wish. I hope she does well.

But - you asked the question and here is the answer - absolutely NOT.

I think it is disgusting for anyone - and for a 12 year old, I find it completely out of the question.

These wierd piercings are just another sign of the times. It is being promoted by those who want to sexualize our children at ever younger ages. The era of "innocent childhood" has been destroyed.

It seems to me that your child may be in the company of bad friends. Cliques of 12 year old girls who are wearing belly rings, nose rings, etc are quite likely to have sexually active members.

What's next?? tattoos on her behind?? Tongue rings?? eyebrow piercings??

Sorry - but you did ask what we thought - and I think it is awful.

 

[Puffy2]

I wasn't going to elaborate, but I just read that you have NOT allowed her to do this yet...
a belly ring to MANY is a sex symbol - it goes way beyond pierced ears. Do you want your 12 year old to have a sex symbol planted on her body?

 

[shatzjsl]

I am not asking for anyone to tell me I did the right thing

Ummm...yeah, you are..see below

The reason for my post is I have been getting mixed reactions from alot of our friends.

Am I totally wrong....??? Actually I think I will make this a poll.

I have also advised her that if it becomes infected it comes right out, I will not risk her health and the place that we had it done has a great reputation and I made sure everything they used came out of serilized packages....

My DD chickened out twice on getting her ear pierced so I don't think a belly button ring will ever be an issue for us! I hope if your daughter gets one that it works well for her.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

DD is barely 14. She's asked many times if she can get a belly ring. When she is 18 and has her own money, she is more than welcome. Until that time, it's still my belly and I don't want it pierced.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Well, I did. I caved. She was asking for that or her nose pierced so I decided the button was the worse of 2 evils.

The reason for my post is I have been getting mixed reactions from alot of our friends.

Am I totally wrong....???

YOU asked....yes! I wouldn't label you a bad parent, but I would definitely say that was a case of bad judgment. You certainly should pick your battles, but not cave in because you want to "pick the worst of the two evils!" I wouldn't allow my dd to get one, not until she's of legal age - around here that's 18 - to consent to it. No amount of tears, arguing, begging or pleading would make me change my mind. Why don't you poll a group of men and teenage boys, and ask them what they think of when they see a girl with a belly button piercing? It's a sexual image, definitely not something appropriate for a 16 year old let alone a 12 year old. I just asked my husband what he thought about it, and he didn't even let me finish the question before he said "yeah right!", chuckled and walked out of the room. Then he walked back in and asked me if I was kidding. Of course, this is the same daddy who is still trying to come to terms with two piece swimsuits, and won't let our dd wear a skirt above her knees unless she's wearing those biker shorts underneath. Aside from all of that, her body is still developing, and she could be more prone to scarring and her naval ulcerating as she get's bigger. I've seen it on friends who have taken the best care of their piercings, and it isn't pretty. Just something to think about.

 

[missmulan]

will I let my DD get a belly button ring??

one word, two syllables...NE-VER!

 

[Disney-Kim]

"It seems to me that your child may be in the company of bad friends. Cliques of 12 year old girls who are wearing belly rings, nose rings, etc are quite likely to have sexually active members."

I am sorry but this statement is so generalized and cliche. Do you really think that girls who dress conservatively and don't wear any piercings are not sexually active. Lets be honest here.

I don't want that to sound as harsh it does, but all parents need to watch all kids, not just those with a "look". When I was in middle/high school, some of my most conservative looking friends were the most wild. JUST MY OPINION, no flames please.

 

[jipsy]

She has not actually gotten it done yet, I have agreed to let her get it done, we went with a friend of hers who is 3 months older when she got hers done just to see the place.

Bullhockey. See your original post below- it is totally worded that you already had it done. Stop backtracking on it and stand up for what you believed was not a bad thing for your child. Just because the DIS doesn't agree with it doesn't mean it wasn't right. Don't lie about it after you've already posted you did it to try and fit in with the DIS crowd.

Would you let your 12 year old have her belly button pierced

Well, I did. I caved. She was asking for that or her nose pierced so I decided the button was the worse of 2 evils. I figured she is approaching the teen years and I plan to pick my battles very carefully. DH was not thrilled with it but as I told him it is just a hole. She does have each ear pieced 3 times so she knows how to take care of it and I have been helping her.

The reason for my post is I have been getting mixed reactions from alot of our friends.

Am I totally wrong....??? Actually I think I will make this a poll.

I have also advised her that if it becomes infected it comes right out, I will not risk her health and the place that we had it done has a great reputation and I made sure everything they used came out of serilized packages....

 

[transparant]

Your child - raise her as you wish. I hope she does well.

But - you asked the question and here is the answer - absolutely NOT.

I think it is disgusting for anyone - and for a 12 year old, I find it completely out of the question.

These wierd piercings are just another sign of the times. It is being promoted by those who want to sexualize our children at ever younger ages. The era of "innocent childhood" has been destroyed.

It seems to me that your child may be in the company of bad friends. Cliques of 12 year old girls who are wearing belly rings, nose rings, etc are quite likely to have sexually active members.

What's next?? tattoos on her behind?? Tongue rings?? eyebrow piercings??

Sorry - but you did ask what we thought - and I think it is awful.

I could not agree more with this!

 

[palmtreegirl]

No there's no way I'd allow her to get one. In general I think that kids grow up way to fast these days, it's sad.

Also when it comes to parental desicions my DH and I make them as a team, I wouldn't say yes to something he didn't agree with it and vice-versa.

 

[Golter]

I have two daughters 14 and 8. I look forward to the day my one of the asks for a belly ring, I need the laugh. It wont happen, it will never happen. One set of earrings and no tatoos. If it is violated, they will only get the neccessities from me. Clothing (Wal-mart) and food (cooked at home) and shelter (bed and blankets). I work very hard to support them and I will not have them deface their bodies at an age in which they are not ready to make a permanent decision.

Any time my oldest says she knows what she is doing and is mature enough to handle things, I remind her that she loved the Spice Girls a few years back....

 

[lyeag]

I have a daughter getting ready to turn 13 this summer. I would NEVER allow her to pierce her belly button, nose, eye brow or tongue. By the way, if you are looking for jeans that aren't low riders, try the missy section instead of juniors... I do not want older boys and men looking at my 12/13 year old like a sex object. I agree with other posters that society is pushing girls to look much older than they are and it is a sad statement on our society.


I had a heck of a time finding a swimsuit for dd this past week that didn't make her look like a hoochie mama.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

She has not actually gotten it done yet, I have agreed to let her get it done, we went with a friend of hers who is 3 months older when she got hers done just to see the place.

I'm confused now, because in your OP you clearly stated that you'd already had it done:

have also advised her that if it becomes infected it comes right out, I will not risk her health and the place that we had it done has a great reputation and I made sure everything they used came out of serilized packages....

 

[va32h]

I am sorry but this statement is so generalized and cliche. Do you really think that girls who dress conservatively and don't wear any piercings are not sexually active. Lets be honest here.

I agree in theory, but the reality is that people are judged by their looks on a regular basis. A girl with tattoos and piercings will likely be perceived as more sexually liberal, whether she is or not. Even the description of a girl with that appearance has evoked that kind of image here on this board. That could result in some very unwanted attention. A woman in her 20's might be able to put up with that, but a 12 yo?

It could also affect a teens chances of getting a job. My sister is trying to hire a receptionist, and she does not want anyone with nose or eyebrow rings, visible tattoos, or lowrider jeans in her office, representing her company.

 

[MrsKreamer]

I rencently rolled my eyes when friends of the family let there 15 y/o get her belly peirced, and my mother's step-daughter also had it done(her mother took her and they having matching ones). I think that this is another example of parents being friends before parents. JMO

 

[krissy3483]

This bothers me on so many levels.
1. She's 12
2. You say she doesn't wear clothes that will show it off, so what is the point? On adults, I could see them doing it because they like it, but not on a kid who is still in middle school
3. She plays hockey. It will get pulled and tugged on, and I can guarantee that it will not be comfortable at all

Ultimately though, this is your child and your decision, but there is no way any daughter of mine will be piercing anything but her ears until she is living on your own and supporting herself.

 

[Disney-Kim]

I agree in theory, but the reality is that people are judged by their looks on a regular basis. A girl with tattoos and piercings will likely be perceived as more sexually liberal, whether she is or not. Even the description of a girl with that appearance has evoked that kind of image here on this board. That could result in some very unwanted attention. A woman in her 20's might be able to put up with that, but a 12 yo?

It could also affect a teens chances of getting a job. My sister is trying to hire a receptionist, and she does not want anyone with nose or eyebrow rings, visible tattoos, or lowrider jeans in her office, representing her company.

yes, I agree with you on that.

 

[TinkerBess_SnowTori]

and I will not have them deface their bodies at an age in which they are not ready to make a permanent decision.

ITA with this statement --- but didn't always -- when my first dd was born I wanted to pierce her ears - thought it was so cute on little ones.

My husband asked me if I would do it to the cats too. I told him "of course not" and he said "It is a similar situation, those cats don't know if they want their ears pierced and can't tell you if they don't, don't do it to our daughter until she knows more about it and can make the decision that she wants it done"

I had never thought of it that way before and the more I did think about it the more I agreed that it was true - it is their bodies and I am there to help them learn take care of themselves and make informed choices.

But that said - I am also the one that decides if they are able to handle the responsibilities and consequences of their choices.

My girls are not ready for earrings, and they will not be ready for the attention a belly ring will bring at 13.