Chat: Should you decide if you get a piercing?

19 October 2011

Children in Wales who want to get their ears or body pierced might have to get permission from their parent or guardian.

The government there want to bring in the new law because they're worried lots of children under 16 are getting piercings when they're too young and can get bad infections.

At the moment, if you want to get a piercing in Wales, England or Northern Ireland you don't need permission. But in Scotland, anyone under 16 already has to get their parent or guardian's consent.

If the new law goes ahead they would make sure that piercing shops and salons check the age of customers and get consent if they're under 16.

We want to know what you think - should it be up to you to decide when you get piercings? Or do you think some people are too young and it should be up to their parents to decide?

Let us know what you think below.

Your comments:

"Children should get at least one adult to say it's OK, not the government. The government control too much!"

Celine, 13, London, England

"I think parents definitely should have the final say. It should be law that it will be the parent/guardian's decision until the child is around 13 when it should be the child's decision."

Nancy, 12, Blackpool, England

"Everyone I know has an ear piercing and they have had it since they were small, but some people think that's wrong when it isn't. An age limit should only be put on piercings like tongues or eyebrows or bellybuttons."

Alesha, 11, Dewsbury, England

"We think that unless it's for religious purposes, children under the age of sixteen should have permission for any body piercings excluding the part of your ear where there is no cartilage."

Lil and El, 11, Tyne and Wear, England

"I think there should be age restrictions on ear piercings like 10+ for just the normal lobe and 16+ for any other piercings and I think that it's a good idea to have your parents consent on piercings as you may be allergic."

Beth, 12, Merseyside, Whales

"No one (and I mean no one) should get their ears pierced under 16 because when I got mine pierced I was 5 and when the gun went through my ear I literally fainted and my face went bright red."

Ella, 12, Scotland

"I think that people should wait until they are 11 until they get their ears pierced because by that time you should definitely be able to cope with the pain and nerves. If you want to get a body piercing you should wait till you are 15."

Freya, 13, Cambridge, England

"I had my ears pierced when I was a baby, but that's family tradition. I think your parents should decide one of the ear piercing after that it's your decision. After all everyone's different it there choice."

Aaminah, 14, Leicester, England

"I think it would be better if it was 14 because they are responsible enough I think it should be the matter of parent or guardians to decide a suitable age."

Megan, 12, Perthshire, Scotland

"I think it's fair that children under 16 have to get permission from their parents if they want holes in their body. The parents will find out anyway and you'll have to face them so you might as well discuss it beforehand. In Spain, girls get their ears pierced when they are born. I think this is silly because the child might not want their ears pierced!"

Cara, 10, Highlands, Scotland

"Children under 16 need their parent's permission in case it gets infected. The place you go to may be unhygienic and have a bad reputation. If this happens you need your parents help to complain. You also live in their house and therefore need to respect them."

Jennifer, 11, London, England

"In some religions it is the culture to have piercings and some under 16s are responsible enough to have piercings as part of their religion, although some have piercings to rebel against their parents etc. I am not sure."

Jonathan, 11, London, England

"It is your life, once you're over 10 you can decide what you want and should be able to speak for yourself. Also some guardians and parents are not mature enough themselves to decide if their child can have a piercing."

Heather, 11, London, England

"I have a 4 year old cousin who had her ears pierced when she was a few months old. Her mum is from the Philippines and it's tradition there to have them done so early. I think it should be up to their parent/guardian."

Alice, 11, Buckinghamshire, England

"I think children over 10 years old should be able to make their own decision if they want their ears pierced. It's only going to be a small mistake because holes close eventually so it's not like getting a tattoo that will last forever. Having piercings in dodgy places I agree is a bit much, but just a nose, ear or belly button piercing can't do much harm. I think that children should be allowed to get piercings on their own."

Madeleine, 11, Andover, England

"In my opinion I think it's the child's decision as if they don't like it they can take it out and let it heal over, also they will have learned a valuable lesson."

Conner, 15, Motherwell, Scotland

"I think after the age of 15 you should be able to walk into a piercing shop without an adult as you are then half way to your proper adulthood and are responsible enough. So if there is a problem you can sort it out and the parents have nothing to do with it. I want my belly button pierced but I will wait until I am about 15 years old!"

Maisie, 11, Medway, England

"I think that it isn't right to just ban it completely for a certain age, because it is people's choice when they get it done, but I think that if you are under 16 you should have to get permission. Some people are saying over 13 or 14, but as I am 13 myself, I don't believe that I should be getting piercings without permission at my age."

Sophie, 13, Horsham, England

"I think it's okay to have an ear piercing for girls when you're over 6 but with parent/guardian permission. I also think that you should have to be over 14 to have nose and belly button piercing and over 18 to have tongue. The only time I think babies should have piercings are for religious reasons."

Roya, 9, London, England

"I think that children should be able to have piercings, as I had my ears pierced when I was two. And when I was 10, I decided to have a second piercing and now I really want my nose pierced. I think children should have an opinion on what they do because adults can choose. We're all the same, just younger."

Charlotte, 11, Norwich, England

"I think that young children should not have their ears pierced as it is very painful. I think that the lowest age to have ear piercing should be when they are just about to start secondary school. Other piercings should not be done until age 18. I find any piercings other than the ears ugly and disgusting. Everyone under 18 should need permission."

Emily, 13, Telford, England

Elena, 13, La Hulpe, Belgium

"I think anyone under the age of 5 should not get their ears pierced but anyone over could with their parents' permission. Other piercings such as bellybutton should be at least 16."

Rachael, 10, Rothwell, England

"I think it's stupid. I'm about to turn 15 and I have 9 piercings - all of mine have turned out fine, they're only going to get infected if you don't look after them. I don't think it has got anything to do with the government, it's up to the child and their guardian."

Jodie-leigh, 14, Swansea, Wales

"I think this is stupid because when I went to get my ears pierced they wouldn't let me get them done because I was with my aunty and not my parent or guardian! Pathetic!"

Masey, 12, Manchester, England

"I think that children over 10 should be able to say if they want their ears pierced because they are old enough to make decisions. However, I think that children under 16 should have parent's or a guardian's permission to get any other piercings such as belly button, tongue, lips, nose etc."

Hope, 13, Birmingham, England

"Sometimes babies have their ears pierced! It's stupid because they are FAR too young, and it can be dangerous. However, children aged 9+ should have the choice (with permission of parents) to have their ears pierced."

Rachel, 9, Essex, England

"This is stupid! It's the child's decision whether they want a piercing or not. Not the government's! Sometimes I think the government go a bit over the top. Also if the parents aren't happy with the idea of piercings they shouldn't let their child have one!"

Alice, 12, Leicester, England

"I think people that are 14 or over can have their ears pierced because you're in your teens. But you should be 16 or over for other piercings such as belly button and nose. But anyone under the age of 14 should have a parent or a guardian's permission."

Emily, 8, Dunstable, England

"We think that little children (under 3) should not have their ears pierced. You should have a choice when you have your ears pierced, but with your parent's permission. Maybe there should be a different age limit for different types of piercing."

Class 5X, 9-10, Bristol, England