Does the idea of piercings give you the needle? Raisingkids.co.uk's parenting expert, child psychologist Dr Pat Spungin, has some advice.

Raisingkids member's problem
My daughter is 14 and would like to get her belly button and nose pierced. I don't feel she is the right age. What age do you think is appropriate?

Dr Spungin's advice
I can only tell you what I did with my daughter over ear piercing! I don't like piercings of any sort. On the other hand, I had to accept it's her body, it's not harmful if done properly and at some point she has the ultimate decision.

It's not illegal in the UK to pierce anyone under 18 without parental consent (although some local authorities use licensing laws to impose restrictions such as no piercing without parental consent or no piercing below the waist under 18. Check your area to see what the situation is). It is however illegal for some clitoral piercing to be done as it may be considered genital mutilation and as such cannot be consented to.

On the positive side your daughter has consulted you and not just gone ahead and done it. That's a good sign. Meet her half way. Tell her your honest opinion, accept that you won't be able to stop her in a few years, and then decide when you feel she will be old enough to make the decision for herself. With my own daughter, we agreed that when she was 16 she could make up her own mind. She accepted that and when she reached 16 had her ears pierced... with my grudging consent!