Personally, my own mother insisted that I waited until I was old enough to decide that I wanted it, and also made me wait it out to make sure it wasnt a Phase. i was 8...then a few more years later she realized I liked it and then proceeded to let me have my 2nd and 3rd ear piercing plus my cartlidge(sp). She wouldn't watch, but paid for 2, made me pay for two, signed and left to other side of the store.(she didn't like the *crunch* after the 2nd. Either way, when I do have children, I don't think that piercing will be a good idea until the child is consciously able to care for the earring herself, as there are many infections and problems that can accompany this, accidents, etc...again, my two cents. (I do also believe though that a gentle, yet firm [if that makes sense] swat on the behind for misbehaving is appropriate in certain circumstances :-)