'Too sexual': I let my 12yo pierce this hidden body part

"A lot of people have judged me as a bad mum." 

A mum has come under fire on after letting her 12-year-old  get a piercing in a hidden body part.

Whitney Ainscough shared a clip of her daughter, Cora, at McDonald’s, proudly showing off the new jewellery.

Her text on screen read: “Sooo… Cora got her tongue pierced last week. A lot of people will judge, but she wanted it. It’s been cleaned properly and it’s something she wanted.”

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"I wasn't happy at first about the tongue piercing" 

The mum of three issued a further disclaimer in the caption of the post, admitting she wasn’t pleased at first.

“So yes, me and Cora’s dad did agree that Cora could have her tongue pierced. I wasn’t happy at first, but she really wanted it,” she explained.

“She’s kept it clean. I did warn her about the swelling but she’s very happy!”

In the clip showing off the latest addition, Whitney explains why Cora got her tongue done:  “Because it looks nice." 

Whitney came under fire on TikTok for allowing her 12-year-old to get a tongue piercing. Image: TikTok/itsmebadmum

She also confirms that she would recommend the experience to others. That's despite the pain from the needle and the swelling afterwards. 

In Australia, you must be over the age of 18 to obtain a piercing. Anything under requires permission from a parent or guardian. However, in the UK, there’s no specific legal age set for a tongue piercing, with businesses having their own age policies.

Still, Whitney insists the buck stops here: “No more piercings,” she tells her daughter.  

@itsmebadmom

So yes, me and Cora’s dad did agree that Cora could have her tongue pierced. I wasn’t happy at first but she really wanted it. She’s kept it clean. I did warn her about the swelling but she’s very happy.! #fyp #teen #piercing #daughter #update

♬ original sound - Itsmebadmom✅

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"Your parenting is shocking"

But it seems like she’s already lost the battle.

“I just want my thirds done,” Cora says, pointing to her ears.

It’s not Cora’s first time in the piercing chair and it's likely not going to become a distant memory anytime soon. Whitney, clearly in shock by her daughter’s to-pierce list, claps back.

“I was 31 when I got my tongue pierced. You've got your belly, your tongue, two [sets] of ear [piercings], you’ve had your rook and your helix,” she said.

The comment section didn’t hold back with its opinion on Whitney giving her daughter permission.

“Your parenting once again is shocking,” one critic wrote.

“She’s very young for that. It's too sexual,” another added.

A third called out the studio itself, saying, “Red flag from the piercing studio that would do a tongue on someone this young.”

But not everyone was horrified.

“Why’s everyone hating there’s nothing wrong with getting it done at 12,” read one comment.

“Why are people hating? I got mine at 13,” another shared. 

Originally published as 'Too sexual': I let my 12yo pierce this hidden body part