Piercing the ears of babies is a prevalent do in many cultures worldwide. In certain cultures, the ears of boys are also pierced when they are still babies. Nevertheless, as a parent, y'all may be unsure if ear piercing is condom for babies or when to pierce babe ears. Since the do is painful, parents oftentimes detect it difficult to determine whether or not they should get their babe's ear pierced.

Moreover, many dissimilar perspectives exist effectually the globe nigh ear piercing. In certain nations, there have been petitions against babe ear piercings. Even so, in certain others, it is considered traditional and unusual if it is not washed.

In this mail, nosotros answer some frequently asked questions regarding ear piercings for babies, including when and where you can go your infant'southward ear pierced, how it is washed for babies, and how to prepare your baby for it. The article also offers advice on coping with any infections that babies may contract and recommendations on the blazon of earrings your infant could wearable.

When Can I Get My Baby's Ears Pierced?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), there is no fixed age for piercing your child'southward ears, and regardless of the age, ear piercing is not risky as long as it is done correctly and hygienically (one).

Some parents go it done when the baby is just 12 days old while some prefer to look until her first birthday. Some medical institutions recommend waiting until the kid is old enough to care for the ear post-obit the procedure by themselves. The age here will differ and is dependant on the private child. (2).

AAP recommends waiting until the child is onetime plenty to take care of the pierced ear. In existent-world terms, this should translate to an age of ii years.

Two years is a suitable age for ear piercing due to several factors: Your infant's body is less prone to allergies, she is old plenty to understand instructions, and the skin is still soft but not delicate like before. It is likewise the fourth dimension past when most of the major immunization shots, including tetanus, would be done (3).

A report has illustrated that children are least prone to keloids – an overgrowth of scar tissue – when the piercing is done betwixt one and 10 years of age (4).
Eventually, yous may cull when to get your baby'south ears pierced. If you proceed with the decision of getting your babe'south ears pierced a bit early, so you must become it done at the right place.

[ Read: When Practise Babies Become Their Offset Teeth ]

Where Can I Get My Babe's Ears Pierced?

Some people go it done at their local jeweler while some prefer going to a medical professional, who also practices ear piercing. There is no restriction here provided the person is a professional, and the identify is aseptic.

The tools used for the job must be sterile. Exercise keep in mind that ear piercing is different for babies and adults. Therefore, do some inquiry and detect a identify that has a decent reputation of getting the baby piercing washed. Do not but select a random identify. Give preference to pediatricians and medical professionals who practise ear piercing for a fee, since they are educated nigh safe guidelines.

How Is The Ear Piercing Done For Babies?

The infant piercing process can be similar to that for adults. Here is a stepwise breakdown of the process:

Step 1: The technician/doctor disinfects the piercing site by cleaning information technology with alcohol or any other skin disinfectant. To proceed things hygienic and professional, he/she must wear surgical gloves.

Step ii: Piercing can exist done through needle-based piercers or piercing guns. Information technology depends on what the parent prefers and what the ear piercing professional person recommends. Both cause a bit of pain but just when the piercing is in the process that is a few minutes.

Stride 3: The holes volition then be filled with gold-postal service earrings, which act equally a placeholder to forestall the hole from closing. Gold is the metal of choice since information technology is less probable to crusade infections and/ or allergic reactions (5). It does non exacerbate the existing redness and mild inflammation. Brand sure the gold is at least 14 karat. An alternative to gold is surgical steel, which is free of nickel. Gold-plated surgical steel earrings are also good.

Step 4: The disinfectant should exist practical to the piercing site. The technician/doctor will ask you to apply the disinfectant twice a twenty-four hours for a week. You lot need to and then shift the earrings from one ear to another every week for the next six weeks.

The bottom ear lobe is the platonic location for piercing. Spots other than the conventional ear lobe are not meant for piercing during childhood. They are also not recommended by pediatric experts (6). Therefore, stick to the lower ear lobe; it is easier and less painful due to an absence of a bone in that region.

The procedure needs preparation from your side, so that information technology does not become hectic after.

[ Read: Safety Gates For Babies ]

How To Gear up My Babe For Ear Piercing?

Some simple preparation can make the piercing process smooth:

  1. Your child should be in skilful health to reduce the chances of irritability and improve her tolerance during the process. If she is ill, or just faced a tour of illness, then postpone the programme to a after appointment. In some rare instances, the child may have an increased gamble of infection if she suffers from congenital heart disease (7).
  1. Carry your baby'southward favorite toys, pacifier or other interesting stuff to distract her while piercing. They come handy when she gets cranky.
  1. On the big mean solar day, let your child wear buttoned clothes that tin be removed without pulling the apparel over the head. This tin can mitigate the chance of an accidental tug at the ears.
  1. During the piercing procedure, agree the kid business firm nevertheless gentle. She is quite likely to motility afterwards the first ear is pierced. To get the 2d 1, right on the mark, hold her nevertheless and cajole her with some soothing words.
  1. Praise your child for being dauntless and cooperative throughout the procedure. Requite her a special treat later.

[ Read: Gift Ideas For Infant Beginning Birthday Party ]

Once the piercing is washed, you need to cull earrings that are safety and user-friendly for your little one.

What Are The Types Of Earrings My Baby Can Article of clothing?

Babies should only wear mail service-type earrings that fasten deeply in the hole. Choose earrings that have a soft fastener at the rear, which is less probable to prick the baby'southward peel. These earrings are also lightweight.

  • Never select dangling earrings for your baby. Your babe tin can accidentally tug at them, thus hurting herself.
  • Also, stay away from earrings with large and sharp projections at the rear, which may hurt the infant while sleeping. Tend to the piercing site with care.

[ Read: Best Sippy Cups For Baby ]

What Are The Precautions I Must Take After Piercing?

It volition take virtually four to six weeks for the holes to heal. During this phase, check for infections:

  • Equally mentioned above, swap the earrings once in a week from 1 ear to another. Every time yous remove an earring, clean it with a cotton swab dipped in a disinfectant.
  • Tend the pierced site with make clean hands. Launder and dry out your hands thoroughly before you touch your baby's ears.
  • Dab some disinfectant twice a day for nearly 45 days afterwards the piercing is done, to prevent the proliferation of bacteria. Also, wash the area effectually the ears only with baby-safe antibacterial lather.
  • Go on your baby away from grit since it tin be a carrier of bacteria.
  • Preclude your baby from tugging her ears.

You are enlightened that pierced ear holes are prone to infection. Therefore, keep checking for any signs and nip them in the bud.

What Are The Symptoms Of Pierced Hole Infection?

Expect out for these early warning signs:

  • Chronic redness in the ear: Your baby volition take some redness in the region for a few days, but if it continues for weeks, then it could be a symptom of a mild infection.
  • Pus or other fluid oozing from the pierced site: Pus is formed due to an acute aggregating of white blood cells. If there is pus, then there is surely an infection. A mild infection may drip a clear, colorless liquid.
  • Ruby-red blisters: These blisters could be ruby-red or maroon in colour. They are tender, and your baby may bleat when they are touched, indicating that they are painful.
  • Large unmarried cicatrice: If you lot observe a single large cicatrice close to the pierced hole, then it could be a keloid, an overgrowth of scar tissue. Keloids usually have a tendency to get infected.
  • Fever: An infection could manifest through a fever. If your baby develops a fever a few hours or days after ear piercing, and then you must accept let to the doctor.

Understanding the reasons for infection tin help you take precautions to avert them.

What Causes Pierced Ear Infection?

The pierced pigsty in the ear is fundamentally a wound, and just like any other wound, information technology can exist prone to infection from a host of bacteria naturally nowadays on the skin or in the air. Several factors that can aggravate the chances of infection:

  • Poor maintenance of the pierced expanse: This includes not swapping the earrings or not cleaning them properly in case you swap them. Infection also happens if you fail to utilise the disinfectant.
  • Exposing the babe to bacteria: Bacteria is found everywhere from the dust found at home to the park the petty one goes to play. If you do not take the necessary measures to prevent exposure, and so the piercing may get infected.
  • Tight, uncomfortable earrings: Tight earrings press the hole tightly, slowing down the healing process. Too, information technology restricts air circulation around that area.
  • Abiding tugging at the ears: If your kid tugs the ears, then it tin can cause an accidental laceration of the piercing, which tin can get infected.
  • Fifty-fifty if all the instructions are followed there is always a chance of infection if the skin is pierced.  Do not postpone getting help if there is infection. Permit your healthcare worker appraise if yous are worried.

Your babe looks cute with those pretty earrings and you will non want that beauty to be disturbed by an infection. So, what can yous do about information technology?

[ Read: Best Teething Toys For Baby ]

How Should I Treat The Infection?

If you suspect an infection, then apply some disinfectant using a cotton wool swab and take your baby to the doctor. Do non endeavour to treat the infection on your ain. Certain remedies, such as hot compresses or running saline water on the ear, work for adults only tin can be harmful to the delicate skin of the babe. Yous may unintentionally compound the infection. A medical professional person is the right person to assess the infection and give the relevant medication. For about mild infections good cleaning and a topical antibiotic ointment will exist enough to treat. In some cases, oral antibiotics and/ or other treatments might exist needed.

Earrings give a new and adorable look to your baby. Get her ears pierced by a professional at a aseptic place. Then you take care of the pierced surface area so that it is non infected. Proper care for a few days will help your baby glide through the piercing with perfectly healed ears.

Have whatsoever tips or experience to share virtually your babe's ear piercing? Do tell us by leaving a comment below.

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Dr. Wayne Hough is a pediatrician currently based in the Northern Suburbs of Greatcoat Town in Due south Africa. He got his medical degree from the University of Stellenbosch. He then worked at the Tygerberg Children's Hospital earlier completing his pediatric training and qualification from the South African College of Medicine. Dr. Hough also holds a MMed degree in pediatrics from... more than

Rohit Garoo is a zoologist-botanist turned writer with over viii years of feel in content writing, content marketing, and copywriting. He has besides done an MBA in marketing and human being resources and worked in the domains of marketplace enquiry and eastward-commerce. Rohit writes topics related to wellness, health and evolution of babies. His manufactures featured on several notable websites, including... more