Getting Babies’ Ears Pierced - What You Need to Know

Ear piercing for babies is always a matter of concern with parents. Whenever a baby is born parents pop up different questions around theirbaby’s ear piercing. Most often, parents are worried about infections. Sometimes they have their own stories about their ear piercings to share. Mostly if it did not go well for them, they would presume it to not go well for their babies too.

Several concerns are often an answer away. Things you might want to read if you’re thinking ofpiercing your baby’s ears are being answered below.

When Can I Pierce My Baby's Ears? 

People often wonder when they can pierce their baby’s ears. To answer it, we can only say there is no preferable time for it. Many beliefs give rise to many ways of living. It differs from culture to culture, people to people. 

The most appropriate age forpiercing your baby’s ears is frankly whenever you want, mostly after six months from birth. During the first six months, doctors advise not to go for yourbaby’s ear piercingas the ear lobes are soft, and the body is not too strong to tolerateear piercing infections. Anytime after that phase, the ear piercing can be done on babies. 

One must be sure of a few things before going for your baby’s ear piercing

• Jewelry made of at least either 14K gold or 925 sterling silver is important to prevent metal allergies in your children.
• Earrings must be simple in design. If you’re going for studs make sure, they have screw backs for ultimate safety. Screw backs are difficult to remove and children cannot remove them on their own.
• The sizes of baby earrings must be checked and children must not be given adult earrings.
• Parents must check with the place where they plan to do the piercing. Ask them to not use piercing guns, instead to use needles for carrying out your baby’s ear piercings. Tearing your baby’s ear lobes is a problem arising from the use of guns.

If you take these precautions there are very few chances, yourbaby’s ear piercings can get infected.  

Types of Baby Piercing Earrings

Make sure that the earrings you choose for your baby’s first earrings are appropriate for infants. This means taking things like material, size, and design into consideration.

• Material: Use earrings made of 14k gold or 925 sterling silver  to minimize the likelihood of an allergic reaction.

• Construction: The earrings you select for your baby should be durable and child-resistant. Look for baby earrings with safety screw backs, as these are more difficult for a child to remove.

• Size: Baby earrings should be appropriately sized for infants, as kid and adult sized earrings may be too large.

Complications & Risks

Ear piercing is a form of body modification and as such comes with its own set of risks.

• Infection -Babies’ immune systems are not as strong as those of older children and adults, so they are more susceptible to infections.

• Allergies - Infants may develop an allergic reaction to the metals used in earrings. For this reason, it’s wise to look for earrings that are hypoallergenic. Be wary of any rash or swelling that may occur after the ear piercing procedure and notify your doctor immediately, as this could be a sign of an allergic reaction.

• Choking -Earrings may present a choking hazard to your baby. This risk can be reduced if you choose safety back earrings that are difficult for your child to remove.

• Tearing of earlobe - It is best to avoid dangling or hoop earrings as these can increase the risk of your child tearing his or her earlobe.

Which Place to Pierce your Baby’s Ears?

Mostly consulting your doctor for suggesting a suitable place to carry out thebaby’s ear piercing is the best way to find out the right place. Most often it is important to avoid commercial places. They usually have the least experience in handlingear piercings for babies.

Good aftercare can help manage yourbaby’s ear piercings from turning infected. Cleaning your baby’s ears can be done by using the after-piercing cleaning solutions they provide you from the ear piercing centers. After cleaning them, you must pat them dry softly.

Most places would ask you to keep the earrings on the baby for an 8-10 week span. Swapping earrings should involve appropriate cleaning techniques for the ear piercings. 

Ear piercing for babies should never be a hasty decision. You must always have some extra time in hand if you wish to go for yourbaby’s ear piercings. Remember,piercing your baby’s ears is a personal choice and must be taken up only when you as a parent feel it is right.

The Procedure

The actual piercing procedure is very quick, but keep in mind your baby will cry during and after. However, this pain is minimal and is comparable to getting a shot. To ease the pain, you can give your child a small amount of ibuprofen or acetaminophen (with your doctor’s permission).

The piercer will use a sterilized needle to pierce each ear. Afterwards, they will clean the pierced area and insert the earrings of your choice into your child’s ears.

How to Care for Baby’s Pierced Ears

Proper aftercare is essential for the healing process. Your child may start touching his or her ears after they’re pierced, which can increase the risk of infection. Makes sure you follow basic aftercare instructions and gently clean your baby’s earlobes with hydrogen peroxide or alcohol several times a day (after washing your hands, of course!) . You’ll also want to gently rotate the earrings periodically per your doctor’s instructions.

Most piercers will recommend that you keep the earrings in for 6-8 weeks. When you’re ready to swap them out for a new pair, be sure to keep up with good cleaning habits and use earrings made of hypoallergenic materials such as sterling silver, 14K gold or surgical steel to prevent allergic reactions.

Getting Babies’ Ears Pierced: Next Steps

Piercing your baby’s ears is a personal decision, and something that you should not take lightly. Consider all the important safety factors and find a reputable piercer before making an appointment, and stay in touch with your doctor to discuss any potential risks that are specific to your child.

When you’re ready to shop for your baby, hop over to InSeasonJewelry.com to browse our collections of baby earrings and other baby jewelry. We offer a variety of baby earring styles in sterling silver, solid gold and much more.