Piercing kids’ ears has been a tradition in many families for generations. Girls, as well as boys, end up having their ears pierced when they are young. It is one of those events that many parents and families look forward to. But some things need to be kept in mind before moving ahead with this decision.
The best age for ear piercing could be an individual’s choice since the reasons to pierce the ear vary from person to person. Generally, piercing your child’s ears when she is an infant is not advised. This is due to the simple reason that a tiny infant lacks the immune strength necessary to fight an infection, should it occur so. Hence, carrying out the piercing after the baby is at least 6 months old or older is recommended.
If you would like your child to have a say in getting the piercing, then it is advisable to wait till your child is about 9 or 10 years old.
The method of carrying out a piercing depends on where the piercing would be done. Most salons that offer piercing services make use of a mechanised gun that has sterilised studs. Piercings are generally done for both the ears at the same time, should a kid choose to not return after getting one ear pierced. Tattoo studios make use of sterile surgical needles that provide an extra level of hygiene over the mechanised gun. In India, many parents take their children to a trusted jeweller, who uses a fine gold wire to pierce the earlobe.
Families might recommend using their traditional piercers who have been doing it for generations. However, the piercing should only be done by professionals, with the use of proper gloves and hygienic, sterile tools. They should also have first-aid kits at hand.
For the first earrings, ones that are made out of surgical stainless steel are available. These contain no alloys that could cause allergies and, hence, are the safest choice for the baby’s first earrings. Ear piercing studs for children could also be available in platinum, titanium and the popular 14-carat gold. Do avoid choosing earrings made out of white gold, since it might contain nickel which could cause an allergy. Your doctor can recommend which metals are the safest for your child’s first earrings.
If the right precautions are not taken while piercing, there are chances that the hole might get infected. The infection starts showing itself in the form of swelling and redness in the area of the ear. Your child might feel the need to itch it and can experience pain. If there is any drainage occurring, this could be a sign of pus formation. A doctor would be able to tell if the symptoms are that of an allergy or an infection. An allergy can be easily mitigated by using different earrings. In case of an infection, the earrings must be removed, and the area must be cleaned. A dose of antibiotics would also be prescribed to fight off the bacteria. During the healing, the hole might close up, and this might need to be pierced again. One should wait at least for 6-8 months before attempting a piercing again and should avoid doing so repeatedly.
Until the piercing wound has properly healed, it is advised that your kids do not engage in extreme physical activities or play games where there is a lot of physical contact between kids. Avoid swimming as well since the germs from the pool could end up infecting the wound.
Ear piercing for children can make them quite happy and excited. Many kids tend to see their parents’ earrings and want the same for themselves. But it is essential to ensure that proper care is taken to prevent infections.
Resources & References: Parents, Riley Children’s Health