Parents are frequently concerned about their kids’ ear piercings. Right after giving birth, you might have concerns about having your baby’s ears pierced or waiting for them to be a little older. Also, infections are another common concern for parents.
In this article, we at Omega Pediatrics will answer the most frequently asked questions about baby ear piercings. We hope to enlighten you and clear your doubts if you’re thinking about having the procedure for your baby.
1. At what age can a child get their ears pierced?
There’s no appropriate age for ear piercing, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). It’s recommended, though, when the child is mature enough to understand how it works.
Pediatricians, however, advise against ear piercings in newborns. They recommend that parents wait until their child gets older to fully understand how to take care of their pierced ears.
Omega Pediatrics believes children aged 2 to 10 are the best age for ear piercings. Children should have received tetanus vaccinations at two years old by then, and the earlobes should be soft but not too delicate.
In addition, children aged ten and under are less likely to develop keloids—the overgrowth of the scar tissues.
At this point, it should be stressed that ear piercing is purely a personal choice, and therefore, not a requirement. If you decide to have your children’s ears pierced, go to a pediatrician that offers ear piercing services.
With a pediatrician, you are guaranteed safe and hygienic practices for your children’s ear piercings.
2. Is it safe to pierce a child’s ears?
Yes, it’s safe to pierce a child’s ears, provided the procedure is done correctly in a safe and sterile environment. Moreover, use hypoallergenic earrings and be prepared for the appropriate aftercare maintenance.
3. What are the risks associated with ear piercing for children?
The most common risk associated with child ear piercings is infection. However, your child may also experience bleeding, allergies, post-traumatic tearing, embedded backing, and auricle deformation.
For children above 11 years old, keloid formation is possible. So, if your family has a history of keloids, have your child’s ears pierced before age 11 to avoid further health complications.
4. How long does it take for a child’s ears to heal after a piercing?
It takes 4 to 6 weeks before your child’s ear piercing heals. If you remove the earrings when they aren’t fully healed, there’s a possibility that your child’s ear holes will close again.
5. How do I prepare my child for their ear piercing?
To prepare your child for their ear piercing, let them know beforehand so they won’t be surprised during the session. When the appointment comes, your kid should be in a good mood, cheerful, and alert. It would be stressful if your child is hungry and irritable
6. How should I care for my child’s newly pierced ears?
After your child’s ears are pierced, don’t remove the earrings for six weeks straight. You and your child should also not touch the earrings unless you are cleaning the area. Clean the site and the surrounding skin twice daily with soap and warm water.
7. How can I prevent my child from touching their newly pierced ears?
To avoid infections, it’s best that you have your child’s ear pierced when he/ she is old enough to take care of pierced ears. Tell them how important it is to follow proper aftercare and how they shouldn’t touch their ears. Let your kids always wash their hands as well.
However, if your kid ever accidentally touches his/her ears, the pierced area will likely be susceptible to bacteria buildup.
8. Should I use an antiseptic solution on my child’s newly pierced ears?
You shouldn’t use an antiseptic solution for your kid’s newly pierced ears. These usually contain harsh ingredients that may harm your little one’s ears. Instead, use antibacterial soap and warm water to clean your child’s ears.
9. Can a child swim with newly pierced ears?
A child can only swim with newly pierced ears two weeks after the piercing date. This prevents bacteria from entering your child’s newly pierced ears.
10. Can a child wear earrings during sports activities?
After the six-week healing period, it’s recommended that your child remove his/her earrings when participating in sports or any rigorous activities. Within the healing period, it would be best if your child didn’t participate in any contact sports to guarantee full healing.
11. What types of earrings are safe for children to wear?
For safety reasons, children should wear hypoallergenic earrings made with surgical steel, gold, titanium, or sterling silver. Avoid nickel earrings and those that are long and dangling to avoid being pulled and tugged and accidental tearing.
12. How long should I wait before changing my child’s earrings?
You must complete the six-week healing period if you intend to change your child’s earrings. Replace your child’s earrings with hypoallergenic ones after the healing period.
13. Can a child’s ears close up if they don’t wear earrings?
Within the first few months of your child’s newly pierced ears, the hole may close after a day or two if your child doesn’t wear the earrings. So, complete the six-week healing period to lessen the chances of your baby’s ear holes closing up.
14. How can I tell if my child is allergic to their earrings?
Usually, allergies happen with earrings with nickel content. Your child may manifest symptoms near the pierced site, such as blisters, patches of dry skin, color changes from red to purple, intense itching, and bumps or rashes.
15. When should I take my child to see a doctor for an ear piercing-related problem?
Urgently see a doctor if your newly pierced kid has a fever and an infection or when the upper ear is swollen and red. Also, contact your doctor if your child’s earrings are stuck in the earlobe, have a swollen lymph node, or have a thick scar near the piercing site.
16. How do I choose a reputable ear piercing professional for my child?
Ask your pediatrician and/or family and friends for recommendations to find a reputable ear piercing professional. You can also look for reviews online to know how they treat their customers. Just ensure the piercer is a trained professional and practices proper hygiene.
17. Can a child’s ears be pierced at a pediatrician’s office?
Your child’s ears can be pierced at a pediatrician’s office. In fact, this is the best place for your child’s ear piercing. Pediatricians practice safe, sterile, medical-grade procedures that give your child the best care possible.
Do note, though, that not all pediatric clinics offer ear piercing services.
If you’re looking for a pediatrician that does ear piercing in Roswell, Georgia, consider Omega Pediatrics. We offer professional pediatric ear piercing services that ensure your child is less likely to develop an infection after the procedure.
18. Is getting a child’s ears pierced at a jewelry store or a professional piercing shop better?
Getting your child’s ears pierced at a professional piercing shop is better than at a jewelry store. Jewelry store personnel usually don’t have adequate training for a child’s ear piercing. Also, most of them use piercing guns, which are relatively unsafe for children.
Professional piercing shops, such as tattoo parlors, have trained personnel for ear piercing. Hence, your child is better off in these specialty shops than in jewelry stores.
19. Can a child get their ears pierced with a gun, or should a needle be used?
Piercing guns are not safe and hygienic for both children and adults. That’s because reusable piercing guns cannot be sterilized. Other than that, it also causes significant tissue damage and blunt force trauma. Opt for a needle instead, if possible.
20. How much does a child’s ear piercing cost?
Ear piercing services for children cost anywhere from $20 to $100 for both ears. It’s cheaper—and sometimes free—to get it done in a jewelry shop, a department store, or a mall kiosk. The cost varies depending on the provider and the choice of earrings.
It’s more expensive to get it done by a pediatrician or a professional piercer at a tattoo parlor. However, we at Omega Pediatrics, don’t recommend having your child’s ears pierced at retail outlets in the mall.
Key Takeaways
Ear piercings for your child are definitely a personal choice, not a requirement. But once you’ve decided, ensure that the procedure will be performed in a safe and sterile environment to avoid infections and other risky complications.
While there’s no set age for ear piercing, we at Omega Pediatrics recommend waiting until your kids are old enough to understand how to care for their pierced ears.
Children aged 2 to 10 are the best age group for ear piercing because their earlobes are soft but not too delicate. And they have most likely received their tetanus vaccination.
When choosing your baby’s earrings, choose hypoallergenic earrings made of surgical steel, gold, titanium, and sterling silver. Nickel and long, dangling earrings should be avoided.
After the procedure, you should be ready for your child’s ear piercing aftercare– cleaning the ears twice a day with soap and warm water and not removing the earrings for at least six weeks to prevent the ear hole from closing.
You should also let your child avoid contact sports until the piercing has healed completely—four to six weeks. If your child encounters problems, seek medical attention immediately.
We hope the outlined FAQs have given you insight and provided you with straightforward answers to your inquiries. It serves as a helpful guide so you can thoroughly decide whether you’ll go ahead with your child’s ear piercing.
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