All you need to know about piercing your baby’s ears
Are you thinking of piercing your baby’s ears but wondering if it’s safe? If so, read this:
If you have a baby girl you may be wondering if you should pierce her ears. But is it safe?
The potential health risks
The short answer is no. That’s according to Suzanne Rossi, a paediatric resident at Johns Hopkins Hospital in the US. In a report cited on essentialbaby.com.au, Rossi lists the potential risks associated with ear piercing as bleeding, embedded butterflies, keloid scarring, allergic reactions, deformation of the auricle (the visible part of the ear), and post-traumatic tearing. The most prevalent symptom, occurring in 24% of all cases, is infection with discharge. Due to the small parts involved, there’s also a risk of choking. What’s more, babies with congenital heart disease face a higher risk of infection.
What these moms did
Johannesburg-based mom Tarryn Cohen says she had her daughter Ava’s ears pierced when she was four months old, and “it was great!” But Lara O’Flanerty, who hails from a South American culture where the custom is to pierce babies’ ears when they’re still very young (“probably because they argue that it’s less painful”) refused to follow tradition. “I always see posts from moms asking what to do when their baby’s ears get an infection,” she explains. “I think it’s largely a vanity thing – moms want to make sure people can see their little girl is, well, a girl.” And another mom, who prefers to remain anonymous, says she feels it isn’t fair to pierce a baby’s ears until they are old enough to tell you that this is, indeed, what they want.
Keep it clean
If you do decide to go for a piercing, it’s vital the procedure is performed by a doctor, nurse, or qualified technician. It’s also important to keep the piercing completely clean. Applying rubbing alcohol or an antiseptic cream may reduce the chances of infection. You should also ask the person who does the piercing whether they advise rotating the earring; while some people recommend this, others don’t. And, while those unicorn earrings may be irresistibly cute, a plain round, gold stud is the best choice, again because it carries the lowest risk of infection. The first prize, however, involves waiting until your little one is old enough to care for her piercing herself. After all, it’s just a few more years, and means you’ll have one less thing to worry about during the whirlwind of nappy changes and bottles.
