Is It Safe to Pierce a Baby's Ears?

Piercing a baby's ears is an accepted practice in many cultures, including here in America, although many parents within the Western culture wonder how safe piercing a baby's ears actually is. The topic of baby ear piercing can turn into a heated debated between parents, as some see it as socially acceptable and others see it as dangerous and unnecessary. This article will discuss the risks of piercing baby's ears so that those considering it can weigh the pros and cons and come to an informed decision.

Know the risks of piercing baby's ears.

Parents make the decision to have their child's ears pierced at a very early age for various reasons. Some do it for cultural reasons, others do it for purely cosmetic ones. Whatever the reason, the decision should not be taken lightly. There are definite risks involved with piercing a baby's ears . While these risks may be small, and not likely to lead to death, they should be considered nonetheless.

Infection - Infection is the leading safety concern when you pierce baby's ears. Young children have not developed a strong immune system and may not be able to fight off an infection if it develops. Additionally, an infant will not be able to communicate if they are not feeling well, or if they are in substantial pain.

Allergic reaction - Infants have very sensitive skin, which is why we use special bath soap, laundry detergent, etc. Some babies can have a serious allergic reaction to the metals in the earrings. Because babies will not be able to communicate their discomfort, and often rub their ears anyway, you may not realize that an allergic reaction is occurring.

Choking - Choking is another serious risk of piercing a very young child's ears. The backing to the earring, or even the earring itself, can easily slip off and end up in the baby's mouth.

Torn earlobes - Infants don't have much control over their limbs and may accidentally rip at their earrings and tear the earlobes in the process. This risk does not decrease as your baby ages, as an older baby will pull at their ears during teething. There is also a risk of the earring getting caught on blankets and other bedding and ripping the earlobes.

How to decrease the risk:

- The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents wait to pierce their baby's ears until the children are old enough to care for the piercing themselves. Not only will this lower the risk of infection, but the danger of a small baby accidentally swallowing the small earring is minimized substantially.

- If you decide to pierce a baby's ears in spite of the risks, it is recommended that you wait until she has received at least one round of vaccinations. Some piercing salons require proof vaccines, by way of a shot record, before they will perform this procedure on an infant. These vaccines will help your baby fight an infection if one should develop.

- Don't take your infant to any salon or jewelry store that offers ear piercing. Find a specialist that is qualified in baby ear piercing. Your pediatrician, for example, may offer this service. If it is not done in a medical facility, be sure that it is done in a sterile environment.

- Be diligent about cleaning and turning the earrings on your baby as recommended by your pediatrician.

- Ensure that the earrings are made of surgical steel or solid gold. This includes not just the earrings themselves, but the backing as well. This will minimize the chances of an allergic reaction.

- Look for earrings that cannot come loose, such as those with lock-on or screw-on backs. These earrings aren't much more expensive than regular ones, but you'll have the peace of mind of knowing they can't come off without your knowledge.

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