Should You Pierce Your Baby's Ears?

Ear piercing is a very common practice around the world. It has become normal in the United States to have the ear lobes pierced, and it's becoming increasingly more common for other areas of the body to be pierced. These areas may include other parts of the ear, the nose, tongue and navel.

Many mothers get excited about all of the dressing up and fun things that can be associated with having a little girl. I often see infant girls with their ears pierced. Lots of women make the decision to pierce their baby's ears. It may be a tradition in their family, they may feel pressure from others, or perhaps they just feel it puts the finishing touch on all of the cute girl clothes available today.

If you are thinking of piercing your baby's ears it is a good idea to weigh the pros and cons before doing so. You can make the decision that is best for your daughter and one that you are comfortable with.

When considering piercing your daughter's ears, ask yourself your motivations. Simply wanting to do it for fun isn't the greatest of reasons. Ear piercing isn't entirely safe. The risk of infection does exist and a newborn or small child would not be as prepared to deal with those infections. Infection can cause pain and swelling. It could also cause other more serious damage to the ear, but it is rare.

Unless a disposable gun is used, there is always the risk of contracting a serious disease. HIV/AIDS and hepatitis are just a couple of the serious and deadly viruses you could expose her to by having her ear's pierced.

There is also always risk of a choking hazard if you decide to have them pierced. Infant earrings are designed differently and are "safer," but there is always room for failure. An older infant could grab at their earrings and be successful at removing them. We all know that babies love to put things into their mouths. Swalling an earring could end up to be fatal.

When you pierce your baby's ears, you are also eliminating a possible special memorable event for them. One of the key things I remember of my childhood was choosing to have my ears pierced and having my father take me. When a girl is older, it is almost a "coming of age" ritual to have their ears pierced. It makes them feel grown up and it is something they will remember for years to come. Piercing before five years will almost ensure it will be something they do not remember.

Piercing an infant's ears can also be a positive experience. It is sure to get many compliments and jaw-drops as strangers stare in awe at your beautiful baby girl. You'll love the reactions that you'll get as people gawk over how cute she is with her "big girl" earrings.

If you pierce their ears early you won't have to worry about doing it again (unless infection occurs). A lot of older girls end up having to pierce a second or even third time because they do not properly care for them. Not properly caring for freshly pierced ears can cause them to close up or become infected, thus forcing the removal of the earrings. I had mine pierced three times due to failure to take care of them as I should have.

Early piercing may also ensure better location of the hole. Older children will often flinch or are horrified of the needle. This can lead to a slightly "off" hole. Piercing a sleeping baby makes for some of the most centered locations.

There are pros and cons to piercing a young child. If you decide to pierce early, make sure that the tools used are new and in a sealed package. Take proper care of the lobe and piercing site and make sure that you watch your child carefully to lessen the risk of a choking or injury incident.