Ear piercing is one of the norms and is common for children. Some parents have their kids' ears pierced shortly after birth, while some wait until they get a little older.
Such piercing cultural ties are a rite of passage that some parents are unaware of. It can have pros and cons and can be tricky most of the time.
Dr. Kimberly Schneider, a pediatrician at Indiana University Health, suggests parents wait until their children turn three months old before having their ears pierced.
Ear piercing poses dangers to children, especially the risk of infection; thus, parents must wait until their baby is older as it is also for their safety.
On the other hand, Doctor NDTV explains that ear piercing helps to activate both sides of the brain. Consequently, piercing a baby's ears is important, especially during the first eight months, as their brain is still developing. Furthermore, it also helps to improve the baby's vision as the center point of the ear is also the main epicenter for vision.
What is the right age for kids to have ear piercings?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises parents to wait until the child can fully take care of herself, especially her piercing. Many doctors suggest waiting until the child is at least four, but it still depends on what the parents want and what they think is the safest age for their children.
Ear piercing is a parental decision that one should not take lightly, as it can risk the children's health or life. Many physicians and experts agree that there is no right age for ear piercing in children, but they believe that children must be pierced when they are ready; thus, infants and toddlers should not be ear pierced because they can't still decide on what they want. If a child is too young, it means they are still not ready to take care of themselves, as they cannot yet clean and maintain the cleanliness of their ear piercings, per Parents.
Also, the AAP adds that although piercing guns are readily accessible and are easy to use, they are not safe, especially for children, as reusable ear piercing guns can put them in contact with the blood and body fluids of the last person using them. Piercing can also cause significant tissue damage as many ear-piercing studs are tedious to put on. They compress the tissue, which prevents it from healing.
Choosing what is safe for the health over beauty
Carithers suggests letting pediatricians pierce kids' ears as they are professionals and are knowledgeable enough in terms of such. Doctors are already familiar with the child and their medical history. They will also be able to see the child's vaccination history to ensure that the kid has received the suggested immunizations before having an ear piercing.
Johns Hopkins Medicine explains that parents must see that the procedure is safe, which means they should see that the person who will pierce their kid's ears will wash their hands, use hand sanitizers, or wear gloves before even starting the procedure. Professionals must begin by cleaning ears with a special soap that ousts bacteria, and the jewelry must be sterilized at all times before use.
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