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In many parts of the world, ear piercing is a tradition, not a cosmetic process. If you are thinking about piercing your baby’s ears and are worried about the issues the small baby faces and the risks involved in piercing, you are at the right place. In this blog, we go through the details of baby piercing, like precautions, risks, where to get pierced, aftercare and a lot more.
When to get your baby’s ears pierced?
Some individuals get their baby’s ear pierced at an early age, while some individuals let their child grow up and decide whether they want to get their ear pierced. In a lot of cultures, it’s a custom to pierce a baby’s ears. In Latin America and Spain, it’s customary to get a baby girl’s ear pierced within days of birth.
Some Asian, Middle Eastern and African countries all follow ear piercing as a custom. In Hinduism, it is customary to get a child pierced between the ages of 1 and 5, and the tradition is called karnavedha. However, according to medical science, the baby should get an ear piercing only after they are a minimum of three months old. The baby has good immunity by 3 months as related to a newborn. The baby must have received a few vaccines which are better for their immunity.
Is ear piercing safe for the baby?
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It’s safe for the baby to get their ears pierced if the piercing is done with proper care using sterilised equipment and aftercare is done correctly. The individual performing the piercing should be experienced and qualified for baby piercing. The most important thing is to know which material is being pierced in the baby’s ear and if it is safe.
What are the risks of a baby’s ear piercing?
It is generally considered safe, but there are some risks in a baby’s ear piercing. Even if the ear piercing is done at a known place and by a qualified piercer, it may show some complications during the healing process. Nickel should be avoided in piercings as it may cause allergic reactions in babies.
The biggest issues in infant piercing are infection and loose earrings getting dislodged and entering the baby’s mouth, causing a lot of trouble. Screw-back earrings should be utilized to keep away such incidents.
How do you keep down pain during and after ear piercing in babies?
Babies don’t know what they are going through when they are being pierced. Piercing can be hurting for infants and it is recommended to finish the ear piercing quickly. A skillful piercer can handle the situation and complete the piercing without any problems. Ice packs should be utilized before and after the ear piercing to insensate the spot. Some piercers even use a bit of topical anaesthesia on the earlobes of the infant just before the procedure.
Infants can’t express their pain. So the after should be done regularly with care. Babies should be diverted for the first few days after piercing, as they may feel uneasy.
Additional aftercare tips include never removing the earrings before six weeks of piercing to keep away the holes from closing. Avoid touching earlobes needlessly and clean hands are a must before touching the piercing.
Lookout for an infection that shows signs like fever, pain, bleeding, discharge from the piercing and inflammation. Other symptoms of infection can be redness or the region close to the piercing becoming warm than usual. Placing antibiotic cream or ointment on the front and back of the earlobe can lead to fast healing and keeping the infections away.
Which is the best jewellery to be used for the ear piercing of babies?
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14k gold or higher is best for babies, and nickel should be avoided as it can cause infections. The earring should be round, small and flat for a baby’s ear piercing. Always be watchful in choosing the piercing spot and the piercer. The procedure of ear piercing can be done with a needle or a piercing gun but it should be correctly sterilised and done with adequate care and soft hands. The aftercare is crucial along with the preference of ornaments. Make easy for the baby, as a smiling baby means smiling parents.
Ear piercing can be a beautiful custom for your baby if done with caution. Comfort, safety, and aftercare should be the priority.
