And if we were talking about ear piercing in children?

Ear piercing in babies

There are many decisions to make as parents. Whether it is food, clothing, choice of daycare and school or even religion, many things are completely in the hands of those who are responsible for raising their children.

In Quebec, and in many other cultures around the world, especially Latin countries, another question arises for babies, and sometimes infants; that of piercing babies' ears. There are two elements to this question.

1. "Will we get our child's ears pierced?" Which is more of an ethical question.
2. "And if so, when and how?" Which is more of a medical and practical nature.

The piercing dilemma is more controversial than ever before and each parent will have to form their own opinion. In a society where consent and bodily integrity are the subject of much thought, here are some elements that will enlighten you on the subject.

Recommendations from professional piercers and medical organizations

The Canadian Paediatric Society does not offer official recommendations. However, many doctors suggest waiting until the baby has received his first doses of vaccines to reduce the risks, although low, of tetanus and hepatitis B, so after 4 months. Our American neighbors at the American Academy of Pediatrics suggest having children's ears pierced when they are mature enough to take care of the pierced site themselves.

There is no consensus among professionals in the piercing community, each having their own internal rules. Despite this, many piercers and health professionals recommend waiting to perform this body modification. They therefore prefer that the child makes the request themselves, which generally occurs around the age of 5 or 6. Consent, body integrity and gender are then respected.

For a great piercing experience

What about the pain of this procedure? First, it is wrong to think that a baby feels less pain, he simply remembers it less. The argument of piercing earlier to avoid pain is less valid. On the other hand, it must be put into perspective, because the pain of an earlobe piercing is felt as a sharp pinch similar to vaccinations or stubbing your big toe. It is therefore a tolerable pain especially if distraction methods are used and the procedure is done calmly. In addition, many parents use an anesthetic gel before piercing which reduces this pain to practically zero.

Also, the ritual of getting their ears pierced can become a significant moment and a source of pride for the child who has made this decision themselves, so why not wait a few years for him/her to choose? In addition, if the child is old enough to be able to take care of his/her new earrings himself/herself it can encourage him/her to take responsibility.

Once the decision has been made, how should we proceed?

First of all, have the piercing done by a competent professional piercer with sterile and disposable equipment, whether needles or gun cartridges. It is important that the piercer sterilizes the earlobe before the procedure. This way, the risk of infection will be minimal. After the piercing, you will then need to follow these few hygiene tips:

• Avoid touching the curls during the day.
• With well-washed hands, turn the loops in their hole once a day.
• Apply antibiotic ointment or alcohol twice daily for the first few days.
• Keep the same earring for at least 6 consecutive weeks to allow for proper healing.
• Avoid swimming in pools, spas, lakes or the sea if possible.
• Consult a health professional if signs of infection are present

Aesthetically, some piercers say that to optimize proper alignment of the holes and good healing, one should wait until the baby's earlobes are large enough to be pierced, often after 3 months.

Next, it is advisable to use stud earrings rather than rings or dangling earrings to prevent your baby from handling and snagging them.

The loops should also be made of surgical steel, titanium or 14, 18 or 24K gold to avoid the risk of contact allergies. Nickel is the main metal to avoid.

Finally, the risks of piercing, namely: bleeding, infections, allergies from contact with metals, traumatic tears of the lobe and ingrown earrings, will be greatly reduced by following these simple tips.

So what is the right decision for your child? Ear piercing is a personal and family choice, but I hope this information will help you think about it and help you make an informed decision.

Thanks to Dr. Claudia Munger, February 24, 2022

Family doctor, Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, Canada

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Sources:

Hopkinsmedicine. (2015). The Risks of Infant Ear Piercing. Available on:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/articles/the-risks-of-infant-ear-piercing (Accessed February 22, 2022)

DAWKINS, Rachel. (2017). How to Safely Get Your Child's Ears Pierced. Hopkinsallchildrens. Available at: https://www.hopkinsallchildrens.org/ACH-News/General-News/How-to-Safely-Get-Your-Child-s-Ears-Pierced (Accessed February 22, 2022)

GLABEL, Cécile. (2014) Ear piercing: five things to know. Lapresse. Available at: https://plus.lapresse.ca/screens/4d0d-7304-530777e1-baba-6f61ac1c6068__7C___0.html (Accessed February 22, 2022)

RABKIN PEACHMAN, Rachel. (2016) Ear Piercing For Kids: Safety Tips From a Pediatrician. Rileychildrens. Available at: https://www.rileychildrens.org/connections/ear-piercing-for-kids-safety-tips-from-a-pediatrician (Accessed 22 February 2022)

RIVERA-SPOLJARIC, Katherine. (2018) Ear Piercings for Babies | A Cultural Controversy. Childrensmd. Available at: https://childrensmd.org/browse-by-age-group/newborn-infants/ear-piercings-for-babies/ (Accessed 22 February 2022)

HARBER, Richard. To Pierce or Not to Pierce, That is the Question. Montreal Children's Hospital. Available at: https://www.childrenshospital.com/health-info/diseases-and-illnesses/pierce-or-not-pierce-that-is-the-question (Accessed February 22, 2022)

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2007) Avoiding Infection After Ear Piercing. Available at: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/ear-nose-throat/Pages/Avoiding-Infection-After-Ear-Piercing.aspx (Accessed February 22, 2022)