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Whether for personal or religious reasons, many parents choose to get their child’s ears pierced. Many kids ask their parents to have the procedure done at a young age. However, many times parents bring their children to a place to get their ears pierced that is either unsanitary or the person doing the procedure is not experienced enough to do it right.
If you do choose to pierce your child’s ears at a young age, be aware they could possibly tear the earring out of their ear using their hands or by getting it caught on something while playing. To mitigate risk, we suggest only piercing your child’s ears with studs, never hoops. These types of earrings are less likely to get caught on something and tear.
Many pediatricians have heard horror story after horror story about botched ear piercing procedures that left kids with scarring or infection. If you are considering taking your child in to get their ears pierced, consider instead taking them to a medical professional. Here is a list of a few reasons why you should have your child’s ears pierced by a medical professional.
Lower Risk of Infection
The risk of infection is present in all ear piercing procedures. However, when it comes to kids and young infants, the risk is even greater. If your child is too young or irresponsible enough to do after care of the piercings – the job falls to parents. If the child is an infant and the piercing becomes infected the risk becomes much greater. If an infant develops a fever, depending on protocols this could warrant a trip to the hospital. For this reason, a lot of doctors will not pierce a child’s ears until they are at least the age of four months and serious side effects are less likely.
Risk of an Allergic Reaction Mitigated
When children are very small, it is still uncertain if they have any allergies. Certain people can be sensitive to types of metal that earrings are made with. That’s because some metals contain nickel, a common allergen for a lot of people. Best practice is to only pierce ears with precious metals like gold or even some type of nickel-free metal such as surgical steel. Should your child experience some type of reaction to the metal, they are already in the care of a medical professional who can quickly get your child the care they need to counteract the allergen. Plus, medical professionals will only use the very best, high- quality tools and materials to do the procedure. You know that when you are in a medical practice, the tools being used will be sterile and medical-grade.
You and Your Child Will Have Peace of Mind
Even if it is minor and very common, ear piercings are still a medical procedure. This can be a bit scary for you and your child, alike. The best pediatrician will offer a soothing presence in a moment of anxiety for your child, especially if they are afraid of needles or scared of the piercing tools. Pediatricians, such as a Bradon Pediatrician, know how to talk to and interact with kids. Even if the procedure was their idea and your child is excited at the prospect of pierced ears, when the moment comes they can be very nervous. Thus, a medical professional will be able to offer some kind, comforting words to an anxious, nervous child.
Overall, whether you are thinking of getting your child’s ears pierced or if they have been begging you for it for months and have finally worn you down, getting your child’s ears pierced by a medical professional is a very good idea for a multitude of reasons. From keeping your child safe from infection to offering some words of comfort in a nervous moment, pediatricians and medical professionals are trained to help kids get through scary moments such as these.
