Piercing Infants Ears?

[Krojas21]

First off let me please state that I'm not posting this to start a debate. I was just wondering if there is any medical thoughts out there as to how early is too early to pierce an infants ears. Again please don't make this a debate.

I have seen babies less than 5 days old with pierced ears. Is there any medical reason to wait until a certain age. I have heard from one salon that parents should wait until at least x amount of time so that the cartilage can form first. Besides saftey (possible swallowing or tearing), infection and alergic reation to the metal are they any concerns about piercing a babies ears in the first few months of life?

Plus if any of you work in ped clinics do the Docs pierce the ears of infants if the parent wants? Who supplys the baby safe studs (with screw on backs) if they will (the parent or the doc)? I have seen infants earings with screw on backs in catalogs but I don't they are for starting the whole (pointed). If the docs do them how are they done (stud gun or needle)? Thanks in advance.

PS Please don't start a debate on wheather parents even should. I only want more non judgmental info, thanks.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

I think it's cute, but I remember how excited I was at 12 when my mom took me to get my ears pierced...it was practically a rite of passage for me! I think I would have been a bit bummed to have missed out on it (but then again, I would have been the envy of all my friends!).

No other input other than an opinion.... :)

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I think it's cute, but I remember how excited I was at 12 when my mom took me to get my ears pierced...it was practically a rite of passage for me! I think I would have been a bit bummed to have missed out on it (but then again, I would have been the envy of all my friends!).

No other input other than an opinion.... :)

That is exactly what I experienced - it was so cool to finally be able to get my ears pierced. I went with a friend to the mall and had it done. I was so excited.

For that reason I decided to let my daughter decide if she wanted them pierced in the first place and then let her experience the "rite of passage".

Like shaving your legs for the first time - wow, I felt so grown up.

I haven't heard anything about the timing of placing holes in babies ears though . . . although I would worry about them grabbing them and maybe having them come off and then put them in their mouth.

steph

[NurseLatteDNP, MSN, DNP, RN]

My daughter got her ears pearced when she was 3 months old. I did it early, because I did not want to wait until she is old enough to pull on the earrings while they are healing.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

In my MIL's day all the girls in her family were pierced in early childhood and a loop of heavy black thread was left tied through the ear to keep it open. The girls were told to keep pulling on the thread and to pull it back and forth through the hole!

I remember this!

steph

[bioniclewoman]

Around here, most everyone gets their daughter's pierced not long after they come home from the hospital. I think it depends on where your from weather people think it's a good idea or not. Here a friend or family member usually does it because the shops will tell you to wait until they are at least 6 months. I don't have any daughters so I don't know how it is done. I know they used to sell a disposible piercing guns at stores like Walgreens, but I don't know if they still do. I think the babies look so cute pierced and the great thing is that you don't have to over do the pink so every known you have a girl because the earings scream "I'm a girl".:heartbeat