Thinking About Ear Piercing for Your Child? Here’s What to Expect

Whether your child’s ear piercing is aesthetic, cultural, or simply a desire on their part, there are a few key points for you as a parent to keep in mind. It’s an easy procedure, but it can raise the risk of infection, and their ears require effective care as they heal. 

Partnering with our team at Abdow Friendship Pediatrics in Rockville, Maryland, ensures the procedure takes place under safe medical conditions. If you’re considering ear piercing for your child, we’ve prepared this primer on what to expect from the process and required aftercare. 

How soon can your child have their ears pierced? 

The only health risk posed by piercing is a minor possibility of infection. We recommend that, if you choose piercing for an infant, as is common in some cultures, you wait until your child is at least four months old and in good health. 

This ensures their immune system has a chance to develop before the healing process begins after piercing. The risk of infection is low to start with, and the additional four months after birth adds a safety buffer. 

Studs and their construction

It’s easy to overlook the studs used in piercing. There’s no guarantee that a piercing done in a salon or spa comes with studs made from hypoallergenic materials. Nickel is often used, and it’s a material that frequently causes allergic reactions. 

While stainless steel is thought to be a neutral material, it can contain nickel. The best materials for biocompatibility are implant-grade titanium, niobium, or nickel-free 14-24-karat gold. 

Screw‑back or ball‑back studs are often safer for young children since they’re less likely to fall off and become a choking hazard. 

After care

We clean and sterilize your child’s ears at the time of piercing. It’s normal for there to be signs of irritation immediately after piercing, including sensitivity, redness, and swelling. 

To ensure fast and safe healing, we recommend these steps to reduce the risk of infection: 

• Wash your hands with soap and water before touching your child’s new piercing
• Handle your child’s piercing only when cleaning or inspecting their ear
• Wash your child’s ear daily with saline solution or a gentle soap that doesn’t irritate their skin
• We may recommend rotating their earring daily during healing
• Don’t remove the stud for 4-6 weeks after piercing

Older children can be responsible for their own stud care, but be sure to follow up and inspect their ears for signs of infection. This is easy to spot as their ear becomes red, painful, sensitive, warm to the touch, and swollen. There may also be discharge and a foul smell. 

Contact Abdow Friendship Pediatrics online or by phone today for your child’s ear piercing needs.