Piercing the baby’s ear by Queli
Pediatricians recommend that mothers only put earrings on their babies after the second or third month of life1. The reasoning is that the baby would be more protected against infections if she has received at least the first doses of her vaccines. Another reason is the risk of local infection, which could put the newborn’s life at risk. Others also point out that because the ear is so small, the piercing might not be done correctly. All of these arguments make perfect sense, especially when you consider that many children have their ears pierced at home, by a relative or friend. Pharmacies are authorized by ANVISA to perform this procedure using sterile earrings, with the help of an appropriate device, similar to a piercing gun.
As the mother of two princesses, I chose the pharmacy to get their ears pierced. Besides the piercing gun seeming less aggressive than piercing by hand, the sterile earring used at pharmacies rarely causes inflammation in the child’s little ear. In fact, my youngest daughter only wears “pharmacy earrings”, as other types, even gold, cause her allergies. Both had their ears pierced in the second week of life. I used 70% alcohol to keep the area clean and dried it gently. Neither of them had any inflammation. In case of inflammation, bleeding, or redness, it’s best to remove the earring immediately and see a pediatrician, who will advise on the appropriate medication and care2.
Piercing the ear by Patricia
So, I also had two experiences, and one of them was traumatic! Haha Joana was 10 days old and the maternity hospital didn’t offer ear piercing, so I took her to the pharmacy and the pharmacist used a piercing gun. Her ears reacted with an allergic response to the piercing even though the earring was surgical steel, but this wasn’t caused by the piercing process, it was just her body’s reaction. Joana is even allergic to gold earrings — the only ones she can wear are the pharmacy kind, how ironic, right? Getting Melissa’s ears pierced was much more peaceful, as it was done at the hospital by a nurse, and she didn’t have any reaction to the material either.
Piercing a baby’s ears is very common, and mothers even include earrings in the newborn layette. As Queli said, getting your baby’s ears pierced in a trustworthy place is essential and, afterwards, proper care is important. Twisting the earring three times a day and moving it forward and backward can help prevent the earring from sticking to the ear and help healing. If you have any problems like Queli mentioned, take your child to the pediatrician—sometimes an ointment can help.
There are many materials and models to choose from. Avoid hoop and dangle earrings, no matter how cute they look, because they can get caught on clothing and pull, which can really hurt the baby. The best earrings are studs or animal shapes, preferably with no sharp points. There are professionals who will come to your home to pierce your child’s ears — these are nurses who specialize in ear piercing, just look for one in your area. A pair of gold baby earrings costs about R$ 150. Piercing your baby’s ears is such an old habit that it’s part of the culture, so if you like the idea, even if you feel sorry, the sooner you do it the better!
A text written by four hands, by contributor Queli and me! Hope you enjoyed it! Kisses, see you soon!
See also: The Baby’s Bath
Photos: Vivara, Ryan Ruppe
