"At the age of 10 she's probably old enough to know what she wants, and realistically be in charge of keeping the piercing and the earrings clean – this could be a good opportunity to teach responsibility. "Remember that age 10 is just the average age that children have their ears pierced, it's not a rule.
Getting your ears pierced is a very personal decision, one which cannot and should not be taken lightly. Not only are their potential risks to this procedure, but it is also a matter of consent. Many physicians and piercing experts agree: Children should not be pierced before they are ready.
You can consult with your pediatrician on whether to pierce your baby's ears, but many recommend that your baby is at least three months old. Some people pierce their kids' ears during infancy while others will wait until the child is mature enough to take care of the piercing site.
An infected ear piercing can also develop years after a person got the original piercing. Usually, the infections are minor, and people can treat them at home without complications. Touching the piercing too often with dirty hands or not cleaning the area can lead to infections.
Piercing with a gun is the quickest method compared to a needle piercing. With a gun the piercing, insertion of the stud and back are all carried out in a split second whereas with a needle piercing all 3 stages are done separately and manually.
"After years, it is likely that the hole will remain open, however, this varies based on how long you've had the piercing and also on your body's healing abilities," said Frances Miranda, Studex corporate trainer and business development manager.
For your first piercing, we advise that you wear only tiny or light stud earrings. Light stud earrings with posts will keep your piercing open as the tissue adjusts to the new shape—a tiny hole in the skin—and seasons itself to it without causing discomfort.
Surgical stainless steel earrings are typically your best bet for new piercings, as this metal is the least likely to cause an allergic reaction. Nickel and cobalt allergies are very common, so avoid these metals when you first get your ears pierced.
Explain Your Kid's Ear Piercing Process Positively
Assure them that getting their ears pierced is safe and only takes a few minutes. Some ways to generate good vibes before an ear piercing appointment can be: Talk about the type of earrings they can choose. Point out how this is another wonderful part of growing up.
Although a survey we've just done found 10 is the average age children are first getting their ears pierced, and one in six children have their ears pierced when aged five or under, 60 per cent of parents believe the legal age to get ear piercings should be at least 16.
There are also a host of associated complications with getting piercings, including bleeding, allergic reactions and post traumatic tearing, as found by Johns Hopkins Medicine. Beyond these medical reasons, there is a very moral reason to not pierce a child's ears: bodily autonomy.
The American Academy of Pediatrics' website says ear piercing is safe for cosmetic reasons at any age. Though, when it comes to avoiding earlobe infection, they caution parents as a general guideline to “postpone the piercing until your child is mature enough to take care of the pierced site herself.”
It is completely normal for your child's ears to hurt and feel swollen for a few days after they get their ears pierced. Your child's ear piercing should look and feel better every day as long as there are no complications and it is looked after correctly.
It is important to note that your piercing may be tender or painful for up to 3-5 days after the procedure was performed. This is normal. Sleeping directly on your ears or side may prolong the tenderness due to the pressure on the piercing site.
Your local tattoo parlor may be a safer option, and prices usually start around $20. Many people say that a tattoo parlor is the safest, most hygienic place to get your ears pierced. That makes sense, considering their entire business is dealing with needles and safety precautions.
For babies, most health experts advise waiting until the baby has her or his first tetanus shot. And the first pair of earrings should be 18K or 14K yellow gold, surgical steel or platinum posts with screw-on backs rather than the more common push-on backs.
What is a sleeper earring? Sleeper earrings, also frequently called starter earrings, are created to be worn by people who have had their ears pierced for the first time. They are named as such because they must be worn around the clock, which includes during sleeping time.
For anyone getting their ears pierced, whether it's the earlobe or outer ear cartilage, we recommend stud piercing earrings rather than hoops or dangling styles. Inverness stud piercing earrings are made with a sharp tip and narrow post to gently pierce the ear and then stay in place while the piercing heals.
Don't touch a new piercing or twist the jewelry unless you're cleaning it. Keep clothing away from the piercing, too. Excessive rubbing or friction can irritate your skin and delay healing. Keep the jewelry in place.
Look for earrings that are nickel free as children's ears are very sensitive. Gold, sterling silver and surgical steel are the best choices for children. Avoid costume jewellery, which has very thin plating that will easily wear off and start to irritate ears. Avoid larger, long and dangly earrings for children.
The strength or thickness of the fistula depends on the body part. Your piercing is considered wholly healed when the fistula has completely formed. For ear piercings, this can take up to six months. If you remove your jewelry before the full development of the fistula, you risk the chance of the hole closing up.
It is best to wait until a child can play an active role. Most often, this is past age 8. Children under 4 years may touch the earrings a lot.
Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/legal guardian and must provide identification and proof of age and relationship to the guardian in order to be pierced or have jewelry inserted into a piercing.