Did you know that the average age that little children get their ears pierced is seven years old? A beautiful pair of earrings can be a great way for children to accessorize themselves, as well as learn how to responsibly care for them.
Are you considering ear piercing for children, but you are not sure where to begin? Here is an ear piercing care guide to help you navigate the process smoothly.
Avoid Mall Kiosks
No matter what, you should never get any piercings done at a store in the mall or a mall kiosk. Usually, these places offer attractive deals and shiny options to lure customers in to get their ears pierced.
Many piercers at malls are not trained properly to pierce ears, especially on ear piercing for children that may squirm during the process. This could cause major damage to the ears. They are also not required to disinfect the jewelry properly before using it.
Additionally, a piercing gun is often utilized to make the process faster. Although this may seem like a perk, it can actually cause problems in the long run and give your child an infection after getting their ears pierced.
Visit a Professional Piercer
Instead of going to the mall kiosk, you should book an appointment at a place that specializes in piercings. If you cannot find a piercing place in your area, many tattoo shops also offer body and ear piercings in a sterile and safe environment.
A professional piercer is required to sterilize all jewelry and equipment before the procedure begins. They will also use a needle rather than a piercing gun, which can be less painful and much less likely to cause problems in the future.
If your child is nervous or scared about getting pierced, the piercer can be gentle and help them stay relaxed during the process as well.
Choose the Right Jewelry
When you get an ear piercing for children, you should always opt for hypoallergenic earrings to minimize the risk of an infection or allergic reaction. Metal allergies are common, so it is always better to go with an option with less risk.
Some of the best choices for hypoallergenic earrings include sterling silver, surgical steel, and titanium. These metals usually do not have nickel and cobalt in them, two of the most common allergens which cause skin reactions in pierced ears.
Even if you use a hypoallergenic metal for kids jewelry, be sure to look for signs that your ears may not respond positively. Itching and classic signs of infection could indicate an allergic reaction.
Keep Your Piercings Clean
After getting your ears pierced with hypoallergenic jewelry, you need to keep them clean at all times to avoid infection. This is especially important because piercing your ears is essentially creating two open wounds, and you must care for them like you would an open cut or puncture wound.
A sea salt spray is one of the easiest ways to clean ear piercing without having to make your own solution. You can buy this solution in bottles from your professional piercer, or online. Follow the cleaning instructions until your child’s piercings are completely healed.
You should make sure to wipe away any crust, residue, or buildup every morning that occurs around the piercings. These are completely normal as long as there are no other signs of infection. Clean piercings will speed up the healing process and lessen the discomfort.
Gently Rotate Jewelry
One of the most common problems during the healing period is that jewelry can get stuck in the ear lobes. After the initial ear piercings, the earlobes can swell as a response to the trauma in the earlobe. If they swell too much, they can actually end up growing over the new earrings.
To combat this, make sure that you rotate the jewelry according to the piercer’s instructions for aftercare. Make sure to do it gently so that your child does not experience too much discomfort. If your child is old enough, you can show them how to do it on their own as well.
Do Not Take Out Jewelry
Unless instructed by your piercer, you should not take out jewelry during the healing period. This is because when your child initially gets the piercings, the earholes will close quickly if the jewelry is out for even a few hours. Then you will have to wait for the wounds to heal, and get their ears re-pierced to start the process all over again.
If your child gets an infection in the ear piercings, you should try to resolve the problem without removing the jewelry. If you take out the earrings, then the holes will close around the infection and it will be more difficult to clear out the infected part of the ear.
Wait to Change Your Jewelry
Although it may be tempting to switch up the earrings soon after your child gets them, professional piercers advise you to hold on changing the jewelry. As the ears heal and get used to the earrings that were used to pierce them, they may not respond well to new earrings in an open wound.
Make sure that your child’s ears are fully healed before changing out jewelry. You should ask them if they have any pain or sensitivity in the area, even if it is past the recommended healing time. That way, there is less chance of reaction or infection.
Be an Expert on Ear Piercing Care
You should not have to have to worry about your child experiencing issues after they get their ears pierced. With this guide to ear piercing care, you can ensure that the experience is as painless as possible and that the ears heal without issues.
Would you like to learn more about how to be safe in all areas of your life? Take a look around our site for all of the information you will need.
