More and more parents are tempted to have their little girl’s ears unnecessary from an early age, sometimes even from 9 months. What are the risks? What recommendations before piercing a child’s ears? At what age can we put on earrings? Notice and advice from the pediatrician Arnault Pfersdorff.
More and more parents want Unlock baby’s ears from an early age, sometimes from 9 months. Some do it for a purely aesthetic reason, but also sometimes to respect traditions. This is particularly the case in some countries in Latin America or in Spain. But at From what age is it recommended to have a child’s ears unlock? What are the risks? Elements of responses with the pediatrician Arnault Pfersdorff.
From what age can we unravel the ears of a baby?
You should not unravel the ears of a child too earlyexplains Dr. Pfersdorff. And for good reason, “A baby will explore his body from the age of 4-5 months. It is not the right time To put earrings on him, because he may tear them away and it can lead to an infection “ warns the specialist.
When the question is asked by parents (often around 5-6 months), They are strongly advised to wait later, that he has 18 months, or even 24 months. This is the right age, at the earliest, to do the drilling. “So when your child is a little larger, you can more easily explain to him with simple words what will happen, and that he should not touch his ears after they were pierced.
“We advise parents to wait later, that he has 18 months, or even 24 months. It is the right age, at the earliest, to do the drilling.”
Is it a good idea to have a baby’s ears pierced?
“”What to avoid is the constraint in children. What is not good is to do something to him, and after forcing him from touching his ears “, supports the pediatrician. Tell him what awaits him is crucial, he adds. The child must know and understand what will happen to him, and not lie to him, so that he does not lose confidence in the words of his parents. Thus, even if, today, the techniques and anesthetic creams allow the drilling is almost painless, It should not be told that it won’t hurt him, that he won’t feel anything.
According to the expert, the ideal is still to wait for the child to make the request himself. “Personally, I am more favorable to what we are waiting for the child asking himself, for example in adolescence. He is tall, it’s his body, we let him think, we can accompany him. But but Having the ears of a very small baby unravel, it always asks a little question“, specifies the specialist.
What are the risks of drilling baby’s ears?
If the child is too small, the main risk is Let him touch the earring, to tear it away, and that it leads to a risk of ingestion if he is old enough to put everything in his mouth. The risk of infection is also present. For Arnault Pfersdorff, “If the jewelry is very small, there is a low risk of lesion, or scratch lesion”.
Moreover, “There is A Risk of eczema contact if there is an allergy to the material material. This can promote an over-infection secondly with a staphylococcus Or something else. If this is the case, there may be a need to do a local treatment with a local antibiotic, but that it remains relatively rare, especially if the drilling is done in good hygiene conditions “adds the pediatrician.
If your child is a little largerears drilling can be done either in a jewelry storewhich offers drilling acts, or In a percing lounge. Note also that some ENT doctors are empowered to unravel the ears of children, which can reassure parents.
What is the price for piercing a child’s ears?
Generally, prices vary if you have your child’s ears pierce with a professional pierce or a jeweler.
- In a jewelry storethe drilling act costs an average of 15 euros (you have to add the price of the pair of earrings).
- In a pierceur, The price of the two ear lobes varies between 30 and 40 euros.
What treatments to make to her child once the ears are pierced?
There are many blood vessels in the ear lobe, and this is one of the reasons why it is necessary disinfect the wound. The pediatrician recommendsUse an antiseptic product During the first days then, when there are no more crusts, to clean the ear and the jewel with soap. During these steps, “You have to be careful not to hang the earring and not to make a lesion”he underlines.
How long does it take to ears to heal when they were pierced?
“Once the gesture has been made, depending on the age of the child and according to the type of equipment that is used, It takes a few weeks for healing to be done“”says Dr. Pfersdorff. In the very large majority of cases, the installers first put a provisional earring, and it takes two or three weeks for it to heal, before changing jewelry. When you are at this stage, the pediatrician recommends choosing small earrings, in which your child will not be able to put his finger and hang him.
Thank you to Dr Arnault Pfersdorff, pediatrician and author of the book “Baby: First user manual” at Hachette editions.
