Why It’s Better Not to Pierce Your Kid’s Ears Until a Certain Age, According to Science

Hilary Duff, a celebrity and mother of 3, posted a picture of her 8-month-old daughter, Mae, with her ears pierced, and we can’t stop gushing over her babies. While the cuteness of her daughter is a statement of its own, Mae’s ear studs left a trail of questions about whether you should pierce your kid’s ears at this age or not.

At Bright Side, we couldn’t wait to weigh both sides of the argument and compiled a list of reasons why it’s better not to pierce your kid’s ears up to a certain age.

1. It opens up opportunities for infection.

Every time you poke needles or puncture the skin of your child, it opens up the opportunity for infection to enter your baby’s body. Regardless of the safety precautions, babies have a developing immune system that could get affected if not treated right.

If you’ve already pierced their ears, look for signs like swelling, itching, or redness that could potentially mean that their ears have been infected. In this case, contact your doctor immediately and stay on top of any medications.

2. It’s best for the child to make their own decision about ear piercing.

It’s always an individual’s decision to pierce their ears. This way, they’ll have more control over their appearance and personalize the areas they want to get pierced.

If you let your child take responsibility for their newly pierced ears, it may also help them stay cautious. For example, you may write down a list of things your kid needs to do to keep their ears healthy. This may include washing their ears with a mild soap twice a day and cleaning their ear studs with rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide.

3. Their skin may be too sensitive.

There’s no doubt that your little bundle of joy may find piercing slightly more painful than older kids. Although the injection also involves poking your child’s skin with needles, ear studs often leave a lingering discomfort for a few days.

Most professionals opt for numbing creams 15 minutes before ear piercing to help reduce the pain to a simple prick. These numbing creams often contain lidocaine, which is an anesthetic that can help cause the loss of feeling in the skin.

Another thing you can do is wrap ice cubes in a napkin and massage them around their earlobes. Doing this can help to prevent the sensitivity of the nerve endings and reduce pain. You may do this immediately before piercing their ears. You can also try to distract them so they don’t notice the discomfort.

4. It may prevent your little one from enjoying their favorite outdoor games.

Getting your kid’s ear pierced at a younger age may prevent them from enjoying their favorite activities, like swimming. Larger earrings also risk getting stuck in clothes or pulled by other kids. Therefore, it’s best to wait for your child to grow up to a certain age where they can take a break from their favorite sports and activities for a few months.

As a general rule of thumb, until the piercing wound has properly healed, it’s advised to avoid engaging in any physical activity where there’s a lot of physical contact with other kids. This may heighten the risk of infection, as kids often touch their ear studs with dirty hands.

5. It may lead to ​allergic reactions.

A nickel allergy is quite common for kids with sensitive earlobes. It’s important to note that gold jewelry often contains traces of nickel as well. Silver-plated jewelry is often safe and treated with care to help keep your child’s ears healthy. You may also consult your pediatrician before getting your kid’s ears pierced to ensure they stay safe from allergies.

What’s your opinion on Hilary Duff piercing her 8-month-old daughter’s ears? Do you have more stories like this? At what age did you get your ears pierced? We’d love to know your stories!