Hi girls,
Anyone of you already got ear piercing done to your little girls? I want to get it done to Ashna since my mom says its best to get it done once they are 3 months. But her doc suggested not to get it done for one year. I am confused...please let me know what t u all doing?

Arshiya Simmi replied. Hi All. I got Shaleen's ears done when she was 6 mths, by then babies sit with head up and are little to know something coming towards them and we can leave the earrings in for few weeks together, without fear of them playing with the earlobes. I intend to do the same with Shreya. Don't worry about infection, if you get it done from professional place, there should be no reason to fear any thing. Of course, keep an eye on it and moisturise it and don't leave it wet after bath, it should be fine, fingers crossed.
All the best.
Simmi Vindhya replied. Hi Arshiya,

I am not sure when the right time is, but will definitely ask the doctor. I had mine at age 8. So, I would rather wait until Niya turns one. Here is a Q& A session on how safe it is:
Q:As a first time parent I want to know what to do about my wife wanting to pierce our baby's ears. We¡¦ve got a beautiful, seven-month-old baby girl and we don't know if we should have this done at such an early age. Do you have any suggestions?

A.There are many reasons for parents deciding to have their daughter's ears pierced. There are cultural reasons, family traditions, personal preferences, or sometimes it is simply to identify the baby as a girl. There are some medical concerns to keep in mind when deciding whether to pierce your baby's ears:

INFECTION: This is probably the most common problem. Infections may set in on the ear lobe if the equipment used to pierce the ears is not sterile, if the earrings have dirty posts, or if the earrings are attached too tightly to the lobe. Many of these infections may be avoided by keeping the first earrings in for about 6 weeks, cleaning the ear with rubbing alcohol daily and making sure the earring backs are not too tight. If the ear becomes red, pus forms around the site, or the baby gets a temperature without an obvious cause, you should contact your doctor.

KELOID FORMATION: When the skin is injured, a small scar forms after the scab which is usually so small you don¡¦t notice it, or it fades away with time. However, some children, particularly African-American children, may be prone to large scars known as keloids. Those prone to forming keloids after injuries may develop large bumps at the site of the piercing. If keloids tend to form on the child or there is a family history of them, it is probably best to delay ear piercing.

ALLERGIC REACTIONS: Contact dermatitis (allergy to something that comes in contact with the skin) may occur on the earlobes of those with an allergy to metal. Using 14-carat gold or hypo-allergenic stainless steel earring posts may eliminate this problem.

INJURY TO THE EAR LOBE: Younger children may tend to play with the earrings. The baby may catch hoop or drop earrings and tear the lobe. If you decide to pierce the ears, I strongly suggest only using studs or earrings that lie flush with the skin.

CHOKING ON THE EARRING: This is probably the most worrying danger. As most parents know, some toys are not approved for certain ages because of the risk of choking. Many toys are not recommended for children under three because they tend to put a lot of things in their mouths. Earring are certainly not permanent fixtures, and there is a risk of them accidentally falling out. They are generally of a size that is easily swallowed. Therefore, there is a risk of inhaling an earring or its clasp if it becomes dislodged.

The safety issues as well as the infection risk are small. I think it is important that you understand the risks involved in having the baby¡¦s ears pierced, but ultimately it is a decision you and your wife must make together. As a paediatrician, I tend to err on the side of safety. My personal preference would be to delay piercing your daughter's ears until she is at least four. Even then, it may be preferable for you to hold off until she is at an age at which she can decide for herself whether she wants to have them pierced. Parents have told me how much fun they had watching daughters save up the money and decide on their own. Sharing this ¡¥developmental milestone¡¦ with your daughter later on might be even more enjoyable for you than having her ears pierced now.

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