How can something so small cause such a big debate in many households? The topic of ear piercing and how old someone should be before having it done has been known to cause disagreements not only between families, but also within cultures.

Many parents consider it cruel to pierce an infant's ears, often considering it an unnecessary thing to do, because why should babies be forced to wear jewelry? Others, however, pierce the infant's ears because it's part of their family culture or they simply believe that by piercing their infant's ears, it will be more obvious that the little bundle of joy is a girl -- not a boy.

The debate of 'to pierce or not to pierce'usually circles around the chances of the infant developing an infection, allergic reactions to the jewelry and the development of the infant's immune system.

Research by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has proven that ear infections do happen quite often and at any age. These infections are usually pretty common and develop because of earrings that may be unclean or frequently touching earlobes with dirty hands.

There is also a chance that the metal in the earrings may cause an allergic reaction. A study conducted in 2010 showed that about 20 percent of children can be allergic to nickel. But according to the AAD, those allergic reactions can be avoided by using jewelry that is made of surgical steel, titanium or 14- or 18-karat gold.

Experts say that the infant's immune systems are still developing, so puncturing the skin is going to heighten the chance of an infection. Many recommend waiting until the child is at least six months old, with many other pediatricians recommending parents waiting until after the infant turns six months, because by that time, the infant should be completely vaccinated.

Still not sure if piercing your infant's ears is the right thing to do? Research by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that waiting until the child is at least old enough to clean the pierced ears on their own is most recommended. But they also add that if the piercing is done safely with sterile equipment AND the piercing is cared for by an adult, the risk of an infant developing an infection is less likely - no matter how old the child is.

A look at the numbers from a recent BabyCenter survey show that about 40 percent of parents have daughters with pierced ears. And of those with pierced ears, about 50 percent were pierced before the age of two. Only about seven percent of the parents asked said they would not get their child's ears pierced.

 

 

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