Is Piercing A Baby's Ears Legal?(Quick Guide)

All around us, we see babies with pierced ears, and if you are a parent, you may have had your child’s ears pierced. But have you stopped to ask if that action is legal? Would you be prosecuted for piercing your child’s ear?

Well, you will be happy to know that piercing your baby’s ears is legal, and there really is nothing wrong with getting your baby’s ears pierced.

You will Learn in this Post

Is piercing a baby’s ears abuse?
What Age Did You Pierce Your Baby’s Ears?
Safe tips to piercing baby’s ears
Conclusion

Is piercing a baby’s ears abuse?

Because infants are unable to consent to ear-piercing procedures, some people may regard the practice as abuse, but the truth is that getting your baby’s ears pierced is, in no way, abuse. It may seem irresponsible if it is not done right, but it is not abuse.

Is Piercing A Baby’s Ears Legal

For as long as the human race has existed, piercing babies’ ears has been a tradition, and some cultures consider it a rite of passage.

For people against it, it would be more realistic to say that they are not for it and piercing ears is just something that they don’t do or like, but it cannot be said to be a form of abuse.

Just to understand what it means to these individuals, it’s important to keep in mind that for these individuals, it makes sense that they would be against getting a baby’s ears pierced. For these individuals, the pain that is inflicted on the infants would, in some cases, result in the baby’s ears pulled by the earrings, ripping the ears out, and putting the baby at risk of bad infections. With this in mind, these individuals argue that it would be safe to wait until the child is old enough to know if they want their ears pierced or not,

If you are worried about what it means to get the baby’s ears pierced, you will be relieved to know that getting your child’s ears is safe. And according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), ear piercings are performed carefully, and as long as the piercings are cared for conscientiously, the entire process has very little risk involved, regardless of the child’s age.

Keep in mind that according to NSPCC’s definition, child abuse is defined as any action that would cause significant harm to the child.

Ear piercings aren’t considered significant harm.

And when parents choose to get babies ears pierced, it’s often because they believe it’s tricky and, in some cases, culturally expected, and nothing out of the norm.

What Age Did You Pierce Your Baby’s Ears?

When it comes to piercing your baby’s ears, there are a few ground rules that you may have to keep in mind. However, the whole process should be completely safe.

If you are thinking about getting your baby’s or infant’s ears pierced, there are important considerations that you need to keep in mind.

First, understand that there is nothing wrong with getting your child’s ears getting pierced, but if you aren’t sure about it, you may want to wait until your child grows a little older before you get their ears pierced.

Is Piercing A Baby’s Ears Legal

If you are worried about the risk of infections, it might be a good idea to only get the ears pierced if you are sure that you will be able to take good care of your child’s ears.

So, when is the best time for you to pierce your baby’s ears?

Generally, it’s safe to get the ears pierced at about 2 months, but only if you are sure that you will able to follow the care procedures. 2 months is the best time to get the infant’s ears pierced because it coincides with the first immunization/ vaccination round, including the tetanus vaccine. Keep in mind that although this is just a cautionary move, there is a little risk that your baby might not be able to get tetanus or other bad infections. Just keep the pierced area clean throughout.

The other reason why this would be a great time for you to get the baby’s ears pierced is that at two months, babies are unable to localize pain, and though there will be some pain, your baby wouldn’t be able to reach up to touch their ears, pulling out the earrings. Also, the pain would go away in a few days.

Waiting until your baby reaches 5 or 6 months might sound like a great idea, but at this age, babies can localize their pain, and they may pull out or tug at the earrings, making it even more problematic when their hands/ fingers are dirty. So, you’d have to be careful about your baby’s piercing at this age.

When your baby is older, there is the risk of them getting frightened or stressed by the piercing, and this might affect the healing process. So, while 4-5-year-olds always want their ears pierced, they are also afraid, and they will cry a lot, which is why getting their ears pierced in the infant stage might be a good idea.

If you are not sure about what to do, you could ask your pediatrician if they’d be willing to pierce the infant’s ears from their office. Alternatively, get it done by a professional, and make sure that it’s done in a clean environment and only with the best quality, hypoallergenic studs.

Safe tips to piercing baby’s ears

Get their ears pierced by the right person.

Although you have the option of getting your baby’s ears pierced at the local vendor’s or by a trusted jeweler, it might be ideal for getting the piercing done at the dermatologist or your child’s pediatrician. You could also ask for recommendations from your family and close friends. The piercing environment must be hygienic, and the piercer must be experienced.

Is Piercing A Baby’s Ears Legal

Choose the right set of earrings.

This is an important consideration to keep in mind when planning to get your baby’s ears pierced.

For the longest time, people used neem twigs to maintain the piercings because of the disinfectant properties of neem. Today, however, most parents choose metal stud earrings. These earrings are among the tiniest pieces, but the most important thing to keep in mind is that the earrings must be made of safe metals that will not cause any allergic reaction. These safest options recommended include the stud earrings made of medical-grade surgical stainless steel, biocompatible titanium, 925 sterling silver, or high-karat, nickel-free gold. These are safe metals, and they will not cause any irritation or allergic reactions.

Besides the type of metal, you also need to consider the shape and the design of the earring. The chosen earring should be flat, small, and round, with no sharp edges. The fastener must cover the earring’s back part.

Don’t choose dangling earrings for your baby because your baby might tug on the dangling earrings easily. The earring could also be a choking hazard.

Prepare for the piercing.

Once you’ve decided to get your baby’s ears pierced, you’d want to prepare. The first thing to consider is the baby’s health – he/she must be in peak health, and you can take your baby to the pediatrician before you get the ears pierced. If the doctor can pierce her ears, that will be a great win. Make sure they apply a numbing cream first, and after, you should have some painkillers to help ease the pain as the piercing heals.

Appropriate clothes

Ensure that the clothes you choose to dress your girl in are comfortable, especially on the piercing day. A buttoned-down dress would be preferable. As the piercing heals, avoid dressing her in clothes whose threads or fabric can be caught up in the earrings easily.

Aftercare instructions

Follow the provided after-care instructions to the tee, and beware of potential complications like infections, the formation of keloids, allergies, choking hazards, and tearing.