 To
pierce or not to pierce
The Beckham's chose to have their son's ears pierced when he was three.
Some parents have it done a lot earlier but is it fair to make the decision
on behalf of your child? Clodagh Foelster looks at the issues and explains
the care involved if you do have your baby's ears pierced.
Culture or fashion
Ear piercing has long been the subject of controversy but for some, piercing
a child's ears has deep-rooted cultural meanings. Evidence of ear-lobe
piercing is seen in ancient civilisations dating over 6000 years and many
ancient African, Aboriginal and Nordic cultures all pierced their ears.
Hindus hold an ear piercing ceremony known as Karnavedha on babies of
both sexes at twelve days old. They believe that the piercing of a hole
in the lower lobes of the ear have benefits of acupuncture as well as
distracting evil spirits.
Ear piercing is also mentioned in the Bible and for some Christians
is said to be a sign of faith. It is normal, for example, for Latin American
Christians to routinely pierce baby girls' ears.
As well as cultural reasons, parents may also choose to pierce their
baby's ears because of family traditions or, most typically, to identify
the baby as a girl. However, some babies have their ears pierced because
of the social culture they are born into. The Beckhams, for example, played
down tabloid criticism of their decision to pierce their 3-year old son's
ears saying that they had it done because they thought it 'looked cute'.
The question that has divided people is whether a parent has the right
to make that choice for their child as part of a fashion or social statement.
Needle-ss pain
Ear piercing is a relatively simple procedure but not without some discomfort.
When babies have their ears pierced, both lobes are done together. The
reasoning behind this is that if one ear was done first, the child would
not allow the second ear to be pierced because she would not want to experience
the same pain again.
Critics of the practice suggest that a baby therefore experiences twice
as much pain than having the ears pierced separately. However, people
who think that parents can make that choice think that a baby is more
likely to forget any pain, unlike an older child who will always remember
it.
So should I pierce my baby's ears?
Ultimately the decision is yours but it's worth knowing the arguments
for and against, other than the issue of pain.
Infection. There is always the risk of infection following a
piercing, especially if the needle is not perfectly sterile. In babies
under six months of age, an infection from an ear piercing could lead
to hospitalisation. However, if the piercing is done by a reputable outlet,
and the area is kept clean for the first six weeks the risk of infection
is greatly reduced.
Keloid scars. These are unsightly lumps of scar tissue that grow
around a wound. Some people are prone to the development of keloids, which
tend to occur in families, and should avoid having their ears pierced
at a young age. However, a recent American study found that people who
had their ears pierced after puberty were four times more likely to develop
keloids than those who had it done at an earlier age.
Injury. It is not unknown for children to have their earlobes
ripped after a boisterous sibling or playmate has caught hold of the earring,
or it has got caught in normal day to day play. It is for this reason
that many primary schools forbid the wearing of earrings, or insist on
plasters over the lobes if the piercing is fairly new. However, the risk
of earlobe damage can be reduced if flat studs are worn.
Uneven placing. Even the best behaved children can fidget, usually
totally unpredictably. A sudden movement as the ear is pierced could result
in badly positioned earrings which could cause embarrassment later in
life. However, a skilled technician, preferably one who specialises in
paediatric piercings, would be aware of and allow for such an occurrence.
Choking. By far the most serious risk is that of choking. As
a parent you will know that a lot of toys are not suitable for babies
and toddlers because at this age anything small enough to fit in their
mouths will go in their mouths. A stray earring that has fallen out holds
a serious risk of choking for a young, child as it is small enough to
be accidentally inhaled if put in the mouth.
Paediatrician, Dr Robert Steele, recommends waiting a while before piercing
your baby's ears. "As a paediatrician, I tend to err on the side of safety,"
he says. "My personal preference would be to delay piercing your child'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."
Be safe
Unfortunately there is limited legislation covering the practice of
piercing. However, piercers have a general duty under the Health & Safety
at Work, etc Act 1974 to ensure they adhere to strict hygiene conditions
to protect Public Health.
It is worth finding out:
- If your Local Authority require piercers to be registered
- If your chosen piercer is registered
According to the Health and Safety Executive, at present, premises carrying
out ear piercing need to be registered with their Local Authority if they
have adopted the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1982.
If you do decide to have your child's ears pierced, there are important
health and safety issues to bear in mind.
- Always choose a reputable outlet, preferably one who specialises in
infant piercing
- Choose earrings that are specially designed for infants so that the
backs do not hurt the baby's head
- Always follow the after care directions for cleaning your baby's earrings
and ears
- Look out for signs of infection such as redness around the piercing,
pus or a fever and seek medical advice if you are concerned
Where to next?
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