WHAT TO EXPECT
- On the big day, make sure your child is happy, healthy, well-fed, and rested. Bring a favorite toy along for comfort and security.
- Pick out a pair of earrings.
Find a pair that are well proportioned for a tiny ear lobe. Our starter earrings are pre-packaged, sterilized, hypoallergenic and nickel-free.
- Hold your child on your lap, or hold their hand. Confirm with the technician to make sure the earring placement is centered on the lobe and not too low (to allow for centered placement as the ear lobe grows).
- Hold your breath as your child’s ears are pierced! It should feel just like getting a shot at the doctor’s office to them.
- Hugs, kisses, and cuddles, then you’re done! If your nursing, immediate nursing sessions may also help soothe their pain.
You will be sent home with educational instructions. Follow these instructions carefully! Most complications arise from improper cleaning, and not from the procedure itself.
- ALWAYS wash your hands before touching your child’s ears.
- Use a clean Q-tip to apply the solution or witch hazel to the piercing site, pushing the earring gently forward and backward, swabbing between the ear and the earring. After cleaning, rotate the earring to prevent it from sticking to the skin. Check the earring back to make sure it is secure. Do this twice a day for 4-6 weeks.
- Do not remove or change the first earrings for 6-8 months. Children’s skin heals quicker than adults, so the hole will close up very quickly if the earring is taken out before 6 months.
ONCE YOUR CHILD’S EARRINGS HAVE BEEN IN FOR AT LEAST 6 MONTHS:
- Buy extra backs. Safety backs and silicone backs are your best bet for decreasing the chances of them falling off. But, it will happen, so stock up!
- Never let them go without earrings in for an extended time. You don’t want those holes to close up and have to go through all this again!
- You can change them!
*Always keep an eye out for signs of infection: redness and oozing. Call your pediatrician at the first sign of infection.*