Your family has been getting their ears pierced at a young age for a long time. In fact, it’s become something of a tradition, and it’s one you want to uphold with your own baby. But before you book an appointment, you’ve decided you want to do a little more research, to find out how old your child needs to be and whether there’s anything you need to bear in mind before and after the procedure.

Baby ear piercing has been a hot topic for some time now, and there’s still a great deal of back and forth concerning the efficacy and necessity of performing this procedure at such a young age.

So, let’s look at what the main arguments on both sides are.

What are the arguments for piercing a baby’s ears?

Body piercings have been around for centuries, usually because they hold cultural, religious, or family significance. And for this reason, some parents will choose to have their baby’s ears pierced. They’ll tell you that so long as the procedure is done correctly and you make sure to care for the wound afterwards, there’s really no reason not to participate in this tradition if it means something to you. For this reason, there’s no official age minimum for ear piercing.

So, why are some parents so strongly against it?

Why are some parents against it?

A lot of parents will argue that since ear piercing causes a baby pain and isn’t necessary, it’s just not worth it until your child is older. What’s more, your baby has no say in the matter, and it could even lead to medical complications. These complications include allergic reactions, pain, and even serious infections.

So, now that we’ve explored both sides, we’ll let you come to a decision. But we want to offer a little more advice before you decide.

How can I use this information to safely have my baby’s ears pierced?

If it is part of your culture or your family’s tradition to have ears pierced, there’s no scientific reason not to. So please don’t have your baby’s ears pierced on a whim. Instead, think about it for a time, speak to your health care provider, and then make your decision. You should only commit if you’re prepared to take good care of their ears afterwards.

Make sure the procedure is carried out in a completely sterile environment by a professional and that you know exactly how to care for the wound - this is of the utmost importance!

We recommend having a doctor, nurse, or experienced technician perform the piercing. That way, you eliminate most of the risk that piercings could cause.

It’s also best to wait until your baby has had their second round of vaccinations. So there’s much less chance of serious infection or illness.

If you can wait until they’re older, a good indication of their readiness is whether or not they’ll be able to care for it on their own.

Is it safe to pierce my baby's ears?

Where do you stand on this sometimes difficult subject? Unii examines both sides.