Ornament or torment - stud earrings for babies and toddlers

In southern Europe and the Arab countries, it is common to decorate baby earlobes with ear holes and ear plugs. Again and again you see this in Germany. Some love it, critics call it child abuse and mutilation. And there are indeed good reasons to wait a while with this "beautification".

An argument for the piercing of ear holes even in the baby age is that it causes the least problems then. But is that really true? The legal situation is basically not entirely clear, since ear piercing could fulfill the offense of bodily injury. However, officially there is no minimum age. When pierced holes are at the discretion of the parents.

Caution nickel allergy

The main danger that exists when holes are punched in the ears of very young children is that of a nickel allergy. Intolerance to the metal alloy is one of the most common contact allergies and mostly affects women. Earlier contact with nickel, for example, through nickel stud earrings is considered the main trigger. Therefore, medical ear plugs, also known as first plugs, since 1998 may contain a maximum of 0.05% nickel. In individual cases, this can hardly be checked; the commonly used surgical steel contains significantly more than the maximum permitted value. Once the allergy has broken out, it becomes part of life, because nickel is contained in many pieces of jewelery and everyday objects.

Scarring in the earlobe, risk of infection and other dangers

Each ear hole creates scar tissue in the ear, the acupuncture points created at this point are thus destroyed, in unfavorable cases also activated. Not to be underestimated is the risk of infection, especially in the use of ear piercing guns. These devices can not be sterilized, sterile are only used the first plug. But these are not the only things that speak against this ornament:

A baby's ear is still growing, bones and cartilage are not yet finished. Maybe the ear hole later no longer sits where it should sit.
The pain, which the baby is exposed to - completely incomprehensible - is an unpleasant experience that is exacerbated by the pain of later inflammation. Needless to say such a thing to a helpless baby.
Babies sleep on their own with their head on the side, which irritates the ear hole immediately after the sting, inflammation is inevitable.
Babies should wear caps in the first few months. This can also lead to increased irritation and inflammation of the wound.

Even the children themselves can cause inflammation: by plucking and tearing at the foreign body in the ear or fingering with dirty hands. In very stark, fortunately but rare cases, the earrings can even tear out, then must be sewn. If babies swallow the earrings then there is a real danger.

Pierced ears for babies - intervention in the right to self determination?

The legislature leaves parents free in terms of stud earrings, there are no restrictions and no minimum age. For critics and some paediatricians, however, this is clearly personal injury. Children can not agree or understand the scope of this decision. The stinging itself and possible complications later cause pain that the children did not choose. Finally, one should also keep in mind that the ear holes remain in most cases a lifetime, a back does not exist. Even if it is only a seemingly minor intervention: the children did not choose it themselves.

In any case, responsible jewelers only put holes in their ears when they turn three years old. Although the child can still not give a real declaration of intent, but it at least understands what happens - and often children even want a stud earrings. The associated hole is not necessarily desired, so you should first offer your child an ear clip. Somewhat older children can also wear earrings with magnetic clip, these are indistinguishable from the pierced holes.

If it is necessarily an ear hole

To minimize the risk of ear piercing, you can take various measures. So the ear holes should only be stung by a professional, preferably a doctor.

Wait with it as long as possible. Regarding possible allergies, the later the better.
The initial plugs should be made of titanium, this metal is guaranteed nickel free.
Gold or silver plugs may only be used after complete healing.
Instead of using the non-sterilizable ear piercing gun, the hole should be pricked with a sterile disposable needle.

Superficial anesthetizing creams or patches relieve the pain.
To prevent irritation, your child should not play with the ear plugs, avoid drafts and wait two weeks before bathing or washing hair. Any crusts on the ear hole should be removed regularly with a damp cotton swab, then the wound is disinfected. If it comes to infections and pain, then the plug should be removed, even a doctor's visit is recommended.