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Baby Ear Piercing: What's Safe and What's Not?
Some parents may want to see a small diamond shining in their baby's ears, while others may find the idea of piercing their baby's ear appalling. Getting your baby's ears pierced is a personal choice, and it is the parent's duty to make sure the baby is safe and sound after it happens.
Why Do Parents Choose to Pierce Their Baby's Ears?
Most parents choose to pierce their baby’s ears due to many reasons. It is often believed that getting your little one’s ears pierced at a young age would cause less pain and discomfort than if it is done later in life. On the other hand, other parents choose to pierce their baby’s ears because of their cultural or traditional values. Some parents choose it for gender identification in younger babies. A baby with a small stud or earring would not be mistaken for a boy!
Whatever the reason is, many parents around the world choose ear piercings for their babies.
Piercing Baby's Ears at Birth: Is It Advisable?
A baby's ears are pierced at birth for several reasons ranging from adherence to trends or cultural reasons. However, if your baby's health is normal and there are no complications, you can discuss with your doctor about piercing your baby's ears at birth.
When Is It Safe to Pierce Baby's Ears?
Piercing your baby’s ears may expose your baby to several risks; therefore, many parents wonder about what the right age is to pierce a baby's ears. Well, whenever you puncture your baby’s ears, there is a potential risk of infection; because your baby’s immune system is still developing, it will be a good idea to wait a little longer. Experts may suggest that you wait for at least for six months to pierce your baby’s ears. You could also wait a little longer and let your little one decide for herself.
Who Should Pierce Your Baby's Ears?
Traditionally, parents get their baby’s ears pierced by a local vendor or a family jeweller, but you can go the other route as well. You can ask your child’s paediatrician or dermatologist to pierce your child’s ears. You may also seek recommendations from your close friends and relatives for the place they got their child’s ears pierced from.
It is best to get your baby’s ears pierced from a hygienic place such as a doctor’s clinic, a body piercing parlour, or an expert.
How to Choose the Right Earrings
Back in the day, people used neem twigs to maintain the piercings because of their disinfectant properties. The twigs were inserted into the pierced ears of the baby. Many moms may still find neem twigs a good option for their babies.
If you are opting for metal earrings, it is suggested that you buy pure gold or silver earrings for your baby to avoid irritation or allergic reactions.
Choosing the right kind of earring for your baby is very important. Make sure that the earring you choose for your baby is small, flat and round. The earring should not have any sharp edges, and the fastener should cover the back part of the earring. It is recommended that you do not choose dangling earrings for your baby. Your baby may easily tug on to the dangling earrings and get hurt. It can be a choking hazard which can be dangerous for the baby.
How to Prepare Yourself and Your Baby for Piercing Her Ears
If you have decided to get your baby's ears pierced, the first and foremost thing you need to consider is your baby's health. It is essential that your baby is in the pink of health when you get the piercing done - you can even get a nod from your doctor before going for it. Your doctor will most likely apply numbing ointment around the baby's earlobes, and may also prescribe some painkillers to ease the pain.
Dress your baby in comfortable clothes - preferably in a buttoned-down dress, which would be easier for you to change without hurting your baby's ears. You may carry your baby's favourite toy to distract her. If your baby is old enough for solid food, carry her favourite snack to treat her after the piercing is done.
How Should an Ear Piercing Be Done? Is It Painful?
An age-old, traditional method of piercing ears is using a needle, and a piercing gun is a modern one. You may choose either method for the ear piercing, but the most important thing is that the equipment should be thoroughly sterilised and clean. Sterilising the equipment reduces the chances of an infection in your baby's ears.
The person performing the piercing will identify the spot on the earlobe and will mark it using a pen or marker. Marking the spot not only makes the piercing easier but also aids to achieve precision. During this stage, refrain from using dyes for marking as they may irritate your baby’s skin. After wearing surgical gloves, the piercing expert will clean your baby’s earlobes by using an antiseptic lotion. You will be required to hold your baby’s head firmly during the process so the baby does not move much. The piercing does not take long, but it may take you a little while to soothe your baby. Try to calm your baby before proceeding with the other earlobe.
An ear piercing is painful; your baby may be teary-eyed during this time. The pain will also last a few days until it heals properly. Though certain creams and ointments can be used to numb the earlobes, none of the methods assures an ear piercing for babies without pain.
Potential Complications
Following are some of the complications that may arise because of an ear piercing:
Infection
Your baby may develop a piercing infection if the piercing equipment has not been sterilised, the earring clasp is too tight, or the earring is dirty. If your baby’s earlobes become red and swollen or baby has a fever, get in touch with your doctor.
Formation of Keloid
Your baby’s body tends to heal itself from the ear piercing trauma; but sometimes it tends to overheal itself, resulting in substantial scar tissues called keloids. Keloids often require medical or surgical intervention.
Allergic reactions
Your baby may have an allergic reaction from the metal used in the earring. It is suggested to use gold, silver or surgical steel metal for your baby’s earrings, and earrings made from other metals such as nickel may cause infection.
Choking hazards
It is imperative that you choose earrings that do not come off easily. Your baby is susceptible to choking hazards because of loose earrings. The small parts of the earring may also fall inside your baby’s ears and cause complications.
Tearing
If your baby is adorning hooped or dangling earrings, there is a possibility that your baby may pull it out or it may stick on to something your baby may be playing with. This situation may lead to the tearing of your baby’s earlobes.
Is Getting an Ear Piercing Very Painful?
Yes, getting an ear piercing is painful for your baby. You may choose a piercing gun or needle for piercing your baby’s ears, but both these methods will cause pain to your baby. The pain from the needle will be more like getting an injection, and the piercing gun will feel like a stapler pin going through the skin.
How to Prevent Complications After Infant's Ear Piercing
Your baby’s ears will be red, swollen and inflamed after the piercing. You may do the following to prevent any complications after getting your baby's ears pierced:
Clean your baby’s earlobes with antiseptic lotion, antibiotic lotion or alcohol twice a day. You may even rotate your baby’s earrings gently.
It is advised not to change or remove your baby’s earrings for at least for six weeks after the ear piercing procedure.
In case you notice any pus, swelling or fever, you should get immediate medical help as it could be because of an infection.
Avoid swimming pools, tubs, lakes or other water bodies after getting your baby's ears pierced. The impurity of the water may cause an infection in your baby's earlobes.
Always wash your hands with soap and warm water before touching your baby's piercings.
You may opt to pierce your baby’s ears, but it is critical to exercise caution before and after the piercing process. In case you find any sign of infection, you should seek medical advice immediately.
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Motherhood : A Priceless Gift
This blog is about my journey of motherhood. It talks about my transformation from a carefree girl to a hands on mommy. It captures all the beautiful memories my little one has given me in the span of two years and also how I have evolved as a person. With this blog I want to help all the new mommies out there who have just began their beautiful phase of motherhood.
My journey of motherhood began from the day I came to know I have conceived and now when my daughter is turning two, I look back and cherish all the lovely memories. I still remember the day I came to know about my pregnancy, it was an altogether different feeling. The whole idea of a new life nurturing in my womb brought tears of happiness in my eyes.
Visits to the hospital for regular checkups were both exciting and scary for me at the same time. Excitement to hear the heartbeat of my little one and fear whether the baby is meeting all the developmental milestones or not. Both me and my doctor were trying for a normal delivery but I had to undergo an emergency c-sec as my daughter had passed meconium. The moment I held my daughter for the first time, I felt truly amazing and this feeling cannot be penned in words.
I had hired a maid to help me but unfortunately she did not turn up. I was really scared of managing the baby all by myself as everything was so new for me but trust me whatever God does is for our good. Taking care of all her needs right from feeding her to giving her a massage to bathing her made me day by day a confident mommy. I have always been a carefree girl but after entering into this beautiful phase of my life, I was transformed into a responsible hands on mommy. My mother would often say she still can't believe I am the same girl who just went with the flow but now is so particular about each and everything regaridng my little one.
To all those new moms out there, just go with the flow my dear and enjoy each and every moment of this amazing journey because this time will not come back. Do what you feel what is right for your child. Follow your heat and don't worry about people judging you. I have been through this phase and I know how much pressure a new mom has to face. Just focus on your baby and you will be all set. Everyday you will learn something new from your little one. One thing I learnt from my daughter is patience. I have read about the concept of gentle parenting online and how many parents are following this concept across the globe. In a span of two years, one thing I have realised as a mom that I have to work at the same pace as my little one and that too with lot of patience. There are times when I completely lose my cool but then again I start fresh.
No matter how much my baby troubles me throughout the day, at night when she cuddles me with her warm hugs and showers her love on me; I feel on top of the world and truly Blessed. Motherhood is indeed a priceless gift.
Disclaimer: The views, opinions and positions (including content in any form) expressed within this post are those of the author alone. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The responsibility for intellectual property rights of this content rests with the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with him/her.
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Simple Activities for your Baby Using Household Items
During those early years of raising your baby, there are multiple things that you are juggling. Providing correct nourishment to your baby, focusing on her intellectual development, and managing household chores and office work – all this leaves you struggling for work-life balance. In the midst of all these things, it is also important that you keep your baby engaged.
Here are some simple, cost-effective measures through which you can use household items to plan activities for your baby:
1. Shopping Game
Take your baby’s stroller and cover it with a napkin so that it becomes your baby’s shopping cart. Now, you can teach your baby how to buy stuff from a supermarket by displaying various fruits, vegetables, cereal boxes, etc. on a table and asking your baby to choose her favourite item to add to the cart.
2. Piggy Bank Game
Take any empty box and make a hole in the lid in such a way that coins can be dropped in through the lid. Give your baby a few coins and ask her to put the coins in the box through the hole made in the lid. While doing this fun activity, your baby will learn eye-hand co-ordination. When your baby sees through her eyes, signals are passed on to the brain. The brain then signals the hand to lift a coin and put it in the box. On the surface this looks very simple, however, this is an effective way of building eye hand co-ordination and also a thinking activity for your baby’s brain.
3. Shake the Box
The same box which is now filled with coins can be used to strengthen your baby’s arm muscles. Teach your baby to move the box up and down and from side to side. By doing this the box will make some noise which will entertain her. At the same time, the movement of the baby’s hand will strengthen her hand muscles.
4. Play with Flour
When you knead dough for making chapatis, keep a small portion aside. Use this dough to teach your baby to make different objects like a ball, bat, dog, cat and many more things depending on your baby’s age. The more creative you get, the better and faster your baby will learn. This game will not only stimulate your darling's thought process, it will also build finger muscles and palm muscles.
5. Push it Through
Use the same dough that you have prepared for the above exercise to create a slate. Keep three different coloured pulses in three separate plates. Then, teach your baby colours and ask her to place the pulses as per their colour in a different line. This activity will help your baby differentiate between different colours, shapes and sizes - at the same time.
Well, we have listed only a few activities here; the sky is the limit! Get more creative and you can teach your baby a number of different things using the simplest household items. Read more
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Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
4 hours ago
Q. ninth month mein kab tak delivery ho sakti hai
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
4 hours ago
A. anytime after full term ok. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
4 hours ago
Q. my last period date Dec 26 pregnancy test date January 31 check panen apom 37 days ipom enaku evlo weeks and days what ?..
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
4 hours ago
A. I don’t understand your language can you please post your question once again in English or Hindi whatever language you are more comfortable with because anybody on this only we can give you response on that
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
4 hours ago
Q. which good formula milk or baby food for 4 months old baby
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
4 hours ago
A. no complementary foods below 4 months can use any branded formula milk. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
4 hours ago
Q. Iam 9month pregnant and having very painful condition due to constipation and gastric issues
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
4 hours ago
A. during pregnancy better not to take medicines for constipation take lot of water green leafy vegetables seasonal fruits you can try suppository if the problem is more o k o k
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 7 months
2 hours ago
Q. hi Doc,
eating raw mango, chapathi or any heat producing foods cause miscarriage during first trimester?
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
1 hour ago
A. no relation ok c. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Vandan H Kumar has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 7 months
1 hour ago
Q. Hi Doc,
I'm getting cramps on my right side of lower stomach. is this normal or do I have to visit doc?
Dr Vandan H Kumar
Paediatrician
1 hour ago
A. without examination it is difficult to tell proper treatment as well as advice so you should visit the doctor5 for health assessment as well as examination.
whether any investigations is required or not will be told by the doctor5
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