Infants and children can undergo ear piercing at 4 months and older. As long as you can keep your child’s ears clean after the procedure, there’s little to worry about.

At Abdow Friendship Pediatrics, the team has years of experience piercing ears. Ear piercing is quick, safe, and pain-free.

At Abdow Friendship Pediatrics, ear-piercing typically takes 15 minutes or less.

Your child’s pediatrician washes their hands and puts on a pair of gloves. Then, they clean and sterilize your child’s earlobes. Your child’s pediatrician then uses a handheld piercing gun. They fill the hole with an earring and provide care instructions to reduce the risk of infection.

After your child has their ears pierced, it’s important to care for them properly. If you or your child need to touch the earrings, wash your hands first.

You will be given a handout with care instructions on how to clean and maintain the piercings. Don’t remove your child’s jewelry unless their pediatrician says to do so. It takes about six weeks for the earlobes to heal and six months or more for pierced cartilage.

After your child has their ears pierced, check their lobes at least twice a day for signs of infection, including:

• Redness
• Swelling
• Warmth
• Yellow or green discharge
• Ear pain

Your child might also experience a fluid-filled pimple on their ear lobe. If you notice these or other side effects, contact the team at Abdow Friendship Pediatrics immediately.

After ear piercing, have your child take it easy for the rest of the day. Your child should also avoid swimming for at least two weeks to give the piercing time to heal. Bodies of water often contain bacteria that increase the risk of infection.

To schedule an ear piercing for your child, make an appointment at Abdow Friendship Pediatrics by calling the office or booking online today.

We specialize in Pediatric and Adolescent medicine in Rockville, MD. Call us to book your appointment today.