You’ve had your baby’s ear pierced, and everything went well. Congratulations! Now, you’re excited to start your baby on a collection of cute earrings you’ve been stacking up. Maybe you’re even thinking of matching with them, but you’re wondering, “when can I change my baby’s earrings?”
In this guide, we share the recommended timeline and a step-by-step guide on changing baby earrings safely.
When can I change my baby’s earrings?
The earliest you should change your baby’s earrings is at least six weeks after the piercing. Lobe piercings typically heal completely in that time, making it safe to change them. However, if it doesn’t look like the piercing is healed, you can leave the starter earrings in longer.
For the first few months after changing your baby’s earrings, ensure the piercings aren’t left without earrings for more than a day to prevent them from closing up. While you’re at it, avoid using earrings made of nickel since they’re likely to cause allergic reactions. Instead, use earrings made with hypoallergenic materials like 18K and 14K gold, stainless steel, and titanium.
Before changing the earrings, maintain proper aftercare practices to prevent infections or irritations that could prolong the healing period.
What happens if you change your baby’s earrings too soon?
Changing your baby’s earrings too soon can cause irritation and infection as the wound is still fresh. The piercings may close up if you leave them without earrings for a few minutes. This is because the body will recognize the hole as a wound and regenerate tissue to close it up as part of the healing process.
How to change baby earrings safely
Changing your baby’s earrings is a simple process. The most challenging part will be getting your baby to stay still. You may want to try it when your baby is sound asleep. Here’s how to safely change your baby’s earrings:
Materials Needed
- Soap
- Saline
- Q-tips
Instructions
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
- Dry your hands so that the earrings don’t feel slippery.
- Grasp the front and back parts of the earring and pull them away from each other. Unscrew the earring back if it’s a screw back.
- Clean the piercing hole with a q-tip soaked with saline to remove the crusties.
- Insert suitable earrings into the holes immediately.
Which earring types are best for babies?
A safe piercing experience will involve choosing the right earrings for your baby. The right types of earrings are lightweight, hypoallergenic, comfortable, and hard to yank off. It’s a good thing that there are lots of earrings that fit these descriptions.
Earring styles
Earring styles for babies are quite limited, but they have many pretty and safe design options.
Studs
A stud earring is a minimalist type of earring with a post that goes through the piercing hole and is secured by an earring back. Studs are popular for good reasons. They’re comfortable and have various design and material options. Ensure you get a baby stud because they do come in different sizes.
Huggies
Huggies, also called huggers, are small earrings that sit close to the earlobe. Their firm clasp makes it difficult for your baby to yank them off. They also come in various designs.
Earring back
The type of earring back on your baby’s earrings is important. Earring backs ensure the earrings are comfortable and secure on your baby’s ears, so they don’t become a choking hazard.
Safety back
A safety back has a lock clutch design and a rounded back that keep the earrings secure on the ears. The safety back makes a clicking sound when securing the earring.
Screw back
A screw back, also known as a “threaded back”, is worn by screwing it onto the post. The covered screw back is typically the best type for babies as it’s hard to yank off and also prevents the earring post from grazing the baby’s skin.
Butterfly back
A butterfly back, sometimes called “push back” or “friction back”, is aptly named because it looks like a butterfly. It uses friction to secure the earring post in place.
Don’t be in a rush
It’s exciting that your baby can now wear earrings. However, don’t let the excitement get you to change the earrings prematurely, exposing your child to infection, inflammation, or possibly closing the piercing.
If you’ve asked, “when can I change my baby’s earrings?” The simple answer is to wait at least six weeks or more after the piercing. Your baby will soon wear various earrings without you worrying about any issues.
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