Earrings for little girls - why, when, where, and which ones

In the past, baby girls had their ears pierced already in the maternity ward, which today hopefully no one does anymore, because it is unnecessary to do it so early. The modern approach is not to give baby girls earrings at all and let them decide for themselves when they get older whether they want them or not. So why get earrings, at what age, and where should you have them done?

Why give earrings

Most likely out of habit, and also so the older generation can more quickly tell whether the child is a girl or a boy, because it is already hard to tell from clothing and hair length. Of course, earrings are also worn for decoration, and they can later be replaced with other models. But they are definitely not a necessity, and many parents are already abandoning this tradition and leaving it entirely up to their girls until they are older and say for themselves that they want earrings. Some say it is better before the age of one, while the acupressure points in the ears are not all there yet; others do not address it, so it is entirely up to the parents to consider.

When to give earrings

If you do decide on earrings, it is recommended no earlier than after the six-week postpartum period, ideally after the first dose of the hexavalent vaccine. You have two options — either pierce the ear with a needle or have the earrings shot in. It depends on your options and specialist recommendations. Shooting them in is certainly faster; piercing with a needle is gentler, but it is necessary to have a suitable sterile environment to prevent the ears from becoming infected. Shooting is performed from the 4th to 5th month, when the earlobe is already large enough.

Where to pierce/shoot in earrings

Most pediatricians offer the option of shooting in earrings, so it is necessary to find out from what age the procedure is performed, what earrings the doctor has available (plastic, gold-plated, with palladium content), and how much the procedure including the earrings costs. Some doctors also offer an examination of the acupressure points on the earlobes so they know where to shoot the earrings.

Another option is to go to a piercing studio that also offers shooting in or piercing for small children. Even some hair salons offer earring shooting.

What earrings to choose

The internet is full of e-shops with a wide selection of children's earrings. Most often, girls are given gold or white gold earrings, or you can choose a cheaper option, silver. Mothers usually choose dangle earrings, but with those there is a risk that the hole will be pierced too high and it will not be possible to fasten the earring. This is something to keep in mind when shooting or piercing the ear; ideally, take the earrings with you so you know how long the post is that goes through the ear. Alternatively, you can choose “studs,” where you do not need to worry about the height of the piercing, but you do need to make sure that both holes are at the same height, because studs would make that unevenness stand out even more.

The drawback of these small earrings, especially those made of white gold or classic gold, is their high price. Usually the earrings are bought by grandmothers or great-grandmothers, so you do not have to worry about the cost that much. Whether you decide to give earrings or not, it is only your business and no one should have any say in it. The same goes for whether you are still breastfeeding your toddler or whether they are still wearing diapers.