How to Make Ear Piercing Less Painful

Your little girl want her ears pierced. How can you make the experience a positive one instead of a time of pain and tears? Follow these simple steps to make this milestone a fun one.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Children's pain reliever (Tylenol or Motrin)
• Someone certified in ear piercing
• Lollipop
• Comfort item (blanket, stuffed animal, etc.)

1. Before deciding on letting your child get a piercing, talk to your child's doctor. Ask if your child has any conditions that might make ear piercing dangerous and ask about proper dosing of pain relievers.

2. Decide how involved you want to be in the after-care of your child's ears while they are healing. The piercings will require multiple cleanings each day for a couple of weeks to avoid infection. If you do not want to be primarily responsible for keeping the ears healthy, then wait until your child is old enough and responsible enough to do it for themselves.

3. Make some phone calls. Call various ear piercing shops and ask about their procedures.
   - MAKE SURE that they have a sterile procedure ~ gloves should be worn by the technician, the earrings and piercing device should be in sealed containers, and the earlobes should be thoroughly washed before piercing.
   - Ask if they have enough people available to pierce both ears at the same time instead on one and then the other. Doing them both at the same time ensures that it's over as quickly as possible.
   - Ask about making an appointment if necessary.

4. Give your child pain reliever about an hour before the piercing.

5. Place an ice cube or cold compress on the earlobe for about 20 minutes before the appointment.

6. Give the child a sucker to enjoy during the procedure.

7. Encourage the child to snuggle with a favorite blanket or stuffed animal during the piercing.

8. Hold your child on your lap during the piercing. Encourage them to relax and breathe deeply. Quietly sing them a favorite song or help them to breathe deeply in through their nose and out through their mouth.

9. Don't bribe a child to get them to do something that they don't want to do...but a special treat for their bravery might be in order! Looking forward to an ice cream cone or play time at a special park might just be the encouragement they need to get through an otherwise scary event.

Tips & Warnings

• If an earlobe begins to look infected, it can be helpful to apply a generous layer of antibiotic ointment to the affected ear (like Neosporin).
• Always consult your doctor before giving your child medicine.
• Follow all after-care procedures carefully.
• If your child does not seem to be tolerating the piercing, remove the earrings and let the earlobes heal. Consult a doctor for ears that are extremely red, swollen, sore, or if your child has a fever. These can be signs of serious infection.

Resources

• VISIT MY PERSONAL BLOG
• VISIT MY PHOTOGRAPHY WEBSITE

[tabia]

on 10/21/2009 A great way to comfort your child:)