Would you like to get your little girl’s ears pierced? Or maybe you’d like to give an older miss a nice pair of earrings that will last for a while. In this article, we’ll give you practical advice on how to choose the right earrings for children according to their age and what to look for when choosing kids’ earrings.
The right time to get ears pierced
Though this is currently a sensitive and controversial topic, many parents will nonetheless be interested to know when the best time is to get a child’s ears pierced. Some pediatricians suggest ear piercings are possible from as early as three months.
The argument is that a baby this young is not yet afraid of visiting the doctor, so getting ears pierced at such a young age might make it a smoother process than if it was done later. At that age too, the earlobes are already more developed, so you can ensure that the piercings are better symmetrically aligned. The temporary earrings that the child will have to wear once the ears are pierced can be replaced with other earrings of your choice after the ear holes have completely healed.
Ultimately however, there is no set age that a child needs to have its ears pierced at and the choice is very much an individual one. Many parents choose to wait until the child is old enough to be part of the decision making process and it can become a shared experience which the child goes through together with its parents. Especially since children need at least one parent’s signed consent to have their ears pierced.
Also read: Why does my baby grab his ears?
What features are important in children’s earrings?
- The size. The childrens’ earrings should be proportionate in size to the size of the earlobes, so that they fit the child well. For this reason, you should always browse in a store’s children’s earring category. These types of earrings ought to be lightweight so as not to weigh down the child’s earlobes.
- The metal. Some metals are better suited to a child’s sensitive skin than others. Earrings made of 14K gold are ideal since this type of gold makes them resistant to bending or getting out of shape and it also has less risk of allergies than silver or non-gold jewelry. A particularly popular type of metal for children’s earrings is rose gold. A cheaper alternative to gold is surgical steel.
- Safety. Children are constantly on the move. To prevent your child’s earrings from getting snagged on something or lost, choose a safer closure as well as a smooth surface which won’t put the child at risk of injury.
A baby’s first earrings
Earrings with a front closure are designed for infants and toddlers. A front closure mechanism ensures that the earrings stay securely fastened on the ears. It consists of two parts: a moving part that slides into the eyelet of the other part and hooks on to it.
Another advantage of the front closure is that it is comfortable to wear. The back of the earrings is smooth, so the baby doesn’t even know that the earrings are there.
Earrings with a front closure and designed for the smallest children and their size corresponds to that. They usually last until the child is about three and then it’s necessary to look for other types of toddler earrings.
Also read: How to turn your children into stylish kids?
Kids earrings for a little miss
You could celebrate the start of kindergarten for instance by getting her a stylish pair of new earrings. For girls aged three and up, you could choose from earrings with a classic lever back closure, tiny hoop earrings or classic stud earrings with a screw back. This last option is certainly a better choice for children than the classic lever back, which does not hold in place as securely.
Earrings for children, Inspired by nature and timeless minimalism
Little girls will no doubt appreciate it when you involve them in the decision making process, so they can choose earrings to suit their tastes. The most popular children’s designs include ladybirds, butterflies, birds, or even flowers and fruit.
Girls also suit earrings with precious stones that light up their face. Sapphires, topaz, emeralds and diamonds will also make the earrings a long-term investment. Simple geometric themes are also an option.
At the KLENOTA Jewelry Studio, there is also the choice of simple hearts, stars and teardrop shapes. Moreover, women of any age can wear such earrings so little girls can then match their mums.
How to take care of earrings and pierced ears
There are certain particulars which are unique to children wearing earrings. While with adults, it’s highly recommended that they remove their earrings at night, with young children it’s understood that they will wear their earrings day and night, so that the ear piercings don’t close up.
Nevertheless, it is a good idea to check the child’s ears and earrings at least once a week, perhaps before washing their hair. You should remove the earrings, wash them in lukewarm soapy water and clean the area where the ears are pierced of any dirt and deposits. This will minimize the risk of inflammation or ear infections and the ear holes closing over again.