A pediatrician's piercing tips

Altmann's ear piercing tips:

1. Find a doctor, nurse, or experienced professional who does ear piercings. Confirm that the environment and all tools are sterile.

2. Plastic or titanium earrings are best for preventing reactions to metals.

3. Leave first earrings in for two months; babies leave in for three months.

4. Make sure babies earring backs can't come off. These can be a choking hazard!

5. Wash hands before and after touching ears and earrings.

6. Use old fashioned rubbing alcohol to clean earrings and piercing site.

7. After getting ears pierced, leave earrings in for 2 months. Clean twice a day for the first few weeks, then regularly after bathing. Twist earring once a day, only!

8. If your child participates in a sport which does not allow the players to wear jewelry, like soccer, wait until the end of the season to get her ears pierced.

9. Babies need to be at least 4 months old and have had their first two sets of vaccines, before getting their ears pierced.