Ear Piercing: Dapat Bang Gawin Habang Baby Pa Or Kapag Mas Matanda Na?

Nakaugalian na nating mga Pilipino ang pagpapa-butas ng tainga ng mga batang babae upang makapag-suot sila ng hikaw. Para sa karamihan, ito ay ginagawa habang sila ay sanggol pa. Ngunit, may mga medical organizations tulad ng American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) na nagsasabing mas mainam kung hihintayin ng magulang na ang anak nahihintayin na lamang ng mga magulang na lumaki ang anak at siya na mismo ang mag-desisyon kung nais niyang mag-pabutas ng tainga – na taliwas sa ating nakaugalian na gawin ito nang maaga. Kaya’t kailan ba talaga mainam at ligtas na gawin ito?

Una, kailangan maintindihan ng mga magulang na ang rekomendasyon na maghintay ng panahon at hayaang magdesisyon ang mga bata ukol sa pagpapa-butas ng kanilang tainga ay hindi dahil sa delikado ito. Ito ay bilang pagkilala at respeto sa kanilang mga sariling katawan. Ang isa pang benepisyo sa pagbubutas ng tainga kapag sila ay mas matanda na ay mas kaya na nilang alagaan ang mga sarili nila, kaya’t mas maliit ang posibilidad na ma-impeksyon ang butas. Ngunit, hangga’t handa ang mga magulang sa responsibilidad na kailangan sa tamang pangangalaga sa pagbubutas ng tainga ng kanilang anak, ito ay nananatiling ligtas para sa mga sanggol.

Sumasang-ayon din dito si Dr. Faith Alcazaren, isang general pediatrician at bahagi ng Smart Parenting Board of Experts. Aniya, “I recognize that piercing early during infancy is part of our Filipino culture, however, it is not required practice. Parents may decide either to pierce during infancy or when the child expresses the desire to get it as a milestone (in her tweens or as early as she is 4-5 years old).”

Kailan pwede pabutasan ang tainga ni baby?

Kung nag-desisyon ang mga magulang na pabutasan na nang maaga ang tainga ni baby, ang rekomendasyon ni Dr. Faith ay gawin ito sa edad na 6-months pataas. Dagdag niya, “In my practice, if the parents decide on piercing early, I prefer piercing at 6 months old when the primary series of vaccines that includes the tetanus shot has been completed and the ear lobes of the baby have grown in size. This helps in positioning the stud better compared to younger infant where the earlobes may still be too small.”

Kung pinili naman ng magulang na hintayin ang anak na mag-desisyon para sa kanyang sarili, kailangang alalahanin na kapag mas matanda na din ang bata ay mas malaki ang posibilidad na matakot ito o ma-stress sa pagpapabutas ng kanilang tainga, kahit na pa kagustuhan nilang gawin ito. Posible na matakot o maiyak sila dahil sa inaasahan nila ang mararamdamang sakit na kaagapay nito. Kung kaya’t para sa iba ay mas mainam na gawin itong habang sanggol pa at hindi pa nila alam o namamalayan.

Saan ligtas pabutasan ng tainga si baby?

Maraming pediatricians ang pumapayag at kayang gawin ang pagbubutas ng tainga ng sanggol sa kanilang opisina. Ngunit, kung hindi ito ginagawa ng inyong pediatrician, nirerekomanda ni Dr. Faith na humanap ng propesyonal na provider na kayang magbutas ng maayos at may pribado at malinis na opisina. Ayon kay Dr. Faith, “Find a provider who can pierce confidently in a private and relaxed space, where a sterile technique can be done, using sterile studs. Doing this in-store or in malls may cause more distress in the child.”

Dagdag pa ni Dr. Faith, kailangan din suriin ang alahas o hikaw na gagamitin para kay baby: “Consider also the type of studs to be used especially if your child has known allergies. The most common skin reaction is reaction to nickel content in the metal used for the earring. Best to use either surgical stainless steel, titanium, platinum, or solid gold (labeled nickel-free, if possible). Consider the length of the earring post and the earring back (or clutch). For infants, I prefer using those made for this age, but the earring post is ideally a bit shorter while giving space for the ear lobe to heal. There are earring backs that expose the tip of the earring post and there are types that cover the post. I personally prefer using the ones that cover the earring post tip so that it doesn't dig into the child's skin.”

Mga dapat alalahanin sa pagbubutas ng tainga ni baby

Kailangan panatilihing suot ni baby ang hikaw mula nang mabutasan siya ng tainga hanggang sa mahigit isang linggo matapos nito, para siguradong hindi na ito magsasara. Sa panahong ito, nararapat na linisan ng mga magulang ang paligid ng hikaw gamit ng alcohol at dahan dahang paikutin ang hikaw sa butas ng isa hanggang dalawang beses kada araw upang maiwasan ang impeksyon.

Paalala ni Dr. Faith, suriin ang bagong butas na tainga ni baby kung meron impeksyon. Ang mga sintomas ng impeksyon ay, “foul smelling discharge, redness and swelling, pain/irritability.” Kung makitaan ng ganito ay mas mainam na kumonsulta agad sa inyong pediatrician. Maari din itong maiwasan kung maayos at regular na lilinisan ang tainga matapos itong pabutasan.

Dagdag ni Dr. Faith, “Personally, since it is a procedure that is not required, I prefer giving it when the child expresses that she wants it done... but a lot of families care about piercing early especially prior to special occasions like the child's christening.”

Sa madaling salita, depende sa ating mga magulang kung kailan natin papabutasan ng tainga ang ating mga anak. Kahit ang mga Smart Parenting Editors, ay iba-iba din ang palagay ukol dito.

Para kay Judy Santiago Aladin, “My husband and I have decided that, since there are no health implications associated with delaying our daughter's ear piercing, we will let her decide when she wants to do it.”

Ani naman ni Ronna Capili Bonifacio: “I had my 10-year-old's ears pierced when she was just one. Back then, I didn't really think of it as body modification. I was one of those moms who decided on things based on how it was decided for me. I grew up always having pierced ears so I thought that it was just one of those things you do for your daughter. And the logic was, do it while they're young so that they won't remember the pain. My daughter's pediatrician kept trying to get me to hold it off, but I was insistent as we approached a formal event where I thought she'd look extra cute in a frou-frou dress, big floral hairband, and pierced ears. I was also really tired of explaining to strangers she was a girl--yes, even if she looked exactly like her father." 

"Today, she seems to be happy having her ears pierced. Maybe because it's all she's ever known. And my influence as a fashion enthusiast may be rubbing off on her--she likes wearing accessories just like me. Now that I've recently relived my dreams of multiple ears piercing, I see the point of piercing as body modification. Hopefully, she continues on enjoying it with me and it can be a space where we can bond as mother-daughter.”