How To Clean Baby’s Ears At Home And What Not To Do

Like most of their body parts, your baby’s ears are delicate and sensitive. That’s why when it comes to cleaning them, safety is key. You must use proper methods and tools to clean your baby’s ears, as otherwise, it could lead to an injury or an infection inside their ears.

To make things a tad bit easier for you, we have compiled a list of things that you should know about cleaning your little one’s ears, starting from whether you should clean their ears regularly, safe cleaning techniques, and preventive measures to follow while doing so. So if you are curious to know how to clean your baby’s ears without hurting your little one, then keep reading.

Why Do Babies Have Earwax?

Earwax, also known as cerumen, is a waxy substance that is naturally produced by the outer ear canal. While it may seem like an unnecessary biological waste, it has its own uses, such as:

• It waterproofs your baby’s ear canal
• Acts as a sticky trap for insects and dust
• Lubricates your little one’s ear canal to prevent irritation
• It exhibits antibacterial and antifungal properties that offer protection against pollutants and infection-causing bacteria

Should You Clean Your Baby’s Ears Regularly?

According to the American Academy of Paediatrics, you do not have to clean your baby’s earwax regularly. They also suggest that if the earwax is not causing pain or blocking your little one’s ear canal, then it should be completely left alone.

Rather than cleaning earwax, you can use a soft cloth soaked in warm water to clean your baby’s outer ear. Run the cloth around the rims of their external ear gently, and repeat every day while bathing them. Do not use any other means of cleaning their ears, and make sure to steer clear of techniques like ear flushing, or cleaning with mineral oils, as they might cause infection in your little one’s ears.

While regular earwax cleaning isn’t recommended, in some cases, there could be excessive earwax production in your baby, leading to blockage in the ear canal, and causing pain. In this situation, you may have to opt for certain cleaning techniques at home or visit your child’s paediatrician for more guidance.

What Are The Symptoms Of Excess Earwax build-up In Babies?

Identifying the symptoms of earwax build-up can help you understand your child’s condition and administer relief measures effectively. Some of the common symptoms of excess earwax build-up in infants include:

• Try to understand your baby’s cues. If they are constantly pointing at their ears, then there is something wrong with it. Even older kids and toddlers may use the same approach to convey that they are experiencing discomfort in their ears.
• Since earwax impaction can obstruct your little one’s ear canal, it can in some cases cause hearing difficulties.
• If the earwax accumulation is severe, you may even notice a bit of hardened wax sticking out from the ear canal of your baby.
• Severe symptoms of earwax accumulation may also include pain, fussiness, and sometimes even dizziness in your baby. 

How To Clean Your Baby’s Ears Safely?

The following methods are usually recommended for cleaning excess ear wax build-up in babies:

• Ear drops: Putting ear drops is one of the best ways to clean your baby’s ears.  Your child’s paediatrician may prescribe a specific ear drop, depending on their condition, which you will have to administer at least once a day to soften the earwax and make it shed. To give them ear drops, you will have to make your baby lie down, turn the affected ear upwards, and pour the drops directly into their ear canal. After that, you will have to press the little skin flap in front of their ear so that the ear drops can penetrate deep into the ear canal for quick relief. 
• Microsuction: In this technique, your child’s doctor will use a small suction tube, also known as a hoover to suck the ear wax out of your little one’s ear canal, and clean the canal medically right after to prevent any infections.
• Ear irrigation: Ear irrigation or syringing is a medical procedure of earwax removal, in which the doctor squirts warm water into your baby’s ears to weaken and dislodge the wax, and then pulls them out of their ear canal using medical tools. 
• Manual earwax removal: This technique is only used if the earwax inside your baby’s ear canal, is stubbornly hard. It is usually administered by ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctors who have specialised tools that help safely extract earwax manually. For this procedure, your child may have to sit, and that’s why it’s best if you hold them in your lap, and distract them using interactive toys.

Tips To Prevent Earwax Complications In Your Baby

Excessive earwax production can impact your child’s ear canal and also make them fussy. You can observe the following steps to prevent earwax complications in your baby in the first place:

• Avoid using cotton swabs: Cotton swabs are widely discouraged from use by doctors and paediatricians as they tend to push the earwax deeper into your baby’s ear canal. So, unless the doctor gives you a go-ahead, avoid using a cotton swab to clean the inside of your baby’s ears. Just use a soft cloth dipped in water to cleanse the outer area of your little one’s ears.
• Don’t try to remove earwax using your fingers or an external object: If you notice earwax accumulating in your baby’s ears, then do not try to pick it up using your bare fingers, or use an external object to pull it out. Doing so can cause the earwax to slide in deeper, and also increase the risk of an eardrum injury or infection.
• Remove hearing aids when your baby is asleep: If your baby wears a hearing aid, then take them off when they are asleep or at other intervals, after discussing with their audiologists. This will allow the earwax to shed naturally and prevent accumulation. You can also administer ear drops to your baby to encourage the wax to dislodge and shed.
• Check your baby’s ears regularly: You must check your baby’s ears every time after a bath. This will allow you to notice any early accumulation of earwax in their ear canal. Also, it will help you identify if the ear wax is coming out by itself or if you need to visit the doctor for medical removal.

We hope we’ve answered all your questions on how to clean your baby’s ears safely. Just remember, you have to be extra gentle while cleaning your little one’s ears, and if you are doubtful, visit your child’s doctor for earwax removal. They can use medicated tools to remove earwax and provide comfort to your little one. Do not use oils or external objects to clean their ears as they may increase the risk of infections or injury in your child’s eardrum. 

Also read:

How to take care of a newborn baby: Check out this post to know helpful tips, tricks, and hacks to care for your newborn in the first month of their life. 

Featured image: Freepik.com