How to clean babys ears?

Question

My friend has a 6 month old and she cleans his ears out with a q-tip. She told me to do it to my 4 month old, but I don't think its good to stick a q-tip into her ear. She said they can't hear as good unless you clean theirs all the time, is she right? Do I clean her ears with a q-tip or do I just let the wax come out on its own?

Answer 1

Don't put a Q-tip in your babies ear. When you bath her just use the damp wash cloth and clean around and inside her ear. The doctor will let you know if you daughter has any kind of wax build up. Then he/she will take the appropriate action in cleaning her ears.

Answer 2

There's an old adage of never putting anything smaller than your elbow in your ear. It really holds true for infants. You can clean her outer ear with a q-tip, but NEVER put anything inside the ear canal itself. (You can push wax or other things in deeper that way) If you're concerned about wax, then when you bathe her, just put a little warm water in her ears - using an eyedropper or cupping your hand to do it. That'll soften the wax so it comes out, unless she's got a bad problem with it - then it's best to let the doctor remove it anyway.

Answer 3

Even adults don't NEED to clean their ears with q-tips. The only thing you should do for your baby's ears is a cloth over your finger. Yeah, it won't get in the ear, but that's the point. The wax will come out on it's own.
If she wants to risk damaging her baby's ears, let her, but that doesn't mean you have to, too.

Answer 4

Ears are self cleaning and the wax is there for a reason!!! Sticking anything in ears is only pushing the wax further in and damaging the very delicate lining of the inner ear. Let nature take its course. My nan had an old saying which is very true: Never stick anything in your ear smaller than your elbow! Weird I know but very true.

Answer 5

The ears clean themselves of wax. You should not have to clean them.
The wax builds up a little, then dries out and falls, or is wiped, out of the ear.
Without wax, the ears become dry and itchy. A normal amount of earwax is healthy.
Cotton swabs (such as Q-tips) are not recommended for cleaning.
If you feel you must use cotton swabs, use them no more than once or twice a week.
Use them gently. Do not push them into the ear. Use on the outer part of the ear.NOT PUSH THEM INSIDE!!!!!!!! YOU can damage the eardrum!!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

She doesn't know what she is talking about, unless there is a servere build up of ear wax (which is rare) then her hearing is fine. You can use a wet wash clother to clean hers ears and if there's a lot of wax you can use a drop of mineral oil which will help loosen it up and it will come out on it's own (mineral oil in the ear is completely safe).

Answer 7

Just let the wax come out on its own. I used to just use a cotton ball moistened with warm water on the outside parts, not IN the ear canal. What if the baby jerks its head and then WHAMMO punctured ear drum!?

Answer 8

My pediatrician told me just to clean when the wax is coming out, or you can see it on the outer part of the earlobe.
Other than that, let your pediatrician do it for you.
She told me it's dangerous to try cleaning the inside of baby's ear if you're not an expert on it. You may end up hurting it.

Answer 9

your friend is misinformed.

there is no need to go INSIDE the ear canal, and when you do that you actually risk going too far and injuring your daughters ear drum.

you can clean around the ear, but DON'T go inside the ear canal.

Answer 10

Please do not stick anything in your childs ear. I know it seems like you should but belieave it or not they do not need to be cleaned!! Take the baby to the DR if you think it needs to be cleaned that bad.