To clean the baby's ear you can use a towel, a cloth diaper or a gauze, always avoiding the use of the cotton swab, as it facilitates the occurrence of accidents, such as rupturing the eardrum and clogging the ear with wax.
Then follow the following step-by-step instructions:
- Lay the baby on a safe surface;
- Turn the baby's head so the ear is facing up;
- Lightly wet the tip of the diaper, towel or gauze in warm soapy water;
- Squeeze tissue to remove excess water;
- Pass the towel, diaper or damp gauze on the outside of the ear to remove dirt;
- Dry the ear with a soft towel.
It is important to remember that only the external dirt should be removed as the wax is naturally drained from the ear and eliminated during bathing.
Wax is a substance naturally produced by the body to protect the ear against the ingress of dust and dirt, as well as forming a barrier that hinders the entry of microorganisms that cause infections, such as otitis.
When to clean baby's ear
The baby's ear can be cleaned every day after bathing following the indicated steps. This routine is able to keep the ear canal always free of excess wax that can affect hearing and lead to infections.
However, if there is excessive wax accumulation, it is advisable to consult your pediatrician for a professional cleaning and to assess if there is any problem with the ear.
When wax may indicate a problem
The normal wax is thin and has a yellowish color, being naturally drained by a small canal inside the ear. However, when there are problems in the ear, the wax may exhibit color and thickness variations, becoming more liquid or thick.
In addition, when there is a problem, your baby may have other signs such as rubbing the ears, fingering his ear, or having a fever if an infection develops. In these cases, it is important to go to the pediatrician to make an assessment and start the appropriate treatment.
How to prevent ear inflammation
Ear inflammations, also known as otitis, can be prevented with simple measures such as drying the baby's ear well after bathing, thoroughly cleaning the outside and the back of the baby's ears as explained above, and not letting the ears under the water during the bath. Check out how to properly bath the baby to avoid this problem.
Also, you should never use any sharp object to try to remove the wax or help cleaning the inside of the ear, such as swabs, staples or toothpicks, as it can easily open wounds or break the child's eardrum.
