How do you clean the ears?

I took DD to the Dr. today b/c she was not acting like herself the last two days. He pulled out lots and lots of ear wax out of her ears. She ended up having an ear infection. I did not think to ask the doctor how I could remove the ear wax myself b/c my daughter was screaming really badly. I know that babies can't use qtips like adults can so how does everyone do this?

 

this is a great question! i was wondering the same thing...

 

I don't clean their ears. I know my mom used to clean my brother's with a bulb syringe and water but he was older and I really don't know if you're supposed to do it that way :FIFblush:

Anyone know how it's supposed to be done, if at all?

 

Apparently Nuby makes ear syringes!

http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp...038#description

 

Q-tip brand does make a baby safe q-tip. It's shaped so that only a little tiny bit can get in the ear, no matter really how hard you try. Even on my 4 year old, I couldn't accidentally go in to far. They work great!

 

QUOTE(kendall22 @ Jan 9 2008, 07:52 PM) [snapback]565410[/snapback]
Q-tip brand does make a baby safe q-tip.


That's what we use. They at least get some of the gunk out.

 

You aren't supposed to clean out the wax (in your ears, either, for that matter). The body moves it out of the canal on its own and you can take a washcloth or whatever and clean the outside and the little chunks that come out. Some people just produce a lot of wax and it builds up, but using q-tips, etc, can push the wax farther back in and usually makes it build up more.

As adults, you can use a wax dissolving drop like Debrox to help, but I"m not sure if you can use it in babies.

Hope your DD feels better soon!

Erica.

 

QUOTE(kendall22 @ Jan 9 2008, 08:52 PM) [snapback]565410[/snapback]
Q-tip brand does make a baby safe q-tip. It's shaped so that only a little tiny bit can get in the ear, no matter really how hard you try. Even on my 4 year old, I couldn't accidentally go in to far. They work great!
Same here!

 

My girls produce a lot of wax and when Lilly had an ear infection last month, one of the peds recommended using a few drops of peroxide - he says he does it all the time. I tried it on myself and it's not painful at all, but it's a weird sensation, especially because it feels cold when it hits your ear. I tried it once with the girls and they almost killed me. The other ped said warm olive oil - a drop in each ear. It softens up the wax and helps the body push it out. Lilly still fought me on it like crazy, but it didn't feel as weird as the peroxide.

 

QUOTE(TwinsInOkinawa @ Jan 9 2008, 08:54 PM) [snapback]565419[/snapback]
You aren't supposed to clean out the wax (in your ears, either, for that matter). The body moves it out of the canal on its own and you can take a washcloth or whatever and clean the outside and the little chunks that come out. Some people just produce a lot of wax and it builds up, but using q-tips, etc, can push the wax farther back in and usually makes it build up more.

As adults, you can use a wax dissolving drop like Debrox to help, but I"m not sure if you can use it in babies.

Hope your DD feels better soon!

Erica.


I've heard this too. I have used baby q-tips, but basically just to swab around the ear canal, not actually IN it.

 

I know you're really not supposed to go inside and get it out - Whatever comes out naturally, on the outside of the ear's surface you can remove. What I do is, after every bath, I clean the whole outer ear with a washcloth or baby wipe to remove all the gunk outside. If I see a big chunk hanging out of the ear, I will take a baby-safe Qtip (the J & J ones already mentioned above my post) and get it out that way. My DD always has tons of wax...I make sure to clean it everyday!

 

Our pedi told us putting warm water in while they are in the bath would be ok. Not so much that they get swimmers ear, but just to loosen it up. DH will float a girl on her back with her ears just below the surface. They seem to really like this! I just get a wash cloth really wet and clean their ears.

 

just a washcloth around the ear. I've heard it's not good to clean their ears, even with safety Q tips!

 

My pedi said to put one drop of mineral oil in each ear every couple of weeks and the wax would loosen up on its own. All three of my bio kids have major ear wax prob. where the wax will actually cause them some hearing trouble. My dad also has this problem and he uses mineral oil too... it really works.