My doctor told me not to use q-tips. So I have been using my pinky nail to try and get out the wax, but I broke my finger nail and my poor DD has so much wax I can see it, I just don't know how to get it all out - any suggestions.
I know your not supposed to use q-tips but I do anyway. I got the Safety swabs made by Johnsons. They are made so that only the tip will fit into the ear. I just make sure to just barely put the tip in and gently get the wax, since if you put the whole q-tip inside the ear the wax is pushed further inside. I think they recommend not using q-tips because if not used properly they can actually cause damage if the wax is pushed into the ear canal. But if you use them properly they should be fine.
I use the baby q-tips. My pedi never said I couldn't, and I'm not aware of any other way to remove wax. If there is I'd be interested in hearing it.
You can use the q-tips to get the wax out that you can see, but be sure not too push the other wax down in there. You might ask the ped to flush out their ears next time if they are that bad, both of my twins have very waxy ears and usually get it done during their wbv.
I always used the round end of a bobby pin to pull out the ear wax. Just pull out what you can see, don't dig, and wait until they are asleep to try it so they aren't moving. Your pediatrician uses some sort of metal tool to do it also.
Mine have very waxy ears, and they are even worse now that they have gotten ear tubes and seem to constantly have drainage. I too use qtips, but I swear one of these days I'm going to steal that little plastic stick thing from the pedi's office. Due to the drainage we have to use drops pretty frequently and that helps to loosen the wax and make it easier for it to drain out.
Our ped said to just take a wet washcloth and wipe the part of the ear you can see...He said not to go to close to the inseide of the ear
My boys also have very "waxy" ears (it really is gross, isn't it LOL). Every time we are at the ped., she always has to use the "stick thingy" (real technical...I know) to get the wax out so she can see their ear drums. She has advised me on several occasions that whatever is on the outside of the ear can be wiped away with a tissue or wipe but DO NOT ever stick anything in the ear canal. She also said that if I thought it was bothering them to bring them to the office and she would clean them out at no charge.
I asked my doctor about this when I thought my son had too much wax. He said never use a Q-tip. I normally use use my nail or what he said to use is in the bath tub, use the corner or the wash cloth. It works pretty well. I asked him about the liquid that "melts' ear wax, he said never to use that either. Hope this helps. Kiesha
I find that making sure their ears go under in the bath also helps to loosen the wax, but I guess if they have tubes yyou can't do that?
Hmmmm . . . I use q-tips too. I will have to ask about that at our next visit. Our ped. said our babies were very waxy. He's always cleaning out their ears too.
I wash their ears really well with a wet washcloth. If they have a chunk of wax actually coming out of their ear then I'll snag it with a q-tip, but I never put the q-tip in the ear. My mom messed up my hearing really badly by doing that.
