Ear Care
Earcare for kids
At some point all parents start to think about earcare of their children. The problem of cleaning kids' ears is confusing as to how to do so effectively and, most importantly, safely.
Many believe that the child's ear is the same as an adult´s and can be cleaned with a normal cotton swab, but this is a misconception.
Paediatricians from all around the world advice new parents not to use them under any circumstances. Why, you might ask? The answer is simple. Babies' eardrums are very delicate, and putting an ear wand in too deep can cause damage to your child’s hearing, or even cause some irreversible damage. Doctors recommend the use of special baby ear sticks. They have a safety feature that prevents them from going deep into your child's ear. Alternatively, you can twist a thin cotton swab and clean the ear canal very carefully.
Paediatricians advise to perform the cleaning procedure only after a bath, because the water that entered the ears additionally soaks up all the impurities in the ear canal, which facilitates an effective cleaning and minimises discomfort to the child.
We have prepared a few tips for you on caring for children's ears:
- During the first year of your baby's life, do not try to clean the ear canal of all wax, because wax is an additional barrier that protects the inner ear from all kinds of pathogenic germs
- For newborns, the frequency of ear wax cleaning should be once every 7-10 days. For children older than a year, the daily interval may be reduced to once every 5 days
- Don’t forget to gently wipe behind the baby's ears and around the outside of each ear.
- If you are scared of harming your baby, we recommend you to use a special flushing liquid. You can find it in farmacy or in children's shops. Be careful, these products can only be used from 6 months of age.
What causes earwax buildup in babies?
Earwax buildup in infants is rare. Usually, the ear canal makes the correct amount of earwax it needs. But in some cases, excess earwax buildup can interfere with hearing, or cause pain or discomfort. Your baby may tug on their ear to indicate discomfort.
Some causes of earwax buildup include:
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Using cotton swabs. These push the wax back in and pack it down instead of removing it
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Sticking fingers in the ear. If wax is pushed back by your infant’s fingers, it may build up.
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Wearing ear plugs. Ear plugs can push wax back in the ear, causing buildup.
If you notice that your child has excess wax in the ears, you should call your doctor for advice, do not self-treat.
Filed under Ear Care
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