Index
Everyone knows the need for thorough baby care, especially when it comes to hygiene. Bathing, diapering, nail care, navel and how to clean babies’ ears properly, you know?
The correct procedure to clean a baby’s ear must be done carefully so as not to cause damage. The use of cotton swabs, even those recommended for babies with a differentiated tip from the conventional one, should not be used in this first period, since instead of cleaning it pushes the wax expelled by the organism further and can still reach the eardrum. Opt for cleaning with the help of the tip of the towel, a soft cloth diaper or gauze .
After bathing , lay the baby on its side so that the ear is up. Wet the tip of the diaper or gauze with warm water and squeeze out the excess water. Gently wipe the entire ear region to remove dirt and ear wax produced, then dry with the other end of the dry towel to remove any remaining water.
Protecting the ears from entering the water especially at bath time is essential to keep the baby away from infections and earaches. If it occurs during the bathing procedure, turn the baby’s head on one side and the other so that all the accumulated water drains and dry carefully with a soft towel. Remembering that no object should ever be introduced to dry the inner part of the ear, as it can cause an injury to the eardrum.
What is Ear Wax and When to Worry?
Ear wax or cerumen as it is known, contrary to what many imagine is not simply dirt, but a natural substance produced by the body that maintains the health of the ear . Wax is the secretion of the ceruminous glands located in the inner region of the ear, which has the function of keeping hydrated and preventing the entry of any particle harmful to the health of the ear, such as dust and other types of dirt.
Ear wax also has the function of helping to expel the remains of substances and other debris that may have entered the ear canal, so the existence of it is not a problem, but the accumulation and excess, so it must be maintained correct hygiene of the area, being properly cleaned.
The normal process of ear wax is to accumulate, dry out and exit naturally through the ear canal, so it is considered self-cleaning. But this process is not always carried out, causing the internal accumulation that in most cases is caused by the inappropriate use of the cotton swab which instead of removing the external secretions, ends up pushing the wax further inside. This accumulation within the ear canal can cause some disorders such as:
- Infection and ear pain
- Itch
- Decreased hearing ability
- Internal hums
When this excess earwax is noticed, one should not try to remove it yourself at home, but instead seek an otolaryngologist who will evaluate the case and, if necessary, perform a wash to remove the accumulated wax or perform the procedure with the aid of forceps, both are procedures painless and very fast.
Therefore, the best way to avoid the accumulation of earwax is to clean it on the outside with the help of a diaper, towel or moistened gauze or even with the cotton swab, remembering that it should not be deepened to avoid further inconvenience. The baby and the dehydrated child tend to produce even more ear wax, so always offer plenty of fluids, keeping them well hydrated.
See also: How to bathe a newborn
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
