How to Clean a Baby's Ears

New parents are often concerned about how to care for their infants safely. When it comes to bath time for squirmy babies with delicate parts, the "how to" questions multiply. If you're wondering how to clean a baby's ears, you're not alone. Fortunately, it's a simple process you can complete in seconds.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Bathe the child in water warm, but not hot, to the touch of your elbow. A kitchen sink works well for newborns; just place a towel in the water first to protect delicate skin from the drain plug and to assist with traction.
2. Hold the child securely by placing a hand behind her back. If you're not confident with this hold on a wet baby, reach in and cradle her in one arm. (You'll get wet this way.)
3. Dampen a wash cloth, and use it to wipe the area in front of her ears. (No soap is necessary.) Move the washcloth away from her face to keep water out of her eyes. Next, wipe all the way around her ears, making sure to get the crevice where the back of her ear meets her head. This is a common area for buildup.
4. Wet the washcloth once more and gently wipe the inside of her outer ear. Some babies have crevices here also. Make sure they're clean.
5. Roll the tip of the washcloth to a small point. (This works best with washcloths designed for babies, which have a smaller seam.) Squeeze out excess water, and gently tuck the point in the baby's ear and spin around once. This removes debris from the outer edge, but the lack of rigidity will keep the washcloth from entering too far into the canal or damaging the baby's ear. (Note: This step is not mandatory. Ears are self-cleaning, and wiping the outer areas is just fine.)
6. Pat the baby's ear dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep the child warm through the process by draping a hand towel over her body. Pour some bathwater over the towel every few seconds for a cozy, warm bath.
• Some babies develop more wax than others. If you're concerned about excessive buildup, speak to your pediatrician.
• Never use cotton swabs in a baby's ear. They push debris further inside and can damage the eardrum.
• Never use an ear cleaning kit on babies. Their eardrums are too delicate. If excessive wax occurs, only a pediatrician should flush the ears.