How To Clean A Child’s Ears
Wax is a protective substance, but in excessive amounts it gives rise to plugs and lids that can be very irritating. It is therefore very important to learn how to clean children’s ears.
The ear is divided into three parts. The external part includes the outer ear itself. It is connected through the ear canal, which reaches the eardrum in the middle ear and then passes to the inner ear.
In the skin of the ear canal there are special glands that produce wax. It slowly reaches the opening of the outer ear, where it comes out or falls out during a bath.
How to clean children’s ears
When the body does not get rid of the earwax itself, it collects and clogs the ear canal. The consequences are hearing loss and dizziness.
A newborn baby probably does not get dirty ears. A superficial cleaning is enough. But over time, it is important to learn how to clean a child’s ears to avoid mistakes. Being too careful can affect a child’s health.
No objects may be inserted into the ear. If you think there is too much wax in your ear, consult your pediatrician, who can evaluate if there is a possible blockage and rule out other problems.
When objects such as a cotton swab go into the ear, there is a risk of pressing wax residues in the ear together so that they create a plug.
The risk of damaging the eardrum is high. If the child makes an unexpected movement when cleaning deeply, the consequences can be serious. If the object is sharp, such as a toothpick or hairpin, the damage will be even worse.
Because it is a very narrow and thin canal in children, objects in the ear can cause the outer layer of the skin to be scratched off. As a defense mechanism, wax production increases, which can be a problem.
How to reach inside?
The collection of wax in the ear can be resolved in several ways, none of which is traumatic or risky.
One way to clean a child’s ears is to use mineral oil, olive oil or glycerin. Two or three drops soften the wax and let it easily flow out of the ear. It is also recommended to apply two or three drops of warm paraffin oil.
To clean the ear, you can dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a cup of water, drip a few drops into the ear, let it lie and then tilt your head to empty it.
Another recommendation is to heat oxygenated water or make an infusion of chamomile. Pour the hot drops into the ear and wait for the wax to start to drain.
If the wax still does not come out, or if the ear hurts, you must contact your doctor instead.
Bathe and wash children’s ears
You need to use the bath time to check the consistency and color of your baby’s earwax. It must be light yellow or almost orange. If it is thick and dark, you need to plan a visit to the pediatrician to rule out problems.
Cotton stoppers are useful for cleaning the outer parts of the ear with water and soap. You should try to hold the baby’s head to the side and touch the tops from the inside out.
If water gets into the baby’s ears during a bath, it may be necessary to tilt your head in both directions to get rid of it. That, plus drying with a towel, will suffice.
It is recommended that the necessary precautions be taken to prevent water from entering the ear canal.
If there is still some water left in the ear, trust the small hairs that are in the area. They will prevent the fluid from entering the inner ear.
In newborns, cleaning the ear is not a routine task. But as the months go by , hygiene becomes more and more important and the parents learn to do it until the children learn how to clean their ears themselves.
