How to clean earwax effectively in a baby

It is one of the most annoying things for many parents, this constant yellow sticky stuff in the ears. And no matter what one tries it never seems to stop building up. Often it is very embarrassing for parents when the doctor looks into their offspring’s ears and tells them that there is a massive amount of earwax.

Earwax, called cerumen, is a waxy substance that has antibacterial properties and protects the ear channel from irritation, infection and drying out. It usually does not cause any harm apart from the esthetic point of view. However sometimes it can build up to the extend that it can block the ear completely resulting in quite significant hearing loss.

One of the most common techniques for clearing earwax is the use of Q-tips, also known as ear buds. These are problematic because they are a foreign body that is inserted into the ear and can cause trauma and infection in the ear channel. In addition its use in people other than oneself has an increased risk of injury to ear channel or eardrum. Here’s why: It is easy to stop inserting any foreign body into the ear when it starts hurting. However, when inserted into someone else’s ear one commonly has already gone too far by the time the other person can make the discomfort known.

Another technique is the syringing of the ear, but anyone who ever had that done to themselves can attest that it is particularly uncomfortable. In addition, it only helps for big lumps of earwax but not the rest of the earwax lining.

So, what to do instead?

It helps to know that waxy substances get cleaned quite well with the use of ordinary soap. The easiest and most gentle way of cleaning the earwax therefore is to make a good lather with soap when bathing or showering your child. Turn the head to have the ear facing up. Drop a few drops of the soapy water into the ear channel and rub it in with slight pressure on the small part of the ear right in front of the ear channel, called the tragus. If possible leave the soapy water in for 10 seconds and then turn the head for the ear to face down and the soap water to drain. Proceed with the other ear the same way. If performed at every bath the earwax will wear off over time layer by layer.

Important is however not to instill any liquids (apart from medicines prescribed by the doctor) into the ears if one has either fluid leaking out of the ears or had grommets – surgically inserted ear tubes – placed. Instilling fluids in these cases can cause or worsen middle ear infections.

In short:
Earwax can be cleaned effectively using warm soapy water instilled into the ears as long as your child has not had any leaking ears or grommets inserted.