Earwax that accumulates can make a baby feel uncomfortable. But before cleaning it, you need to know how to clean your baby's ears properly. Because, if done carelessly, can hurt the baby's ears.
Ear wax or cerumen is a normal thing that is formed and has several benefits for your baby's ear. Earwax works to protect the ear from dust exposure, as well as to keep the ear dry and free from infection.
But if the amount is excessive, earwax can accumulate, causing disruption in the hearing Little or make his ears feel clogged and uncomfortable.
When to Clean Baby's Ears?
Earwax does have an important function in maintaining the health of baby's ears. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that earwax can also cause problems if it has accumulated too much and hardened in the ear canal.
Some of the problems that can arise from accumulation of earwax are:
- Hearing impaired
- Smelly ears
- There is a sensation of buzzing in the ears
- The ear feels sore or itchy
Father and Mother should suspect that Little has symptoms of accumulation of earwax if he often tug at his ear, shake his head, or become more fussy. If your child shows these signs, you should immediately take him to the doctor.
How to Clean Baby's Ears
To clean baby's ears, avoid using cotton buds or your fingers. Using cotton buds or fingers to clean the ears can actually push dirt into the ear and potentially damage the baby's eardrums.
To clean baby's ears safely and correctly, follow these two methods:
Using washcloth and warm water
Use a washcloth to clean baby's ears every day. Cleaning the ears using a washcloth is a method that is often recommended by doctors because it is considered the safest. However, this method only applies to the outer ear.
To do this, first wet the washcloth clean with warm water. Then, squeeze the washcloth until enough water is wasted. After the washcloth is moistened, wipe the outside of the baby's ears slowly with the washcloth.
Avoid using a washcloth that is too wet to clean the baby's ears because it can cause water to enter his ears.
Using drops
In addition to washcloths and warm water, cleaning your baby's ears can also be done with ear drops. However, the use of ear drops should not be careless. You need to consult with your doctor first to determine the type and dosage of drops that suit the condition of your child.
If your doctor does recommend or prescribe ear drops, here's how to use it to clean baby's ears:
- Lay the baby sideways, with the ears to be cleaned facing up.
- Drop the medicine 5 times (or according to the doctor's recommendation) into the baby's ear.
- Hold the baby's position for 5-10 minutes so that the drug actually gets into the ear.
- After 10 minutes, turn the baby's position with the ear that has been given drops to face down.
If the methods above do not also succeed in making the Little Ear's ear clean, consult further with the ear, nose, throat (ENT) doctor. Your doctor may prescribe other ear drops, or perform ear cleaning procedures, for example with an earwax suction device.
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