Ear Cleaning Question?

Don't use q-tips or put anything in his ear. You can use your fingernail to scrape out just what's loose.

I use a wipe and clean her ears while I nurse.

I agree with the above comments. Q-Tips are more of a problem starter, then a problem solver. All they do is push the gunk further into the ear canal. You're much better off picking out what you can while baby nurses and if you are really concerned, consult your Family Doc.

My guy's got gunky ears too. I just use my nail to get out what i can.

If you have to fulfil your cleaning/picking urge....I suggest using a Qtip to clean all the crevices in the curves of his OUTTER ear. I went through 2 or 3 of them- it was amazing what i found!

My doctor informed me that cleaning the ears with standard (adult) Q-tips is harmful and can lead to ear infections due to the fact that bacteria can be pushed in and ear wax is being removed (ear wax helps keep the bad germs out).

However, she recommended baby Q-tips, which we use occasionaly when the wax is building up or water got in the ear.

Wow, I've been using a Q-tip this whole time and didn't know how harmful it was! I am very careful when go into the inner ear, and don't even push it in, but MAN there is so much gunk in there, it's amazing babies produce so much of it! I will try to stop!

- Pick-y mom!

Absolutely no q-tips.

My ds's ears have always been really gunky . . . when he was a babe I just picked while he was nursing (with my finger nail).

When he got older (able to hold sit in the bath) our family doc said to squirt a little hydrogen peroxide in there and swish it out with water (he suggested the shower head, but I use one of those nasal aspirators). Not a popular thing with my ds, but you can do it fast and it works to loosen stuff up.

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That's what we used to do at the peds office I worked at when a child came in with a bunch of gunk. I agree, not too popular with the little ones but it works great!

It's not dangerous to use a Q-tip as long as you only clean the outer ear and don't put the q-tip down inside. I use baby q-tips which are especially made so you can't put it in the canal. I got them from the dollar store too so they are cheap.

DD has horrible amounts of hard wax that comes out just inside the ear canal, but where it can be seen. I'm not comfortable using a q-tip in her ear, and my fingers are too be to use my nail. I use a bobbie pin just inside - not far - I can still see the end of it. It gets the excess out, and I feel more comfortable with it. It works great. The q-tips are good for the outside of the ear.
It is important to get it out. My dad has the same kind of wax, and has to have the dr. remove it. So, I have to get it out of there.