[sbgquilt]

My dd age 5 weeks gets water in her ears sometimes in the bath. Is there anything potentially hazardous about this?

 

[AngelBee]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lurk.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lurk">:

 

[kbridi]

My DS did that, and still does. He hasn't had any problems, but I assume, it could cause an ear infection if water gets deep in the ear and just sits there.<br><br>
Sorry..no advice.

 

[mandalamama]

not that i know of. actually it's a good way to make sure there's not a waxy buildup in a baby's ear, just let a lil soapy water get in and come back out. i'm pretty sure they can only get ear infections from liquid on the inside of the eardrum, like after a cold or stuffy nose (not totally sure, tho).<br><br>
if you think your baby is irritated by water in her ear after a bath, try this: lay her on her tummy with her head turned so one ear is downwards, and gently massage the area right in front of the ear, where the bump of cartilege is. any water will come out (so will wax sometimes, don't be surprised!). repeat for the other side <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[3 Little Monkeys]

When dd was little, she loved having water over her head and it always got in her ears, she is 18 months old and has never had an ear infection - no ear problems at all. I don't think it will hurt at all

 

[BabySackMom]

Just do what Melly Bean said and get it out after. They can get an infection fromstagnet water on the outside of the tympanic(sp) membrain. It is called swimmers ear. So just make sure you do drain it.. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up">

 

[lucysmom]

My daughter's doc recommends using a bulb aspirator to squirt warm water right on in there intentionally to dislodge wax. I like the technique recommended by Mellybean to drain it, but I have never done anything special to drain the water & my babe has never had any ear problems (8 + months) so far.

 

[sbgquilt]

I'm going to try this right after bathtime today! Thanks.<br><br><div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>mellybean</strong></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">not that i know of. actually it's a good way to make sure there's not a waxy buildup in a baby's ear, just let a lil soapy water get in and come back out. i'm pretty sure they can only get ear infections from liquid on the inside of the eardrum, like after a cold or stuffy nose (not totally sure, tho).<br><br>
if you think your baby is irritated by water in her ear after a bath, try this: lay her on her tummy with her head turned so one ear is downwards, and gently massage the area right in front of the ear, where the bump of cartilege is. any water will come out (so will wax sometimes, don't be surprised!). repeat for the other side <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"></div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>

 

[pixiexto]

I've always avoided getting water in her ears at bathtime, for the ear infection reason. It's funny, our eldest daughter is now almost 3 and I still avoid it! Old habits die hard, I guess! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink">

 

[joesmom]

Hmm... ftr, my son is six & it never occurred to me to try to keep water out of his ears. He has never had an ear infection. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin">

 

[ladyelmo1]

Ear infections are from a buildup of fluid within the ear, not from water from outside. Swimmers ear is a different kind of ear infection than you are thinking of, I think, and isn't it pretty rare??<br><br>
Or so my ped said to me when I called in a panic after I got water in dd1's ear during her first bath at home: "she's had water in her ears for the last 9 months, she'll be fine". <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink"><br><br>
HTH!<br>
-Melissa

 

[ssolberg99]

My ds is 7 mo now and loves lying down in the tub because the water covers his ears...no problems or infections, yet.

 

[juju's mom]

I used to always get ear infections due to water in the ear. So I was really carefull at first with dd. But now she loves her bath time and splashes so much ; it is pretty much impossible to avoid water in the ears. She has not had any ear infections yet. Crossing my fingers that she doesn't!<br><br>
Thanks for the advice about draining water. I may use that this summer when we have swimming lessons!<br><br>
Jenn