| Ear cleaning: How to clean your child's ears | 1974.00000000000 | Ear cleaning: How to clean your child's ears | Ear cleaning: How to clean your child's ears | E | English | Otolaryngology | Child (0-12 years);Teen (13-18 years) | Ears | Nervous system | Non-drug treatment | Caregivers
Adult (19+) | NA | | 2019-07-22T04:00:00Z | | Elly Berger, MD, FRCPC, FAAP, MHPE; Shawna Silver, MD, FRCPC, FAAP, PEng | | | | 6.00000000000000 | 78.3000000000000 | 403.000000000000 | | Health (A-Z) - Procedure | Health A-Z | <p>Learn how to safely clean your child's ears.</p> | <p>Your ears are divided into three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. The outer ear includes the pinna (the part of the ear we can see) and the ear canal. The eardrum separates the ear canal from the midle ear. Together, these capture sounds and channel them into the middle ear.<br></p><p>The ear canal contains glands that produce earwax (cerumen). It is normal to have a lining of earwax in the ear canal, as the wax protects the middle ear from everyday dust and dirt.</p>
<figure class="asset-c-100">
<span class="asset-image-title">Ear anatomy</span>
<img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/Ear_anatomy_V2_MED_ILL_EN.jpg" alt="Parts of the inner ear, middle ear and outer ear" />
<figcaption class="asset-image-caption">The ear has three sections: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. Each section is made up of smaller parts that work together to help you hear.</figcaption> </figure> | | <h2>Key points</h2>
<ul>
<li>Clean the outside of your child’s ears with a wash cloth.</li>
<li>Don't put anything, such as cotton swabs or hair pins, in your child's ear canal.</li>
<li>See your doctor about anything abnormal such as blood, oozing, pain or changes in hearing.</li>
</ul> | | | | | | | | | | <h2>When to see a doctor</h2><p>See your doctor if:</p><ul><li>you notice any blood, oozing or pus coming from the ear<br></li><li>your child has
<a href="/article?contentid=750&language=English">ear pain</a> or experiences any change in their hearing</li><li>you see anything stuck in your child's ear</li></ul> | | | | | | | | | | | <h2>How to do routine ear cleaning</h2><p>Your child’s outer ears can be cleaned regularly to remove any dirt. The safest way to do this is to use a soft washcloth.</p><p>Remember, “nothing smaller than your elbow” should be put in your child’s ear. Items such as cotton swabs or hair pins should not be put in the ear canal. Using these items in the ear canal will pack the wax in further or cause damage to the ear canal.<br></p><p>Ear candling and peroxide cleaners are not recommended for cleaning your child’s ears. Ear candling has no clear benefit and can be risky.</p><h2>How to remove hardened earwax</h2><p>If you think your child has a build-up of hardened earwax, you can soften it with two to four drops of olive oil or mineral oil.</p><ol><li>Warm up some oil to skin temperature by holding it in a small container in your hands.</li><li>Use a dropper to apply the oil to the affected ear.</li><li>Have your child lie down with the affected ear facing up and leave the oil in the ear for a few minutes.</li><li>When your child sits up, the wax should work its way out.<br></li></ol><p>If the wax does not work its way out, your doctor may be able to remove it with a special instrument called a curet or with a warm water flush.</p> | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/Ear_anatomy_V2_MED_ILL_EN.jpg | Ear cleaning: How to clean your child's ears | | False | | | | | |
