How to Clean Wax Out of a Child's Ear
Do you suspect your child may have earwax buildup? Are you looking for a safe way to remove earwax from your child's ears? If you're thinking about using a cotton swab to clean your child's ear canal, think again. Cotton swabs may actually push earwax farther down and cause wax blockage, a condition that could ultimately lead to a visit to the ear doctor. Hydrogen peroxide, on the other hand, is safer than cotton swabs and is far more effective in removing earwax from your child's ears.
Things You'll Need
- Pillow
- 2 soft towels
- Medicine dropper (optional)
- Hydrogen peroxide
Instructions
Instructions
Place the pillow on a comfortable space such as a bed or sofa. Cover the pillow with one of the soft towels. The pillow will provide your child with a comfortable place to rest his head. The towel will provide a place for your child's earwax and the hydrogen peroxide to drain. Situate your child comfortably on his side with his head resting on the pillow. Be sure your child has one of his ears against the pillow and the other facing up. Drape another soft towel around your child's ear. Wrap the towel so that it protects the areas surrounding your child's ear. Do not cover your child's mouth and nose; covering the mouth and nose will prevent adequate breathing and might scare the child. Remove the cap from the bottle of hydrogen peroxide. If you have a medicine dropper, insert it into the bottle and fill it with hydrogen peroxide. If you do not have a medicine dropper, simply fill the bottle cap with the solution. Irrigate the ear by dropping a small amount of hydrogen peroxide directly into the ear canal. If you use a medicine dropper, do not place it inside the ear canal. Don't worry if the hydrogen peroxide overflows from the ear; the towel will catch the excess. Allow the hydrogen peroxide to remain in your child's ear for two to three minutes. You will notice bubbles surfacing from the ear canal (and probably some giggling coming from your child). Turn your child's head over on the pillow so that the hydrogen peroxide and pieces of earwax (if any) can drain. Have your child rest in this position for at least five minutes. Place another towel around the other ear and repeat the above steps.
