Should I clean my newborn’s ears?

Newborn babies (the first 28 days after birth) have especially sensitive skin that’s still developing and requires extra attention and care. During this time, you may be wondering, “should I clean my newborn’s ears?” Ear canals have the ability to clean themselves to an extent, so throughout this early stage, babies typically only need a gentle wipe-down of the outer ear.

While your newborn’s ear cleaning routine may involve more steps as they grow, it’s very important to avoid putting anything inside a newborn’s ear. This can cause unintentional damage to the eardrum or soft tissue, potentially leading to hearing loss. If you notice a build-up of wax inside the ear, set up an appointment with a pediatrician who can safely treat or remove it without harming the delicate ear.

When should I clean my baby's ears?

If you’re wondering when to start cleaning babies’ ears, rest assured that you can do so even when they are infants—but with certain precautions. Newborn babies don’t need a full bath every day, but even on the “off days,” cleaning their face and bottom is a good idea. Establishing a daily cleaning routine comes naturally when you want to remove any food, mucus or other accumulations from the day. 

Their ears should be part of that normal cleaning routine. A simple wipe-down of your baby’s ears with a soft, clean cloth—dampened and then wrung out—helps remove grime, ear wax or other unwanted residue that may have accumulated throughout the day. It’s also instrumental in mitigating hearing and health problems for the future.

How to clean newborn ears? Tips and methods

While infants and newborns have the same ear anatomy as adults, the methods for how to clean baby ears are different. Your child is still growing and developing, meaning that strong or invasive washing can damage delicate parts of the ear and skin or cause infection. To keep your baby's ears both safe and clean, the best way to clean baby ears is to focus on being gentle and using baby-safe tools when cleaning behind baby ears as well as inside their ears.

There are several methods to clean your baby’s ears, but as you learn safe techniques for how to clean inside baby ears and how to clean baby earwax at home, you’ll easily fall into good hygiene habits that meet your baby’s needs. No matter what method you choose, their safety and comfort is your top priority.  

Using saline solution

You may have heard of saline solution being used as an earwax removal method. For adults, this can be done by soaking a cotton ball, placing it into the ear and then tilting the ear upward, or by using a syringe. It can help loosen wax by breaking it down and clearing out the excess.

However, for babies, earwax removal requires extra caution. So, if you’re wondering, “Can we use saline water to clean ears for infants?” the answer is no. This method should be avoided since it involves contact with the inner ear. When it comes to earwax solutions and treatments that would go inside an infant’s ear, leave it to a pediatrician. They’re trained in administering treatments and will provide steps for continuing baby’s ear care post-appointment. 

The do’s and don’ts of cleaning your baby’s ears

When cleaning your baby’s ears at home, there are several important dos and don’ts to keep in mind: 

What causes earwax buildup in infants?

If your baby's earwax does build up, it’s important to address the problem. An excess of earwax in babies can potentially lead to an earache or infection, causing more discomfort or even further hearing problems for your baby, such as hearing loss. 

The causes for this buildup vary, but can be affected by earwax leakage and/or the overproduction of earwax in the ears. In some cases, a buildup is triggered by attempts to remove the baby’s earwax with a cotton swab.  

When to call your pediatrician

When does a little bit of earwax become a bigger problem? If you’re regularly cleaning your baby’s ears, cleaning earwax from baby ears shouldn’t cause issues. However, it may become time to schedule an appointment with your pediatrician if you notice symptoms such as:

• Itching or grabbing the ears
• Being able to see a large piece of earwax in the ear
• An apparent decline in their hearing
• Expressing general discomfort that can’t be soothed

Your pediatrician will be able to properly assess your child’s condition, and they are the one you should trust for baby earwax removal, if it is necessary. If your child is dealing with a buildup, your doctor can offer descriptions of how to remove earwax from baby ears—but they should be the ones to do it. If your child has developed an ear infection, they will also be able to diagnose and prescribe medications to resolve the issue.

Your regular pediatrician visits are also a great time to ask general questions about ear health and cleaning concerns and, in the meantime, keeping a good hygiene schedule for your baby goes a long way in preventing issues.