How to Clean a Toddler's Ears

Last Updated: July 24, 2022 References

If you've noticed lots of wax around your little one's ears, rest assured that this is completely normal! Toddlers produce lots of ear wax as a protective measure. A quick wipe during bathtime is often enough to keep your little one's ears clean. However, if you have concerns about excessive wax in your toddler's ears, talk with your child's pediatrician. They can suggest home remedies and other options if the ear wax is causing issues for your child.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning the outside of Your Toddler's Ears

1
Note that wax is generally a good thing for your toddler's ears. Wax provides a protective, waterproof barrier between your child's eardrum, ear canal, and potential irritants, such as dust, bacteria, and water. Without ear wax, your child's ears would be at a higher risk of infections and injury.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Your child's ears are constantly producing earwax, so any excess should make its way out of the ear canal on its own and you won't have to do anything.^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Payam Daneshrad, MD
  Board Certified Otolaryngologist
  Expert Interview. 30 September 2020.}
Tip: If you have noticed an excessive amount of wax around the outside of your child's ear canal and you're concerned it is affecting their hearing, it's best to talk with your child's pediatrician before doing anything yourself.
2
Wipe the outside of your child's ear with a damp washcloth. Most of the time, this is all you will need to do to keep your toddler's ears clean.^{[3]
X
Expert Source

Payam Daneshrad, MD
Board Certified Otolaryngologist
Expert Interview. 30 September 2020.} Moisten a washcloth under warm running water and wring out the excess. Then, press the washcloth gently against your toddler's ear. Wipe around the outside of your child's ears going away from the ear canal and towards the back of your child's head. Then, wipe behind their ears as well.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- Rinse the washcloth, wring it out, and repeat if needed.
- Do not insert any part of the washcloth into your child's ear canal.^{[5]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Payam Daneshrad, MD
  Board Certified Otolaryngologist
  Expert Interview. 30 September 2020.} This can cause damage and introduce bacteria! Only wash the parts of your child's ears that are visible.
Advertisement
3
Dry your child's ear with a clean, dry towel after bathing. After you give your child a bath, always pat around their ears with a dry, clean towel. You can also ask your child to tilt their head to one side and hold the towel against that ear so any water in their ear can flow out. Then, repeat this for the other ear.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- Again, do not insert any part of the towel into your child's ears to dry them. Only dry the outer parts of your child's ears.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Trying Home Remedies for Wax Buildup

1
Use mineral or olive oil drops if your child has a lot of wax buildup. Your child's pediatrician may recommend a simple home remedy, which includes putting a few drops of mineral or olive oil into each of your child's ear canals once daily. You can use an ear dropper (available at drug stores) to ensure that you do not put too much oil your child's ears. However, be sure to check with your child's pediatrician before trying this and never put oil in your child's ears if they have an ear infection.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- Adding a few drops of oil to your toddler's ears daily should be enough to loosen up the wax and then it will come out on its own. You don't have to do anything else to get the wax out.
- If the drops don't seem to help after a few days, call your child's pediatrician to see what they recommend.^{[8]
  X
  Research source}
2
Talk to your child's pediatrician about ear wax removal kits. There are over-the-counter ear wax removal kits that you can use to loosen excess ear wax and clean it away, but you should only use one of these on your toddler if your child's pediatrician specifically recommends it.^{[9]
X
Research source}

Tip: Many of these kits use drops to help loosen ear wax, but mineral or olive oil is often just as effective and less expensive than these kits.
3
Do not use candling to remove ear wax from your toddler's ears. Ear candling is a technique of removing ear wax that involves inserting the back end of a hollow candle into your ear and lighting the other end. It is thought that the heat from the candle and the suction it creates pulls wax from your ear. However, this treatment is not recommended due to the risk of injury and lack of evidence that it works.^{[10]
X
Research source}
- This is a popular alternative treatment for removing ear wax, but there are much safer and easier options for your little one!

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Keeping Your Child's Ears Healthy

1
Look into your child's ears to check for foreign objects. Kids sometimes stick small items into their ears, such as raisins, pebbles, or even small toys, so it's a good idea to check your toddler's ears now and then. Try checking your toddler's ears whenever you clean them.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- If you spot a foreign object in your little one's ear, do not try to remove it yourself. Take your child to the pediatrician and allow them to remove it for you.
- Inserting something into your child's ear to remove a small object may complicate the situation, such as by pushing it in further or injuring your child's eardrum.
2
Never insert a cotton swab or other item into your child's ear. While it may be tempting to clean out wax from your child's ears using a cotton swab or hairpin, this is not recommended. You may end up injuring your child's ear drum or pushing the wax in deeper and creating a blockage, which can cause hearing problems.^{[12]
X
Research source}^{[13]
X
Expert Source

Payam Daneshrad, MD
Board Certified Otolaryngologist
Expert Interview. 30 September 2020.}

Tip: Your child's pediatrician can refer your child to a specialist if they have issues with excessive wax buildup. They can safely remove the wax from your child's ears using water irrigation and other special tools if needed.
3
Watch for signs that your child may be having ear pain. If your toddler complains about ear pain, take them to see your pediatrician. If your child has an ear infection, they will need to be treated right away to avoid further complications.^{[14]
X
Research source} Some of the other signs of an ear infection may include:^{[15]
X
Research source}
- Fever
- Crying and fussiness
- Tugging at their ears
- Difficulty sleeping
- Balance issues and clumsiness
- Drainage from the ears
- Difficulty hearing, especially quiet sounds

Expert Q&A

Question

What should I use to clean out ear wax in my toddler's ears?

Payam Daneshrad, MD
Board Certified Otolaryngologist
Dr. Payam Daneshrad is a board certified Otolaryngologist, a board eligible Facial Plastic Surgeon, and the Owner and Director of Daneshrad Clinic in Los Angeles, California. With over 19 years of experience, Dr. Daneshrad specializes in adult and pediatric Otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, packing-less nasal surgery, minimally invasive sinus surgery, and snoring treatment. He also uses the newest surgical ENT techniques for tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, thyroidectomy, and parathyroidectomy. Dr. Daneshrad graduated with a BS and the highest honors from the University of California, Berkeley. He earned his Doctor of Medicine (MD) from Tulane University School of Medicine, where he was accepted into the AOA, the medical honor's society, and the Tulane University School of Public Health. Dr. Daneshrad received his medical training from the University of Southern California, where he currently serves as an Associate Clinical Professor. Dr. Daneshrad is the Otolaryngologist and Facial Plastic Surgeon for the Los Angeles Sparks and the athletic teams of Loyola Marymount University.

Payam Daneshrad, MD

Board Certified Otolaryngologist

Expert Answer

Ear wax is a natural part of every human being’s ear canal. It will move its way out of the ear canal on its own. Usually, impacted earwax is caused by people trying to clean their ears with Q-tips and just pushing the wax further in. Anything that is placed in the ear canal, like earbuds, Q-tips, or earplugs, is going to cause a problem with that natural movement of the ear wax out of the ear canal that your body does on its own.