Cleaning a newborn’s ears is simple: use a soft, damp washcloth to wipe the outer ear and the folds behind it. Nothing should ever go inside your baby’s ear canal. The ears are self-cleaning organs, so your job is limited to the outside surfaces you can see and reach with your finger covered by a cloth.
Why the Ear Canal Cleans Itself
Earwax exists for good reasons. It acts as a waterproof lining for the ear canal, moisturizes the skin inside the ear, traps dirt and dust before they can reach the eardrum, and releases proteins that fight bacterial and fungal infections. Your baby’s body is constantly producing fresh wax and pushing the old wax outward. Everyday jaw movements, even sucking during feeding, gradually work wax toward the outer ear where it falls out on its own or washes away in the bath.
This means visible earwax in or around your baby’s ear is normal and healthy. Orange-yellow or reddish-brown wax is typical. You don’t need to remove it from inside the ear canal, and trying to do so can cause real problems.
Step-by-Step Cleaning Method
You can clean your baby’s ears during bath time or right after, when steam has softened any wax near the outer ear. Aim for bath water around 100°F (38°C), and always test the temperature with your hand first. Here’s the process:
- Dampen a soft washcloth with warm water. Wring it out so it’s not dripping.
- Wrap the cloth around your index finger and gently wipe the outer folds of the ear, the area just around the ear opening, and the little creases where wax or milk residue can collect.
- Clean behind both ears. This is a spot where milk, sweat, and dead skin build up quickly. Wipe the crease where the ear meets the head thoroughly.
- Dry gently with a soft towel, including behind the ears. Moisture left in the folds can cause irritation.
That’s it. No special solutions, no ear drops, no tools. Clean the outer ear and behind it daily as part of your baby’s regular routine.
Never Use Cotton Swabs
Cotton swabs are the single biggest risk to your baby’s ears. A study published in the journal Pediatrics found at least 35 emergency room visits per day over a 20-year period for cotton swab injuries in children’s ears. The most common injuries include wax being pushed deeper into the canal (making things worse, not better), bleeding from scraped ear canal walls, perforated eardrums, and pieces of cotton left behind in the canal.
The same goes for bobby pins, twisted tissue corners, or anything else small enough to fit inside the ear. If you can see wax at the very edge of the ear opening, you can wipe it away with your washcloth. If wax is deeper inside, leave it alone.
Buildup and Crusting Behind the Ears
The skin behind a newborn’s ears is a common spot for problems because it stays warm and damp. Milk that dribbles during feeding pools in that crease, and if it’s not wiped away regularly, it can develop a sour smell or cause redness. Daily cleaning during bath time prevents this.
Some babies also develop cradle cap (seborrheic dermatitis) behind the ears. This looks like yellowish, flaky, or crusty patches and is harmless when it’s limited to a small area. Gentle daily washing usually keeps it under control. If the area looks swollen, very red, or the rash is spreading to the face or other parts of the body, your pediatrician may recommend a medicated cream or special moisturizer to clear it up.
Signs Something Needs Medical Attention
Normal earwax is orange-yellow to reddish-brown and doesn’t smell strongly. What’s not normal is fluid draining from the ear that looks yellow, white, or blood-tinged, especially if it has a foul odor. This kind of discharge looks distinctly different from earwax and can signal an ear infection.
Other signs to watch for in newborns and young infants include increased fussiness or crying (particularly during feedings, when pressure changes in the middle ear cause pain), pulling or tugging at the ear, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, and fever up to 104°F. Babies can’t tell you their ear hurts, so unusual irritability during feeding is one of the earliest clues many parents notice.
When Wax Seems Excessive
Some babies produce more earwax than others, and that’s a normal variation. If wax seems to be blocking the ear opening or you’re concerned it’s affecting your baby’s hearing, resist the urge to dig it out yourself. A pediatrician can look inside the ear canal with a proper scope and remove wax safely if it’s actually causing a problem. In most cases, what looks like a lot of wax to a parent is well within the normal range and will work its way out on its own within days.