Ear wax is a protective substance that your body produces to keep dirt and bacteria out of your ears. Sometimes too much is produced, and it can build up in the ears. Impacted ear wax can cause pain and hearing difficulties. A toddler may resist staying still long enough to have excess wax cleaned from his ears. Make removal easy on your toddler by keeping his hygiene schedule as normal as possible.
Step 1
Run a bath for your toddler. Children this age may not want to cooperate when you try to clean out their ears, and the normal routine of a bath may make the job easier. The warm water on the washcloth you use to clean the toddler's ears may soften the wax.
Step 2
Clean excess wax from the outer part of your child's ear with a damp washcloth. Kids Health from Nemours advises against using potentially injurious cotton swabs.
Step 3
Put a few drops of baby oil in your toddler's ear to soften a hardened plug of ear wax that cannot be dislodged easily with a washcloth. Use a dropper to place the oil at the opening of the ear, and then have your toddler turn his ear toward the ceiling to allow the oil to run into the ear canal.
The National Institutes of Health explains that baby oil--a staple in many toddlers' homes--is a safe and effective home-care treatment for ear wax blockage. Let the oil soften the wax for a few minutes before wiping it away.
Step 4
Schedule a physical exam for your child if she is having trouble hearing, has an earache or if wax blockage is a frequent problem. Your pediatrician can remove the wax from your toddler's ears.
A hearing test can determine the cause of any hearing problems.
Things You'll Need
- Washcloth
- Baby oil
- Dropper
- Hearing test
