One of the most common doubts in recent parents is related to the care of the ears. Are they cleaned? Should we do something with them? Maybe clean with cotton buds? Maybe with some spray? Because of course, the baby's ear is releasing wax and that worries many mothers, who see wax outside and think that there will be much more inside, and that they should do something to avoid it.
And do we have to do something or it is not necessary? We are going to talk about it, but I already tell you that, as a pediatrician my friend says, The best way to clean the baby's ears is with the elbow.
Why they produce earwax
The earwax, better known as ear wax, is a secretion that occurs in the outer ear that has as its mission protect the ear from substances that may enter and even from insects. The wax is expelled outwards as it is produced and that is where it should be cleaned, when we see it outside.
And the wax inside? With the elbow?
The wax inside is the one that is protecting the ear. Do not remove it or try to clean it, because otherwise it does not fulfill its function. In addition, if we try to eliminate it, it will always be with a stick or with some thin and fine element that could do more harm than good. That's why it is said that the ear must be cleaned with the elbow, because the elbow is so large that it cannot be entered into the ear and, consequently, is not damaged in any way.
How do you clean then?
Well, by no means special. When we wash our child's head, some water may or may usually enter the ear, which already does that cleaning function. Our goal then will be to dry the hair with a towel and, upon reaching the ears, dry them to where your finger fits. Perhaps it is better to spray water in the shower to clean it well? Well, man, unless you want your child to hate you or want to cause otitis, you better not do it. It is annoying and unnecessary.
The sticks are better not to use them for three reasons: the auditory canal of babies and children is so thin that when you put the stick the only thing that can happen is the wax goes deeper, compacting more and more and producing a wax plug. It may also happen that hurt him in doing so, by some strange hand movement or some unexpected movement of the baby. And finally, the fact of introducing things into the ear can cause a peeling of the skin of the ear, and this causes an increase in wax production, as a defense, causing, then yes, a problem that did not exist.
What if I use the stick just to clean the outside?
Alright. To that end, yes, they are going very well to clean the entire external part and what is seen, collecting wax from the outside and dead skin. Now, keep the sticks boat in a high or hidden place, because children always try to imitate what we do and, just as they comb when they take a comb, they may be tempted to stick their sticks if they take one. . And they will surely have much less careful than us and, perhaps, much damage could be done (until the eardrum is damaged).
