3 Y/O With Excessive Ear Wax

Hey N.,

There isn't really any easy way to get the excessive ear wax out. My 4 year old son and 11 month old daughter both have excessive ear wax. Sweet oil does help alittle, my son is a light sleeper and trying to clean his ears while he's knocked out it hard, I just try to get what I can get out while he's sleeping then take a warm washcloth to clean the easily reached areas of the ear when he's awake.

Best of luck,

J. Z.
www.jenniferzaranis.com

When my daughter was little, my pediatrician suggested mineral oil in her ear. And then give her a bath while its draining out.

Some kids just have excess ear wax. I heard it was harmless, although it could affect their hearing if its too thick. I also read that you should NOT clean them daily, it can compact the wax against the ear drum. Now if you are just cleaning the outer ear, thats fine, but a qtip inside...NO.
I do not know if the sweet oil will do anything for the wax, but they do make stuff to break it up, but it wont prevent his body from making more or too much. As for keeping it in his ear: cotton ball.
I have a question for you: does he get alot of ear infections? My son too has excess wax and normally has to have it scooped out in order to see his ear drum. 9times out of 10 its infected. I am starting to think all that wax is trapping moisture and infecting his ear. We are going to see an ENT in January and discuss tubes. I am considering putting him on a decongestant along w/ his antibiotics to clear up the fluid hopefully. Currently he is being treated for an infection that started mid October and has yet to clear up.

Rene: I just read your post and find that interesting. I wish it was true for my son, easy fix. HE doesnt drink ANY milk though, sooo...

Hello N.

Here is a suggestion that my pediatrian did to me when I was a child. She would put drops of peroxide and water in my ears. This would soften the wax and allow it to come out with no problem. I would to the same with my children when cleaning their ears and put cotton in their ears to catch the wax. You might want to use that to catch the sweet oil.

Hope things work out.

at the drs office we just put cotton balls in and they go home to soak for a 24 hr period.

I read that cleaning the wax from ears is not a good idea as it makes it come back faster. In the dim distant past ear drops and oil were put into the ear and a piece of cotton wool put lightly in to stop the stuff coming out. It has to be a big enough piece for it not to get lodged in the ear though. Then when you take it out gently clean the ear with a cotton bud. I don't know the modern thinking on this but it worked for many years without a problem. Sometimes the old fashioned ways work the best. Wouldn't hurt to try it.

What about trying to apply the oil with a q-tip. It will get into the ear, but without an excessive amount.
M.

You may want to try limiting his dairy intake. When my son was younger his ears were like that and it would cause infections also. His dr. was ready to put tubes in when we switched drs. because of ins. reasons. The first thing our new dr. did was take him off of milk. The ear wax cleared up immediately. He called it a dairy sensitivity. Good luck!