Key takeaways: Clean the outside of the ears with a washcloth; don’t put cotton swabs inside. Use saline and gentle suction for a stuffy nose. Wipe eyes from the inner corner outward with a clean, damp cloth. Discharge with redness, swelling, or fever needs a call.
Babies need very little cleaning beyond the basics. Here’s how to care for ears, nose, and eyes safely.
Ears
- Clean the outer ear and behind the ears with a soft, damp washcloth during baths.
- Don’t put cotton swabs or anything else inside the ear canal. Earwax protects the ear and usually moves out on its own. Swabs can push wax deeper or injure the ear canal or eardrum.
- Some babies have more visible wax than others. That’s normal.
Call your doctor if: there’s drainage of fluid, pus, or blood from the ear; a bad smell; or your baby seems to have ear pain or doesn’t respond to sounds.
Nose
Babies breathe mostly through their noses, so a little mucus can make them sound stuffy.
- Saline drops: put 1 to 2 drops in each nostril to loosen mucus.
- Gentle suction: use a bulb syringe or nasal aspirator. Squeeze the bulb first, gently insert the tip just inside the nostril, then release.
- Don’t overdo it: frequent suctioning can irritate the nose. Suction mainly before feeds and sleep.
- Clean the outside with a soft cloth.
- Clean the bulb syringe after each use with warm, soapy water, and let it dry.
Eyes
- Wipe from the inner corner outward with a clean, damp cotton ball or washcloth.
- Use a fresh cotton ball or a clean part of the cloth for each eye.
- Some crusting after sleep is common, especially with a blocked tear duct.
Call your doctor if: eye discharge comes with red eyes or swollen eyelids, discharge appears in the first few weeks of life, your baby seems bothered by light, or there’s swelling near the inner corner of the eye.
Mouth
- Before teeth appear, you can wipe the gums with a soft, damp cloth.
- Once teeth appear, brush with a soft infant toothbrush and a rice-grain-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste.
The Bottom Line
Keep it gentle: wash the outside of ears, use saline and gentle suction for the nose, and wipe eyes inner to outer. Avoid cotton swabs in the ears, and call for discharge with redness, swelling, or fever.
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Sources
- American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Earwax and care. https://www.enthealth.org
- Schwartz SR, Magit AE, Rosenfeld RM, et al. Clinical practice guideline (update): earwax (cerumen impaction). Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017;156(1 Suppl):S1-S29.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Using a nasal aspirator; blocked tear ducts. HealthyChildren.org. https://www.healthychildren.org
- Clark MB, Keels MA, Slayton RL; Section on Oral Health. Fluoride use in caries prevention in the primary care setting. Pediatrics. 2020;146(6):e2020034637.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Always talk with your baby’s health care provider or your own provider about your specific situation. If you think your baby or you may have a medical emergency, call 911.
