How to Keep Water Out of a Newborn's Ears?

Ear hygiene in newborns is a delicate matter. The most important thing is to never use cotton swabs, tissue tips, or any other object to clean inside the ear—this can damage the ear canal and increase infection risk.

To prevent water from entering during bath time: hold your baby's head slightly tilted back and be careful that water doesn't run directly into the ear canal during shampooing. After bathing, gently pat only the outer ear (the ear shell and behind it) dry with a clean, soft cloth. Any water in the ear canal can be removed by gently tilting your baby's head to that side and letting it drain out naturally.

While some families use special bath bonnets or ear bands, the pediatric view is generally that a small amount of water entering the outer ear canal during bathing usually isn't a problem. The narrow passages and eardrum in the outer ear canal prevent water from reaching the middle ear. The real risk comes from dirty water (pool, sea, lake) or trauma to the ear canal.

If your baby seems fussy after bathing, pulls at their ear, or you notice discharge or foul odor from the ear, these could be signs of infection and you should see your pediatrician.