Waxy Ears

Dear Lisa

Every time I bring my child to the clinic to be checked they tell me that he has a lot of wax in his ears. Why does he have so much wax and how can I get it out?

“Waxy ears in N.J.”

Dear “Waxy ears”,

Wax in the ear canal is normal. Everyone produces wax, some more than others. In most cases the wax will come out on its own and there is no need to treat it. If your child has pain, complains of difficulty hearing or if the practitioners at the clinic cannot visualize the tympanic membrane (ear drum) because there is so much wax, then it would be a good idea to treat him.

To loosen the wax you can get a shot glass; fill it half way with warm water and half way with hydrogen peroxide. You should position your child on his side with his head turned and ear facing the ceiling. With a dropper take the solution and instill 4 to 5 drops in your child’s ear. He needs to stay still in this position for 20 minutes. Some children move too much and it may be easier to instill the drops when the child is sleeping. Alternate ears and continue this treatment until each ear receives drops for 5 nights. When you see brown wax on the outside of the ear you can remove it with a Q-tip. Avoid putting a Q-tip into the ear canal because this may push the wax in further and make it more difficult to get the wax out.

If your child has pain or if you don’t see any of the wax come out you should talk to your doctor about going to an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) clinic. In some cases, the wax builds up so much that it needs to be irrigated and evacuated by an ENT specialist.

*If your child has ear tubes you should not instill anything into your child’s ears without consent from your Doctor or Nurse Practitioner.


Lisa Kelly R.N., P.N.P., C.
Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Pediatric Advice -Keeping your Child Healthy