Can I get water in my baby’s ears?
If you’ve ever wondered whether or not it is safe to submerge your baby’s ears under water, you are not alone! Questions about water in the ears are frequently asked by our client’s, so we are here to clear up some common misconceptions surrounding this topic.
So, can water enter a baby’s ears without need for concern?
The short answer is, yes, it is completely safe to submerge your baby’s ears underwater!
It is common for people to avoid getting water in their baby’s ears to avoid ear infection, however, ear infections prone to infants are not caused by water from swimming. Infant ear infections most commonly occur as a result of inflammation, typically from trapped bacteria caused by infection such as a cold or a sore throat.
“Contrary to popular belief, ear infections are not caused by getting a baby’s ears wet during a bath. I get this question a lot from parents, but the truth is that fluid is coming from the back of the nose instead of the outer ear.”
When swimming, the water that enters your baby’s ears is entering the outer ear.
Ear infections in the outer ear are uncommon and the location most infant ear infections occur is in the middle ear. The outer ear is separated from the middle ear by the ear drum, so water is prevented from moving past the outer ear into this higher risk area. Baby’s ears are self-cleaning and self-draining so there is no need to take additional precautionary measures to help prevent ear infections after swimming. Since water will drain out of the ears naturally, there is no need to use Q-tips or other small objects to clean your baby’s ears. In fact, we highly recommend against using any Q-tips in your baby’s ears after swimming as this could force water and bacteria into the middle ear canal.
Next time you are practicing swimming or bathing your baby, don’t worry about water entering their ears.
Water entering your baby’s ears is normal, safe and an important experience for babies to encounter.
Looking to get your baby used to the feeling of water? Check out our program!
Sources:
Johelin De Freitas Hernandez, MD, “So your baby has an ear infection. Now what?”, Scrubbing In (blog), October 19, 2020, accessed May 4, 2022
Meet Kaylee Kennedy
I'm Kaylee Kennedy, the founder of watermellow. Our renowned swimming program nurtures and develops each baby's unique abilities. Inspired by my experience as a young mom teaching my little one to swim, I'm passionate about swimming and its benefits for early childhood development. Join us at watermellow to help your baby grow an amazing relationship with the water in a safe and supportive environment, creating lasting memories together.
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