There are various factors as to why babies often pull on their ears. They may be playing with their ears, but there is a great possibility that it is because they are feeling itchy. What causes itchy ears in babies? There are various reasons why babies often pull on their ears. They may have inflammation in their ears, but babies also pull on their ears involuntarily when they are teething. Why is this? 1. Babies pulling on their ears If your infant is pulling hard on his or her ears, chances are that the infant has just discovered his or her ears. However, in some cases, this may indicate that your baby is experiencing pain in a certain ear area. Infants younger than one year of age are not yet able to express pain in their ears and do not know if the pain is coming from the external structures of the ear or the immediate area of the ear, or the inner ear. Watching for other signs can help you determine if your baby is just playing with his or her ear or if an ear infection is present. Why do babies pull on their ears a lot? 2. Swimmer’s ear infection Pulling, tugging, poking or itching of the outer ear can be a sign of swimmer’s ear infection (also known as inflammation of the outer ear canal). Swimmer’s otitis, an infection of the inner layer of the outer ear canal. This infection is caused when fluid builds up in the ear canal during a shower or bath, or when the ear canal is irritated by a cotton swab. The protective skin layer is gradually damaged, and an environment suitable for bacterial growth is created. Other signs of swimmer’s ear infection include yellowing, moistness, foul-smelling secretions, and redness. 3. Ear infections Ear infections, or otitis media, can also cause your infant to pull on his or her ears. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, ear infections are most common in children six months to three years old and often cause cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, irritability, earache, fever, yellow ear drainage, sleep problems and hearing impairment. In addition, your baby may cry more while breastfeeding because sucking and swallowing can cause pressure and pain in the ear. 4. Teething babies also flap and pull at their ears during teething. This is because your baby is mistaking the pain of swollen gums for ear pain. Other signs of teething include drooling, chewing, and being easily irritated. Sometimes a teething baby may also have a mild fever, but according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, fevers in this case usually do not exceed 101 degrees Fahrenheit (about 38.3 degrees Celsius). 5. Treatment If your baby seems weak and has a fever over 104 degrees F (40 degrees C); or if your baby is less than 12 weeks and has a fever over 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C), it is important to call your doctor immediately. If you are unsure of the severity of the ear symptoms, then always consult your doctor. You can use medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve your baby’s ear pain. Read the package insert and use the appropriate dose for your child’s age.