Babies like to scratch their little ears and sometimes make “strange” faces. What is going on here? Is it simply an itchy ear or is it an illness? There are many reasons why babies scratch their ears, and they should be treated differently! Reason 1: Curiosity about the ears Baby’s performance: Baby is happy when he or she tugs on the little ears. As a baby grows, he will be curious about various parts of his body. For example, when he finds out he has ears, he will use his little hands to tug on the little ears. In general, babies often play with their ears when they are sleeping or awake, especially when they are having fun. How to deal with it: Parents should not be too nervous about their baby pulling their ears in a healthy state, as this is just a sign of curiosity about their body parts. Take advantage of this great opportunity and try to teach your baby to identify: “This is the ear”. Cause 2: Excessive ear wax Baby’s performance: There is a yellowish-brown, sticky, oily substance or a dry, hard lump in the external ear canal. The skin of the human external ear canal has cerumen glands, which secrete a yellow, sticky cerumen that protects the external ear canal. When the cerumen dries, it becomes thin and flaky, which is commonly known as “earwax” and can be used to prevent foreign substances from entering the ear. In general, the ear canal is self-cleaning, but some babies have too much earwax, which can irritate the outer ear canal and cause them to scratch their ears. Treatment: (1) Parents can use cotton swabs with medical alcohol to gently wipe the outer ear canal, which not only stops itching but also has a disinfecting and anti-infection effect. You can also rub the baby’s ear to help discharge the cerumen, but do not pull out the baby’s ear to avoid damaging the baby’s tender skin. (2) If your baby has a lot of ear discharge, or liquid discharge, or if the discharge smells bad, you need to take your baby to the doctor. Cause 3: Foreign body in the ear Baby’s performance: It can be accompanied by crying, inflammation and erosion of the skin of the ear canal, reflexive coughing, etc. Babies are very active and may insert small objects into their ears while playing; occasionally, small insects may get into their ears while playing outdoors. Small foreign objects in the ear can cause ear discomfort, while larger foreign objects can cause ear pain, ear canal infection, and even hearing problems. Treatment: If the foreign body is in the ear, parents should take the baby to the ENT department of the hospital in time to deal with it. Cause 4: Ear infection Baby’s performance: Mostly with nasal congestion, sore throat and crying at night. Ear infections, or otitis media, can also cause babies to pull their 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 runny nose, irritability, earache, fever, yellow ear drainage, sleep problems, and hearing impairment. In addition, if your baby has a middle ear infection he or she may cry more severely during feedings because sucking and swallowing can cause pressure and pain in the ear. Treatment: When a baby has otitis media, parents should take the child to the hospital in a timely manner and treat him/her with antibiotic medication and local treatment under the guidance of the doctor, never self-medicate so that the baby is not treated thoroughly and left with hidden problems. The most important thing is to prevent otitis media from spreading to the eustachian tube after a cold, and the mucous membrane of the eustachian tube and the tube cavity becomes congested and swollen. 2, using the correct method of blowing the nose: incorrect method of blowing the nose can also lead to otitis media. The correct way to blow your nose: press your finger against one nostril and blow the snot out of the opposite nostril with a little force, then blow the other side with the same method. If the nasal cavity is blocked and the snot is not easy to blow out, you can use physiological saline drops or physiological seawater nasal spray to spray the nose first and then blow the nose after the nasal cavity is aerated. 3. If babies and toddlers eat milk in the supine position, milk can easily choke into the middle ear through the eustachian tube and cause otitis media. Therefore, mothers should take a sitting position when breastfeeding their babies and hold them in an oblique position to suck the milk.