Water in a Baby's Ear?

Question

Ok so Im a first time mom- and when I first started giving her baths (once she was big enough for a real bath instead of a sponge bath) well everyone kept saying "make sure you dont get any water in her ears!!"

and I always did- and she is 10 months old now, and I still do- I guess because Im used to it, and I always had problems with my ears when I was younger- always got ear infections and had tubes twice.. anyways- what would my baby getting water in her ears do to her? Would it make her more prone to infections? or were they just telling me that because it would be uncomfortable for her?

and since I had so many problems with my ears when I was little- is it likely that my daughter will as she gets older?

Are ear problems/infections genetic?

Thanks-

(sorry for the long question, I hope its not a stupid one..)

Answer 1

I'm not really sure either.

I know there's a thing called "swimmers ear". That's when you swim underwater, get water up in your ear canal, and it becomes very painful. Once you get it, it pretty much hurts every time you put your head underwater.

However, I don't really worry about getting water in my daughter's ears during bath time. It'd be pretty hard to get enough water in there to hurt anything if she is just sitting in the water. And while I don't clean *inside* her ear, I do rub the rag around the outside of her ears....

Also, I've never heard of ear infections being genetic. Just like how some people are just more susceptible to colds and allergies (not talking about foods) you are more prone to ear infections. I wouldn't think your daughter would have the same problem.

Defintely not a stupid one! :)

Answer 2

First off, your daughter's a cutie!

Now, your question isn't stupid. I wondered the same thing with my son....and I  got water in all three kids' ears...it's hard not to! The point is, not to leave it there, and to try to limit how much is in there b/c 1. it's not clean water most of the time! 2. it is uncomfortable for kids to get water in their ears, and 3. it may lead to earaches or possible infection.

  Nice thing is: it's water! When my kids lay on their tummies after a bath for the massage, it all came out. I just lay them on my legs with their head down between my ankles/knees (depends on how tall they were, feet at my tummy of course!) and while I massaged them, I dabbed at their ears with the towel, and that was it!

  We've had no major ear infections to date, thank God! A few minor ones, but that comes with the territory! I don't think it's a hereditary thing, since my brothers were all pretty bad with them, but none of our kids are!

Answer 3

I'm not going to answer your question because I don't have much knowledge on the subject, but just wanted to say that your daughter is SO CUTE.

Answer 4

Are you breastfeeding? It really helps to breastfeed because your bodies immunities you've built up over your lifespan get passed on. The water and soap can get in there and baby's ears don't drain well. So you end up with the pain me and you get from swimmer's ear... big ouchy! And of course you may get some in there sometimes, but just be careful.  

Answer 5

I'm pregnant with my first so I don't know much but I do wanna know the answer to your question as well.  I just wanted to comment on your daughters picture.  She is absolutely beautiful.

Answer 6

Water in the ears can cause an outer ear infection only (like swimmer's ear)

Ear infections can be genetic because middle and inner ear infections are usually caused by the shape of the insides of the ear.

Answer 7

The water will do nothing to her ears. My son has tubes and I was scared about getting water in his ears and the DR told me with out tubes it wouldn't matter about water getting in but she did say with tubes dont get lake water and stuff like that in his ears. She said bathtub water was fine.

and yes ear problems/infections can be genetic