What You Should Do When Your Child Gets Something Stuck in Their Ear

Posted on by Goodyear Office

Children are naturally curious. Sometimes, that curiosity leads them to do silly things like stick a pea or a small toy in their ear.

If your child has put something in their ear, staying calm and knowing what to do next can help prevent injury to the ear canal or eardrum.

Only Use Tweezers When It’s Safe

Smiling young boy having his ear examined with an otoscope.

If you can clearly see the object, you may be able to gently remove it with blunt-ended tweezers. A crucial rule in tweezer-based removal is that if you don’t get the object on the first or second attempt, you should seek professional help. Repeated attempts can push the object farther into the ear and increase the risk of injury.

Avoid using tweezers if:

  • The object is deep inside the ear
  • Your child is unable to sit still
  • The tweezers have sharp or pointed tips

Flushing With Water or Oil

For some small objects, gently flushing the ear with lukewarm water using a rubber-bulb syringe may help. This method should only be used if your child does not have ear tubes or a perforated eardrum.

Never use water if the object is:

  • A battery
  • Food or anything that may swell when wet
  • A seed or other plant material

If an insect has crawled into the ear, a few drops of mineral oil, baby oil, or olive oil may help. Just like with water, avoid using oil if your child has ear tubes or a hole in the eardrum.

Skip Cotton Swabs and Other Household Tools

It may be tempting to reach for a cotton swab, bobby pin or other small object, but these can easily push the item deeper into the ear canal. They can also scratch the delicate skin inside the ear or damage the eardrum,[1] making the problem more difficult to treat.

When you’re unsure, it’s safest to leave the object alone for an ENT specialist to remove.

Know When To Seek Medical Care

If you can’t easily remove the object or you’re uncomfortable trying to do so, it’s time to contact an ENT specialist. Ear specialists have instruments designed to safely remove foreign objects while minimizing the risk of injury.

Seek immediate medical attention if:

  • The object is a button battery
  • Your child has severe ear pain
  • Blood or fluid is draining from the ear
  • You suspect the eardrum may be torn

Prompt treatment can help prevent complications and get your child feeling their bright and cheery self again. For more information on pediatric ear care or to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists, contact Goodyear Office today.

[1] Cleveland Clinic. (2024). Ruptured eardrum. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15581-ruptured-eardrum-acutely-perforated-tympanic-membrane