When to clean your baby’s nose, ears and eyes
You can clean your baby’s eyes, ears and nose when you’re bathing your baby. Or you can clean them as part of a ‘top and tail’ bath.
A ‘top and tail’ bath is when you clean only your baby’s eyes, face, hands, bottom and genitals, without giving them a full bath.
What you need for cleaning your baby’s nose, ears and eyes
You need:
- warm water
- cotton wool or a soft washcloth
- a soft towel.
Avoid using soap because your baby’s skin is sensitive, and soap can dry it out. You can add mild baby cleanser to the warm water when cleaning the outside of your baby’s ears and nose if needed.
How to set up for cleaning your baby’s nose, ears and eyes
Before you start, make sure you have everything you need within reach – for example, the towel, cotton wool or washcloth and mild baby cleanser.
It’s best to lay your baby down on the floor for this job. If you put your baby on a bed or a change table, always keep one hand on your baby so they can’t roll off.
It’s a good idea to turn your phone to silent so it doesn’t distract you.
How to clean your baby’s nose
Steps
- Get a cotton ball or a soft washcloth.
- Soak the cotton ball or cloth in warm water, and squeeze out extra water.
- Wipe gently around each nostril to get rid of mucus or crustiness.
Tips
- Always use a new cotton ball or clean part of the washcloth for each wipe.
- Don’t put anything inside your baby’s nostrils. This can hurt the lining of the nose and cause bleeding.
How to clean your baby’s ears
Steps
- Get a cotton ball or a soft washcloth.
- Soak the cotton ball or cloth in warm water, and squeeze out extra water.
- Wipe behind your baby’s ears and around the outside of each ear.
Tips
- Always use a new cotton ball or clean part of the washcloth for each wipe.
- Don’t stick anything inside your baby’s ears, because it’s very easy to cause damage.
How to clean your baby’s eyes
Steps
- Get a cotton ball or a soft washcloth.
- Soak the cotton ball or cloth in warm water, and squeeze out extra water.
- Clean the corners of your baby’s eyes.
- Wipe gently from the inside corners to the outside corners.
Tip: always use a new cotton ball or clean part of the washcloth for each wipe.
How to clean your baby’s face and neck
Steps
- Get a cotton ball or a soft washcloth.
- Soak the cotton ball or cloth in warm water, and squeeze out extra water.
- Wipe gently under your baby’s chin and neck, making sure you wipe between the folds of skin.
Tips
- Always use a new cotton ball or clean part of the washcloth for each wipe.
- Talk gently to your baby or sing a song while you clean their face. This can help if your baby doesn’t like this process and gets upset.
How to dry your baby’s nose, ears, eyes and face
- Gently pat your baby’s skin dry using a soft towel.
- Make sure you dry under the skin folds and behind your baby’s ears.