How to Instill Ear Drops in Children

Typically ear drops are given to children for ear infections. Ear drops are also administered for pain in the ear and other ear-related conditions. Instilling the ear drops correctly is vital to the medicine's effectiveness, because the drops must get into the ear canal for the medicine to do its job. If given incorrectly, the drops won't work as they may drain out of the child's ear.

Things You'll Need

• Ear drops
• Ear dropper
• Blanket, if needed
• Cotton ball, if needed

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Instructions

Prepare the Ear Drops

• 1

  Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

• 2

  Shake the ear drops in their container, as they can become cloudy.

• 3

  Warm the ear drops if needed so as not to cause dizziness from cold drops.

Instill the Ear Drops

• 4

  Hold the dropper down, and insert the tip into the ear drops' container.

• 5

  Squeeze the bulb at the top of the dropper, and fill to the prescribed amount.

• 6

  Lay the child on her back with her head turned to one side. If needed, wrap the child in a blanket with her arms inside the blanket to keep her from fighting. This is like swaddling a baby.

• 7

  Hold the child's earlobe down and back, and put the tip of the dropper close to the ear canal. Do not touch the dropper to the ear because this can transfer germs to the ear drops.

• 8

  Squeeze the bulb at the top to release the prescribed number of drops into the ear canal.

Ensure Drops Stay in Place

• 9

  Press the ear flap up, and hold it over the ear canal's opening for a few minutes to make sure the medicine stays put.

• 10

  Make your child lie on his side for up to five minutes after dosing each ear to be sure the medicine reaches the inner ear and stays there. This step is needed for stubborn ear infections.

• 11

  Insert a cotton ball---lightly---in the ear to keep the drops from dripping out.