What actions would be appropriate for a nurse who is administering ear drops to a six year old child

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How should I prepare my child?

• Explain to your child what you are going to do before you start.
• Describe what you are doing as you do it.
• Speak in a calm, reassuring voice.
• Praise your child when you are done.

How should I give the ear drops?

For some children, especially young ones, it can be hard to give this medicine. But you must do it as often and for as long as prescribed in order to get the desired results.

1. If the medicine is cool, warm it to body temperature by putting it in your pocket.
2. Wash your hands well before and after giving the drops.
3. Read the prescription label and directions carefully.
4. Have your child lie down, or hold your child in your lap.
5. If your child needs help holding still, have someone hold your child for you, or you can use a blanket for swaddling. If you are alone, here is another way to safely hold your child in the correct position:
   
   • Sit on the bed or floor with the child's head between your thighs and the arms under your legs.
     
     
   • Place your lower legs over your child's legs if needed.
6. Turn your child's head so the affected ear is facing up.
7. Straighten the ear canal as follows:
   
   
   
   
   • For children younger than 3 years, gently pull the outer ear down and toward the back of the head.
   • For children older than 3 years, gently pull the outer ear up and toward the back of the head.
8. Put in the prescribed number of drops, aiming against the side of the ear canal, not directly in the center of the opening.
9. Keep your child lying down with the ear up for 1 or 2 minutes, or as recommended by the doctor. Gently massage the area in front of the ear.
10. You may place a cotton ball loosely in the ear to prevent leaking.

What else do I need to know?

Store ear drops at room temperature unless you are told otherwise.

Questions?

This is not specific to your child, but provides general information. If you have any questions, please call the clinic.

Last reviewed 8/2015

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This page is not specific to your child, but provides general information on the topic above. If you have any questions, please call your clinic. For more reading material about this and other health topics, please call or visit Children's Minnesota Family Resource Center library, or visit www.childrensmn.org/educationmaterials.

© 2022 Children's Minnesota

Reviewed by: Heather C. Nardone, MD

Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose, & Throat Care) at Nemours Children's Health

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Your child may need ear drops for an ear infection, swimmer's ear, or after surgery. Here are tips on getting drops into the ear.

Before giving the ear drops:

• Check the medicine name on the bottle to be sure you're using the right medicine. Read the label so you know how many drops to give.
• Have your child lie on a sofa or bed with their ear facing up. Your child also can sit in a chair.
• Put your child's hair behind their ear.

Follow these steps to be sure the drops go all the way into the ear. If your child needs drops in both ears, repeat the steps for each ear:

1. Use one hand to hold the middle of the outer rim of the ear. Gently pull up and back. This helps open the hole in the ear so drops go in properly.
2. With your other hand, hold the medicine bottle so the dropper tip is slightly above the hole in the ear. To keep your hand steady as you give the drops, rest your wrist against your child's cheek.
3. Squeeze the bottle gently.
4. Count the drops as they go into the ear.
5. After giving the drops, gently press the area at the front of the ear over the hole. Do this several times to move the drops into the ear.

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