Quick Answer: Clean newborn eyes by wiping from inner to outer corner with damp cotton. For ears, only clean the outer part - never insert anything into the ear canal. For the nose, use saline drops and a bulb syringe for congestion. Always be gentle, use clean materials, and remember: less cleaning is often better than over-cleaning.
Why Proper Cleaning Matters
Newborns have delicate features that need gentle care. Their ears, eyes, and nose are self-cleaning to some degree, so your job is to help when needed without overdoing it.
General Safety Rules
| Always Do | Never Do |
|---|---|
| Wash hands first | Use cotton swabs inside ears/nose |
| Use clean materials for each area | Reuse dirty cotton |
| Be gentle | Use force |
| Stop if baby is distressed | Insert anything deep |
What to Avoid (Common Family Advice That Can Harm)
Some traditional practices passed down during jaapa are widely used but can be harmful to a newborn. Out of love, families often suggest them — but please avoid the following:
- Do not apply kajal, surma or kohl to a newborn’s eyes. These commonly contain lead, which is toxic to babies, and they can also cause eye infections and block the tear ducts.
- Do not put oil (mustard, coconut), breast milk, or any home remedy into the baby’s eyes, ears or nose. Breast milk is wonderful as a feed, but it is not a treatment for eyes or ears, and instilling oils can cause infection or blockage.
- For eyes, ears and nose, stick to the plain, gentle methods below — clean water, saline drops, and a soft cloth.
Cleaning Baby’s Eyes
Why Eyes Need Cleaning
Newborns often develop:
- Sticky discharge in corners
- Crusty residue after sleep
- Blocked tear ducts causing watering
Step-by-Step Guide
What You Need:
-
Freshly boiled water, cooled to room temperature (make it fresh each session — don’t reuse standing water)
-
Cotton balls or soft gauze
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Clean towel How to Clean:
-
Wash your hands thoroughly
-
Dip cotton ball in cooled boiled water
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Squeeze out excess water
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Gently wipe from inner corner (near nose) to outer corner (toward ear)
-
Use one cotton ball per eye
-
Pat dry with clean cloth
Important: Always wipe from inside to outside. This prevents spreading any discharge or infection.
When to Clean
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| Morning eye discharge | Clean gently once |
| Crusty buildup | Soften with damp cotton, then wipe |
| Clear discharge | Usually blocked tear duct - clean as needed |
| Yellow/green discharge | See doctor - possible infection |
⚠️ Newborn red flag (first few weeks): In the first weeks of life, heavy or pus-like eye discharge, swollen or stuck-shut eyelids, or rapidly worsening redness needs SAME-DAY medical review — do not just keep cleaning. Eye infections in a newborn (ophthalmia neonatorum) can be serious and, if treatment is delayed, can damage the eye. This is different from a simple blocked tear duct, where the watering is clear, there is no redness, and the baby is comfortable.
Blocked Tear Ducts
Common in newborns - the tear drainage system isn’t fully developed.
Signs:
-
Watery eyes
-
Discharge that returns after cleaning
-
No redness or swelling What Helps:
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Gentle massage: with a clean finger, press in-and-down at the inner corner of the eye and stroke firmly-but-gently down along the side of the nose — about 10 strokes, twice a day
-
Keep clean as needed
-
Usually resolves on its own by around 12 months; a sizeable number that don’t settle in the first year do so during the second year. If it persists past about 12 months, your doctor may consider a simple probing procedure
Warning Signs - See Doctor
- Red, swollen eyes
- Yellow or green thick discharge
- Eyelids stuck together
- Baby seems bothered or in pain
Cleaning Baby’s Ears
The Most Important Rule
Only clean what you can see!
Baby’s ears (like adults’) are self-cleaning. Earwax naturally moves outward, carrying dirt and debris with it.
What to Clean
| Clean This | Don’t Touch This |
|---|---|
| Outer ear folds | Ear canal |
| Behind the ear | Inside the ear |
| The visible curves | Anything you can’t see |
How to Clean Outer Ears
Daily/Bath Time:
- Dampen a soft washcloth with warm water
- Wrap cloth around your finger
- Gently wipe the outer ear curves and folds
- Clean behind the ears (milk and sweat collect here!)
- Pat dry gently
About Earwax
| Fact | Implication |
|---|---|
| Earwax is protective | Don’t try to remove it |
| It traps dust and germs | It’s doing its job |
| Ears push it out naturally | Leave it alone |
| Color varies (yellow to brown) | Usually no cause for concern |
NEVER Use Cotton Swabs (Earbuds)
Cotton swabs in baby ears can:
- Push wax deeper, causing impaction
- Scratch or damage the delicate ear canal
- Puncture the eardrum
- Cause pain and injury
Warning: The “do not insert” warning on cotton swab packages exists for good reason. This applies to babies AND adults.
When to See a Doctor
- Foul-smelling discharge from ear
- Baby pulling at ears with fever
- Visible redness or swelling
- Concerns about hearing
- Something seems stuck in ear
Cleaning Baby’s Nose
Understanding Baby Noses
- Newborn nasal passages are tiny
- Babies breathe mainly through their nose
- Congestion affects feeding and sleeping
- Some stuffiness is normal
When to Clean
| Situation | Need to Clean? |
|---|---|
| Visible mucus at nostrils | Yes |
| Snuffly breathing | Maybe - try saline first |
| Difficulty feeding due to congestion | Yes |
| Sounds congested but no visible blockage | Usually no - may just be narrow passages |
🚨 When congestion is an emergency — go to hospital, don’t keep suctioning: fast or laboured breathing; the ribs or the skin under the ribs sucking in with each breath; pale, grey or blue lips or skin; or a baby who can’t feed or is refusing feeds because of the blockage. In a baby under 3 months, any fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher is a medical emergency — see a doctor the same day, even at night. Call 112 (national emergency) or 108 (ambulance), or go straight to the nearest hospital.
Method 1: Saline Drops
The gentlest approach - often all you need. Plain saline nasal drops are cheap and available over the counter at any Indian chemist (ask for saline nasal drops, e.g. Nasoclear or Otrivin Saline). Use only plain saline drops — not medicated adult nasal sprays.
How to Use:
- Lay baby on back or hold upright
- Tilt head back slightly
- Put 1-2 drops of saline in each nostril
- Wait 30-60 seconds
- Baby may sneeze, loosening mucus
- Wipe any mucus that comes to the nostrils
Method 2: Bulb Syringe (Nasal Aspirator)
For more stubborn congestion.
How to Use:
-
Use saline drops first (loosens mucus)
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Squeeze the bulb BEFORE placing near nose
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Gently insert tip at nostril opening (not deep!)
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Release squeeze slowly - suction pulls out mucus
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Squeeze mucus out into tissue
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Repeat on other nostril
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Afterwards, wash the aspirator with warm soapy water and let it air-dry fully — bulb syringes are hard to dry inside and can grow mould; a clear-tube or spring-loaded type that you can open and dry is easier to keep clean Tips:
-
Don’t suction more than 2-3 times per session
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Don’t suction too frequently (irritates nose)
-
Clean aspirator well between uses
What NOT to Do
| Don’t | Why |
|---|---|
| Insert cotton swabs | Can push mucus deeper, cause injury |
| Use adult nasal sprays | Not safe for babies |
| Suction too often | Causes swelling, makes congestion worse |
| Blow into baby’s face | Doesn’t help and may startle baby |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How often should I clean my baby’s ears, eyes, and nose?
A: Eyes - as needed, typically once daily. Ears - during bath time is enough. Nose - only when visibly congested or affecting feeding.
Q: My baby’s nose always sounds stuffy - is something wrong?
A: Not necessarily. Newborn nasal passages are narrow, making breathing sounds louder. If baby is feeding well and not distressed, this is normal.
Q: Can I use baby wipes to clean these areas?
A: For eyes, use plain water and cotton. For ears (outer part), gentle wipes are okay. For nose, stick to saline and aspirators.
Q: The earwax in my baby’s ear looks dark - is this normal?
A: Usually, yes. Earwax colour ranges from light yellow to dark brown, and this range is normally nothing to worry about. The key is leaving it alone to do its job. (Foul-smelling discharge, bleeding, or your baby in pain is different — see the doctor for that.)
Q: How do I know if my baby has an ear infection?
A: Signs include: fever, pulling at ears, unusual fussiness especially when lying down, difficulty sleeping, and sometimes fluid draining from ear. See your doctor for evaluation. In a baby under 3 months, any fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher is itself a reason to see a doctor the same day, regardless of the cause.
Quick Reference Chart
| Area | How Often | Method | Warning Signs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eyes | Daily or as needed | Damp cotton, inside to outside | Redness, thick yellow/green discharge |
| Ears | Bath time | Damp cloth on outer ear only | Smell, discharge, fever |
| Nose | When congested | Saline drops, bulb syringe | Difficulty breathing, can’t feed |
Key Takeaways
- Eyes: Wipe inside to outside with damp cotton
- Ears: Clean only the outer parts - never inside the canal
- Nose: Saline drops first, aspirate only if needed
- No cotton swabs inside ears or nose - ever
- Less is more - don’t over-clean
- Watch for warning signs - know when to see a doctor
This article was reviewed by pediatricians at Babynama. Last updated: January 2026
References:
- Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) / AAP HealthyChildren — caring for and cleaning a baby’s ears, eyes and nose; avoiding cotton swabs in the ear canal.
- WHO and StatPearls (ophthalmia neonatorum) — urgency of purulent eye discharge in the newborn period.
- AAPOS / AAP — congenital nasolacrimal duct (blocked tear duct) obstruction: tear-duct massage and resolution by around 12 months.
- ICMR / IAP advisories on lead exposure from kajal and surma in infants.
This article is general information for Indian parents, not a substitute for examination by your pediatrician. In an emergency, call 112 or 108.
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