How to Put Ear Drops in Correctly (Adults and Children)

The short answer

To put ear drops in correctly, warm the bottle in your hand, lie on your side with the affected ear facing up, gently pull the outer ear to straighten the canal, let the drops fall in without touching the ear, then stay lying down for 3 to 5 minutes while pressing gently on the small flap in front of the ear. That is the whole technique. Getting it right means the medicine actually reaches the ear canal, instead of running out onto the pillow.

This is the full step-by-step guide. Our best ear drops for ear pain in adults post has a quick five-point summary of how to use ear drops, and explains which drops suit which problem; the choice of drop depends on the cause, so start there if you are not sure what to use.

Before you start

• Read the label and your doctor's instructions: how many drops, how often, and for how long.
• Check the expiry date, and that the drops are meant for the ear, not the eye or nose.
• Wash your hands.
• Warm the bottle by holding it in your closed hand for a few minutes. Cold drops can make you dizzy.
• If there is discharge at the entrance of the ear, gently wipe the outer ear with a clean tissue. Don't dig inside.

How to put ear drops in, step by step

• Lie on your side, or tilt your head well over, with the affected ear facing up.
• Straighten the ear canal by gently pulling the outer ear: up and back for adults and older children.
• Hold the dropper just above the ear opening. Don't let the tip touch the ear, so the bottle stays clean.
• Squeeze in the prescribed number of drops, letting them run down the side of the canal.
• Gently press or pump the small flap in front of the ear opening (the tragus) a few times, to help the drops move in.
• Stay lying in the same position for 3 to 5 minutes.
• Sit up with a tissue against the ear to catch any excess, then repeat on the other side if both ears need treatment.

"The two steps people skip are warming the bottle and staying still afterwards. Both make a real difference."

Adults versus young children: one key difference

The direction you pull the ear is different for small children, because a young child's ear canal runs at a different angle.

Tips for putting ear drops in a child's ear

With small children it helps to have a second adult hold them still, or to give the drops while they are lying on your lap or asleep. Warm the bottle first, because cold drops are a common reason children cry and wriggle. Keep them lying still for a few minutes afterwards, which is often easiest with a story or a short video. If your child keeps getting ear problems, read ear infections and your child's hearing.

Common mistakes that waste the drops

• Sitting up straight away, so the drops run back out.
• Touching the ear with the dropper tip, which can contaminate the bottle.
• Using cold drops straight from the fridge.
• Pushing a cotton bud into the ear to 'spread' the drops.
• Stopping a course of antibiotic drops early because the pain eased, unless your doctor says so.
• Sharing ear drops with other members of the family.

A small piece of cotton wool resting loosely at the entrance of the ear can stop drops leaking onto your clothes. Don't push it in, and take it out afterwards unless you have been told otherwise.

How many drops, how often, and keeping track

Follow the label or your doctor's instructions exactly: the number of drops, how many times a day, and how long the course lasts. If you miss a dose, use it when you remember unless the next one is nearly due, and don't double up unless you have been told to.

If both ears need drops, finish one ear, sit up and let it drain onto a tissue, then lie on the other side and repeat. When several people in the family are helping, keep a simple note of the times on the fridge or your phone, so doses are not missed or given twice.

When not to put drops in the ear

Some ear drops can be harmful if the eardrum has a hole in it. Don't use ear drops without a doctor's advice if you have, or might have, a perforated eardrum: for example after a sudden sharp pain followed by discharge, after an injury to the ear, or if you have grommets or have had ear surgery. In those situations a doctor needs to look first and prescribe drops that are safe for that ear. Read more about a perforated eardrum.

Also stop and see a doctor if the drops cause more pain, burning, a rash or dizziness, or if your symptoms have not improved within the time your doctor said they should.

"If you are unsure about the eardrum, ask a doctor before any drops go in."

Drops for wax, pain and infection: same technique, different purpose

The technique is the same whatever the drops are for, but the purpose differs. Wax-softening drops loosen wax so it can come out on its own or be removed. Pain-relief drops ease an ache. Antibiotic or antibiotic-steroid drops treat an infection and are prescribed by a doctor. Swimmer's ear is a common reason for prescription drops, and if your ear mostly hurts when you lie down, see ear pain at night. If wax keeps building up, our guide to ear wax removal explains the safe options.

If your hearing still feels blocked afterwards

A full or muffled feeling for a short while after drops is common and usually settles. If your hearing stays muffled after the course has finished, or the ear still feels blocked, have it checked, because wax or fluid may still be there. Book a free hearing test at any Prudent clinic in Pune, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Delhi or Bengaluru, or ask about a home visit. Our audiologists look in the ear first and will tell you honestly if you need a doctor. Call +91 94296 90093. Prudent Hearing Solutions.