How to Administer Ear Drops

The following list of instructions will help you to properly administer ear drops to your child:

Always wash your hands before and after giving medication.
Warm the medicine to body temperature by holding the bottle between your hands for several minutes. A medicine that is cold and placed in the ear could cause dizziness or nausea.
If the drops are a suspension, shake the bottle well.
Place child on his side so the affected ear is on top.
Straighten the ear canal by:

Child younger than 3 years old: Hold ear lobe and pull down and back.
Child 3 years and older: Hold upper part of ear and pull up and back.
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Drop the correct number of drops into the ear. Do not touch the dropper to the ear. Try to place the drops onto the side of the ear canal and not dropped directly down the ear canal.
Keep child on his side for 5 minutes or insert a cotton plug into the ear.
Repeat steps 3 to 6 on other ear if necessary.