Quote Originally Posted by Sirrahsim
Never ever ever ever ever ever ever (etc...) insert anything into your baby's ears!! Even "safety swabs" are not safe as it is extremely easy to damage the eardrum. Even adults should never ever ever ever ever (etc..) insert anything into their ears. Nature has its own way of getting rid of excess waxy buildup and if it is bad enough to need to go digging for then it is a doctor's job!

I can't believe that some medical people still say that this practice is ok *faint*

Many of the older generation will tell you that it is ok but just do some googling... it's an old fashioned practice and it's dangerous!!
That being said, q-tips work GREAT for applying rubbing alcohol to the umbilical stump to help it dry up and fall off. Even using those there is questionable though.
I think the majority of us know that already. There is no need to stick a q-tip into the ear canal, but they are great for cleaning up excess wax on the outside, and especially great if the baby gets an infection, to help remove crusty material from the outside. Also great for cords too...not sure why that would be questionable??? It's surely not going to do anymore harm than using a cotton ball, unless you're jabbing your baby with it, in which case you have issues lol. FYI, safety swabs are much too big to even fit inside a babies ear canal. Shoot, they couldn't even fit into mine! They are much too big. Might be able to fit up my nose though lol.