Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to worry about his big ears?

23 replies

WhoMovedMyTea · 11/02/2011 09:22

I have a gorgeous, bouncing, healthy baby boy and I love him to bits. He has beautiful, big blue eyes, a fab smile, and a pair of big ears that stick out of the sides of his head.

I've been taking it in my stride and dealing with all the comments with a sense of humour. However, of late, my humour is turning to concern.

His ears tend to be the first thing anyone comments on (never to be mean, but still...) DC (5) had a boy over to play the other day who burst out laughing as soon as he saw the baby.

I was hoping some of you may have experience of how to help stickey out ears be less so? At night when he turns his head to the side, his ears fold forward (don't laugh) so the problem gets worse IYSWIM? I think if they were held back at night they may train IN rather than more OUT. Am I hoping in vain? Any methods you can think of, apart from tape, to hold them back?

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 11/02/2011 09:24

Wait until he is older and get them pinned back at the hospital.

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 11/02/2011 09:25

I think there is something that can be done when they're babies, like those helmets you can get for mis shapen heads.

Congrats btw, babies are a blessing and I think some of the people around you need to learn some damn manners !

Bonsoir · 11/02/2011 09:25

There is a painless easy method by which you can get babies sticking out or misshapen ears back in place - I'm sure it's been talked about on MN before. Try searching the boards.

kreecherlivesupstairs · 11/02/2011 09:25

Our DD had really sticky out ears when she was a baby. My delightful father christened her wingnut Hmm.
They settled down and became much less noticable once she had some hair to cover them.
The brother of one of her friends had a surgery to corret his, I don't know how old he was but it may be worth asking your GP if they are that obvious.
OTOH, Martin Clunes has made a considerable amount of money from his...............

faverolles · 11/02/2011 09:27

My nephew was like this. He had some sort of tape on them to hold them back (on medical advice, his parents weren't being cruel!)
This stopped them from being folded forward, but did very little else.
As he's got older, and grown hair, it isn't as noticeable.

Bonsoir · 11/02/2011 09:28

Ear buddies

StarlightPrincess · 11/02/2011 09:33

If it really bothers you, and you think it will cause him problems as he gets older with kids at school, then you could get his ears pinned back.

However- I had gigantic sticky-out ears as a child, so much so that after another kid in my class called me 'pixie ears', I didn't wear my hair tied back for about 8 years. I wanted them pinned back, but my GP advised against it and said I would grow into them- and I did!

Your ears reach the full size that they are going to be when you are about 5 or 6, so while they look disproportionately big whilst you are young, it evens out when you get to puberty.

wonka · 11/02/2011 09:34

Ear buddies.. LOL
I'm too late for that as are all of my DSs
My youngest has the best and the sun shines through them I'd love to get them pinned back but DH is adamant we don't he thinks they are a part of how he looks and he is gorgeous!
We had a lot of comments when he was a baby, they, nobody says anything now

Original poster
WhoMovedMyTea · 11/02/2011 15:27

Thanks ladies, some good ideas. Will check out the ear buddies, helmet and tape.

I don't think we'd resort to surgery until he's fully grown (depends if his ears stop growing soon or not!). Hopefully he will grow into to them a bit.

LOL @ Wonka - the sun shines through DS's as well, it's fab!

OP posts:
HettyAmaretti · 11/02/2011 15:32

Yes, I've heard a lot of good things about ear buddies.

DP had his pinned back and says it was awfully painful. He had to bandage them at night for ages to keep them flat, but didn't so it was only a partial success. OTOH BIL's GF had hers done (also as a teenager) and was so good with the bandaging that hers are now unnaturally flat - like a cyborg.

Foreverondiet · 11/02/2011 15:32

How old is he now?

Shewhoshallnotbenamed · 11/02/2011 15:36

My brother had this problem, they did consider pinning his ears back but the GP said that he'd grow into them - and he did. He also went from being a bit of a teeny,skinny kid into a strapping 6 footer over night - funnily enough the lads who once would have picked on him found something better to do with their time!

He's your baby, he's beautiful. At this moment in time he has no idea of the stupid/inconsiderate comments. It's hurtful to you, but he's not bothered IYGWIM.

If it becomes an issue when he's older that may be the time to investigate other steps, but I wouldn't worry just now.

I would ignore the comments, some people have far too much to say for themselves.

Madigan · 11/02/2011 15:37

We used ear buddies on our DD and they worked amazingly well (she had them from 6 weeks old until about 16 weeks old). But not sure how old your baby is?

Original poster
WhoMovedMyTea · 11/02/2011 17:49

He's 6 months now. I'm afraid I've missed the ear buddy boat?

Today I've popped a fabric alice band thingey on him, he looks so funny without his ears! It's staying put pretty well and it's nice and wide and soft, so not bothering him at all. It's like a hat with no middle. It's stopped his ears frm bending in half when I feed him and when he naps. I may use this while we're in the house. Do you think it's a waste of time?

I had heard that the ear op is really painful. I hadn't realised you still had to bandage for ages. LOL @ the cyborg ears!

OP posts:
Original poster
WhoMovedMyTea · 11/02/2011 17:57

PS: I have liked hearing about people growing into their ears...

OP posts:
ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 11/02/2011 18:20

He's not too old for earbuddies, baby on that site started using them at 9 months with good results

thegreatpudenda · 11/02/2011 18:26

I'm sure your DS is gorgeous and doesn't need anything doing to correct his ears! And I would be telling anyone who makes comments (particularly adults) that they are being downright rude! The tape and stuff would surely be uncomfortable and as for surgery!!! Can't believe anyone would consider putting a baby through COSMETIC surgery!!!! Your DS may not be as bothered by them as you are when he is old enough to notice and if he is I'm sure he can have some kind of trendy Justin Bieberesque (insert teen idol of the time) hairsyle to cover them.

thegreatpudenda · 11/02/2011 18:27

Also the likes of Will Smith don't seem to have suffered from being bat-eared.

Original poster
WhoMovedMyTea · 11/02/2011 21:49

Agreed, thegreat, he will have a wonderful character and I'm sure all will be fine. You just feel so protective of them, don't you? I don't think people intend to hurt with their comments, but what they don't realise is that everyone comments and it adds up.

ApocalypseCT I will go an have a better read of the Earbuddies site site now that the smalls are in bed.

OP posts:
Original poster
WhoMovedMyTea · 11/02/2011 23:12

Ohmygosh - have had a better read of the earbuddies site - he'd have to wear them for about 4 months, we'd have to shave off a bit of his hair.....I just couldn't bare it.

I'll settle for poking people in the eye when they make ear remarks!

OP posts:
Curiousmammy · 29/07/2021 10:55

@WhoMovedMyTea I know this post is almost 10 years old but I’m going through the same at the moment so I am happy to read your post as I’m getting concerned so glad I’m not the only one. Have you got any updates on what you have done? Thanks

MereDintofPandiculation · 29/07/2021 11:30

It's apparently a problem shared by Barack Obama. People round you need some manners. They'd never comment like that to a grown-up.

BabymommaF · 11/12/2024 22:21

I’m having the same issue with my baby boy. I really need help as it’s starting to really get me down and worry about his future 😥

New posts on this thread. Refresh page