Ear moulding in children

What is ear moulding?

Ear moulding is a gentle, non-surgical treatment used to reshape a baby’s ears shortly after birth. Some babies are born with ear deformities that cause their ears to protrude, fold, have bumps or be wrinkled or flat. Because a newborn’s ear cartilage is soft and flexible, early treatment with a custom mould can gradually guide the ear into a more typical shape, helping to improve appearance without the need for surgery.

As part of the treatment, our specialists use a soft putty to mould your baby’s ear into the correct shape. The mould needs to be worn continuously for a period ranging from around 2 weeks to several months, depending on the shape of your baby’s ears and how they respond to treatment. 

Ear moulding for babies is provided by the expert children’s plastic surgery team at Evelina London Children’s Hospital. Our specialists are experienced in treating a wide range of ear conditions and provide personalised care in a dedicated children’s setting.

Why might my child need ear moulding? 

If your baby has an ear deformity, you may consider ear moulding to avoid surgery when they are older. Ear moulding is non-invasive and causes no pain or discomfort to your child.  

We can use ear moulding to treat the following ear deformities in babies:  

• protruding ears 
• cupped (constricted) ears 
• cryptotia  
• Stahl’s ear 

Ear moulding during your child’s first few weeks is best, as the ears will be especially receptive to treatment. If left untreated, ear deformities can lead to low self-confidence as your child grows, only surgery can correct them.   

Ear moulding on older infants is not as reliable and can take much longer.  

Otoplasty (ear surgery) may be their only option if your child is older. Pinnaplasty is one type of otoplasty that pins the ears back to fix protruding ears. Similarly, surgical correction will be the only suitable option if your child is missing parts of their ear.  

If you’re concerned about your baby’s ear shape, get in touch for expert advice.

Preparing your child for ear moulding 

Before your child’s appointment, you will attend a consultation with your surgeon. They will assess your child’s ears to determine the severity of the deformity and whether ear moulding is suitable. 

You will not need to do anything before bringing your child in for ear moulding. We’ll prepare the area around the ear when you and your child arrive for the appointment. We may trim some hair around the ear and clean the skin to ensure the adhesive sticks. 

Our team will take the utmost care when preparing your child for their ear moulding and will happily answer your questions and tell you what to expect.   

How is ear moulding performed? 

Ear moulding is a straightforward procedure where our children’s plastic surgeon places a soft putty on your baby’s ear, holding it in the correct shape and position. Your baby will typically wear the mould for between 2 weeks and several months, depending on your baby’s ear shape and response to treatment. It can dramatically improve prominent ears, congenital folds and bumps and ear constrictions. 

Your baby requires no anaesthetic or sedation for the procedure and it should not cause them any discomfort. 

Your baby must wear their ear mould 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, until your surgeon advises otherwise. Most ears will respond well to the treatment if applied early enough. The sooner the surgeon performs the ear moulding, the better, as your baby’s ears will be the most pliable after birth. 

Regular follow-ups are essential as your surgeon will want to check that the mould is working and the deformity responds to the treatment.    

For personalised advice on treatment options, contact our team.