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Babies often hit, slap, or pull at their own ears and head, and in most cases it is normal self-soothing or a way of exploring their body, frequently linked to teething. It can look alarming and some babies do it hard enough to redden the skin. If there are no signs of infection (no fever, discharge, or foul smell) it's usually not a cause for concern, but persistent or forceful hitting is worth mentioning to your doctor.
⚠️ Caution:See a doctor if the ear-hitting comes with fever, discharge or foul smell from the ear, pulling accompanied by crying and not settling, poor feeding, or if the baby seems not to respond to sounds - these can point to an ear infection. Also mention it if the head-hitting is very forceful, frequent, or causing injury.
Parents are frightened when a baby hits their own ear or head hard enough to mark the skin. Other moms and doctors reassure that it's usually self-soothing or teething, while flagging the specific infection signs (fever, discharge, smell, inconsolable pulling) that mean it's time to get the ears checked.
Here's what moms in our community shared based on their own experience.
Mine pulls and hits her ear so hard she's literally bruised it, and she isn't even teething - so I understand how worrying it looks. But with no discharge or fever, our doctor wasn't concerned.
Often when they slap or pull at the ear they're trying to soothe themselves. It helped us to step in with other soothing things - cuddles, a feed, a distraction - whenever she started doing it.
A lot of the time it's teething - the discomfort refers up to the ear, so they slap or tug at it. They also put all sorts of unsterile things in their mouth for the same reason, which you can't fully stop.
The information shared on this page comes from real experiences of mothers in our community. While we strive to provide helpful insights, this content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with your pediatrician, healthcare provider, or other qualified medical professional for any questions regarding your child's health or development.
Last reviewed: August 14, 2026
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