what to do about ear picking

[Anne]

When Emma's ears are bugging her she tends to move her thumb around in the left ear causing it to bleed. She tends to do this while having her bottle and sometimes while sleeping. I can see the scab so I know where the bleeding is coming from. What I can not figure out is how to let it heal up. She did not do it for a while and it looked pretty cleared up and today I noticed it all bloody again.

The first time she did it (I noticed it), she was just getting over an ear infection. The second round was when she was teething, and now, I am guessing she has another tooth coming in. She was at the doctor's 2 weeks ago and he did look in her ears so I am guessing that it is not an ear infection (she is not acting like it is).

The only thing I can think to do to stop it is put a sock on her hand but she does not do it at every feeding or that often while she is sleeping. I did talk to her nurse about it and she could not offer any suggestions, just that they might want me to come in if it keeps up (I am assuming to rule out ear infection? I can not afford a visit if that is all it is because I am pretty sure she does not have one.)

Any suggestions? It does not seem to bother her, the sight of the blood in her ear bothers me more than anything else I guess.

ETA: Her nails are kept short - that was the first thing the nurse looked at when I asked for advice.

[Melissa]

I don't know what to say, there are times that Katie will do this too. I figure its better than nose picking (then again, that comes later). Yes, there are times that she will scratch her ear (those fingernails are hard to keep up with). But I figure its not hurting her and she doesn't do it often so I don't make a fuss about it.

[Sandy]

Hay Anne, I know it is disconcerning to see that. Rayna does it also. Right now she has a scratch above her left eye that she did to herself when she was rubbing her eyes. She has made herself bleed in her ears a few times as well. I file her nails as best as I can to keep them as short as possibe, but I don't think it can be prevented altogether. I have just chalked it up to something that happens and try to do what I can to keep her nails in check. I figure it is the start of many years where she is going to get bumps, bruises and scrapes!!!

Sandy