Home FAQ
frequently asked questions

The most important information about EarBuddies® is included in the main body of the website. Please ensure you have read the information in the main body of the website before looking for the answer to your question below.

  • How do I know if my baby needs EarBuddies?

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    For most babies, the question is purely a matter of appearance, and so the decision to splint is entirely up to you as a parent.

    The only exceptions would be:

    • In babies with hearing problems, as behind-the-ear hearing aids fit best if the ears do not stick out.
    • If the conchal bowl is deformed and might make in-the-ear headphones / hearing aids difficult to wear.
  • Can my baby's funny-looking ears get better on their own?

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    Ears which are squashed or folded over at birth can unfold and regain their shape somewhat, if not completely. If an ear is not back to normal at 48 hours after birth, it should be splinted.

  • Can my baby's ear condition be fixed by EarBuddies?

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    We are not able to give individual medical advice or comment on photos, but you can click here to see which problems EarBuddies can correct.

    If your baby's ear condition does not appear in our guide of common problems, you can book a consultation with an EarBuddies Professional. Currently not all healthcare professionals, including paediatricians, doctors and even plastic surgeons, are well informed about neonatal splintage (as is noted in the medical literature). We are working to increase awareness amongst the wider healthcare profession, but in the meantime, we would advise you to be sceptical if you are told there is nothing you can do. If your doctor is not well informed about neonatal splintage, (a doctor cannot be an expert in every area!), please direct him/her to the independent medical literature on the following page.

  • How much improvement can I expect with EarBuddies?

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    Stick-Out Ears, Lop Ears, Rim Kinks and Fold-Over Ears are easier to correct than Stahl’s Bar, Cryptotia, Stick-Out Lobe and Conchal Crus. Cup ears are the most difficult to correct, since there is a lack of tissue in the rim. If you start early and splint for the recommended times, then almost all Stick-Out Ears, Lop Ears, Rim Kinks and Fold-Over Ears can be corrected, and most Stahl’s Bars, Cryptotia, Stick-Out Lobes and Conchal Crus can be corrected. Even if splintage does not begin until baby is Older, in most cases splintage can effect a significant improvement, although the time required is longer and more perseverance is required. Every case is different, and we do not give guarantees, but the results show that diligence and persistence is really worthwhile in almost all cases.

  • Can I really fit these myself without any experience? What if I do it wrong?

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    Very many thousands of baby ears have been treated safely and successfully by parents (and grandparents!), and in over twenty years of worldwide sales, we have never had an ear which has ended up worse as a result of splinting. We know that new parents have quite enough on their plate without having to splint, but if you can save your baby an ear operation costing on average £5,000 in the UK, or teasing and self-confidence problems in the future, it will all be worth it. If you read the instructions thoroughly and persevere, the long-term results will far outweigh the short-term inconvenience. If you want further reassurance, see the results menu for feedback from other EarBuddies parents.

  • Where can I send pictures to get some individual advice?

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    We are not able to give individual medical advice or comment on photos. In the first instance, have a look at which problems EarBuddies can correct, and read the ‘How it Works’ page for a good base understanding of neonatal splintage.

    If you still think you need specialist advice, or would prefer to have EarBuddies fitted by a Professional, please see the Professional Fitting page.

  • I am nervous about fitting EarBuddies. Is there anyone who can help?

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    Yes. Over 98% of EarBuddies are fitted by parents themselves, and EarBuddies were designed with this in mind, but if you would prefer to have professional help, see the following page to find your nearest EarBuddies Professional.

  • I have visited my Doctor and keep being told not to worry. I've also been advised by my paediatrician that my baby's ears can't be splinted. Is this correct?

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    We would advise you to be sceptical if you are told “not to worry”, or that neonatal splintage “won’t work”. Not all healthcare professionals, including paediatricians, doctors and even plastic surgeons, are well informed about neonatal splintage (as is noted in the literature on the following page). We are working to increase awareness amongst the wider healthcare profession and we would be grateful if you would direct your doctor/healthcare professional to the link above if you feel you have been misinformed or ill-advised (a doctor cannot be an expert in every area!).

    There is a huge amount of information on this website about EarBuddies and neonatal splintage. If, after reading the information on the website, you believe your baby is outside the ’normal’ range considered to be suitable for EarBuddies, we would highly recommend a consultation with an EarBuddies Professional.

  • Could my baby swallow the splints?

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    The splints are specially shaped so that the likelihood of entering the windpipe or gullet is very small, but you should always be absolutely sure that the splint is properly and securely fixed using the recommended Adhesive Tapes we supply. Other tapes may be inferior and may not properly fix the splints in place.

  • Our baby was born six weeks prematurely. Should the duration of splinting be calculated from the actual date of birth or from the projected date of birth?

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    The length of splinting should be calculated from the actual date of birth, since this is the point at which the influence of mum's hormones on the hardening of the cartilage is mostly removed, even in breast-fed babies.

  • I want my baby to have swimming lessons. Can I leave EarBuddies on?

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    It is best to remove the splints before each swimming lesson, in case they are lost in the pool. Make sure you refit the splints as soon as possible, as you can quickly lose the benefit of the correction, particularly early in the splintage period.

  • We’re going away on holiday (vacation) next week and will be in the pool every day. What do you suggest we do regarding splinting the ears?

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    It is best to remove the splints before swimming, in case they are lost in the pool. Make sure you refit the splints as soon as possible, as you can quickly lose the benefit of the correction, particularly early in the splintage period.

    If you decide to remove the splints for the entire holiday, it would be prudent to add at least double the amount of time missed to the total length of the splintage period.

FAQs - Shopping and Shipping

  • Which countries do you ship to? Can I order from the website to my country?

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    Yes - we ship to almost every country in the world, with the exception of Afghanistan, Cuba, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Zambia. Please note, however, that we cannot be responsible for failures in shipping, and if your country's mail system is unreliable, we recommend using a Shop and Ship service.

  • How long will shipping take?

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    Estimated Delivery Times are:

    Destination
    Estimated Delivery Time
    UK
    1 - 2 business days
    Western Europe 3 - 6 business days
    Eastern Europe 4 - 6 business days
    USA & Canada
    2 - 10 business days
    Australia
    6 - 12 business days
    Rest of World
    5 - 20 + business days

    Saturdays, Sundays, UK Bank Holidays and Holiday/Festival and Religious Days in all countries of delivery are not considered working or business days. The day of dispatch is not included in delivery estimates.

  • How much will delivery cost?

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    You can calculate your delivery/shipping costs on the Shopping Cart page (the icon in the top right corner) before checkout. Simply enter your address to find out the cost of shipping.

  • Do you accept returns from my Country?

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    Yes - for full details see our Delivery and Returns Page.

  • How do I add something to my order?

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    If you place another order on the same day, and before our shipping deadline of 15:00 (UK time) Monday to Friday, and let us know immediately using our Contact Form, including all the order numbers, we will do our best to combine the orders in a single package.

  • Can I buy from any Physical Stores?

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    EarBuddies are supplied only through our Online Store.

  • How do I use a different currency?

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    Click on the flag in the menu if you wish to change to the currency of a different country.

  • Can I track my shipment?

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    You will receive an email with tracking information as soon as your item is shipped. All shipments are tracked within the UK and to the international delivery entry point in the destination country. If your destination country offers a tracking service then you should be able to track the progress of your goods within this country using your tracking number and the tracking facility of your destination country’s postal service (see FAQ below).

  • Where is my Order?

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    You can find your tracking number in the shipping confirmation email (sent once your order has been dispatched). If your destination country offers a tracking service then you will be able to track the progress of your goods within this country using your tracking number (links in the table below, if available).

     

    All our shipments are sent First Class using Royal Mail which is usually fast, secure and efficient. The Royal Mail International Delivery Service uses the postal service of the delivering country; that is the service that delivers your daily mail. From the international delivery entry point within the destination country, the package is in the hands of your national postal service, and we hold no sway over them.

     

    Goods entering international Customs terminals may be subject to general delays, as well as specific checks, and we are not able to influence these. If you wish to chase the status of your order, contact your national postal service and/or customs, they should be able to track your goods within the destination country using their internal systems.

     

    The tracking facilities for some of our frequent shipping destinations are listed below:

     

  • My country's postal system is very unreliable - how can I order?

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    We make every effort to allow as many customers as possible worldwide to purchase EarBuddies products. We hold no sway, however, over the Customs handling in individual countries, or the processing of international packages in the country of delivery. If you order using our standard delivery option, but the postal system in your country is unreliable, then in most cases the goods will arrive safely, albeit sometimes a little late. However, EarBuddies cannot be held responsible for delays or non-deliveries.

    If you want to be certain of a successful delivery, we recommend that you purchase through a Shop and Ship system. Some of our customers use www.ShopandShip.com. Click here to see a tutorial on how Shop and Ship works.

    If you are worried about shipping delays, we would always strongly recommend the Premium Pack, so you have everything you need, and you aren’t caught out by shipping delays if you need to order additional supplies.

  • Do you offer courier shipping?

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    All our shipments are sent First Class using Royal Mail which is usually fast, secure and efficient. Although courier delivery seems like a faster option, in our experience the goods are much more likely to be held in Customs, even with all the correct documentation.

    If your country's mail system is unreliable, we recommend using a Shop and Ship service, such as Aramex. Some of our customers use www.ShopandShip.com. Click here to see a tutorial on how Shop and Ship works.

  • I am trying to purchase from the Online Store but it keeps declining my cards. Can you tell me what is going wrong?

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    It is most likely that your bank has refused to allow transactions on a foreign website (Ear Buddies Ltd is based in the UK). Contact your bank / credit card provider to ask them to authorise the transaction, and then try again. Alternatively, you can try a different card.

  • Can I / Should I use a PO Box address?

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    It is your responsibility to provide the correct address; this includes providing a PO Box where one required is by your country’s postal service (specifically United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar), and avoiding using a PO Box address if shipping to the country uses the Royal Mail International Signed Service, and International Tracked & Signed Service, and there will not be anyone present to sign for the item (you can find out which Royal Mail service is available in your country by using the ‘Shipping Rates Calculator’ on the ’Shopping Cart’ page).