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Ear Infections

How to Spot and Treat a Common Infant Ailment

By Amy Carey Bowman

In other words, liberal use of antibiotics like amoxicillin may result in an increase of bacteria that no longer respond to traditional treatments. However, many parents are nervous about leaving an ear infection untreated while they "watch and see" if it will go away without antibiotic treatment. Talk to your doctor to discuss both the risks and benefits of using antibiotics for your child's infection before you decide which route to take.

The good news: Even if your child experiences recurrent ear infections today, he will get fewer infections as he gets older. "By school age, the Eustachian tubes change to a more vertical angle allowing for better drainage from the middle ear," Dr. Weathers says.

In the meantime, some parents suggest you can comfort your child with massage and other natural treatments. Gently massaging Baby's neck and under or behind his ears in a downward direction can be soothing and might help passages drain mucous. Homeopathic treatments like Hyland's Earache Tablets, which may have a soothing effect on your child, are another option. Always consult your doctor before trying any type of medication – "natural" or not.

Ear infections seem to be a fact of life for parents and their babies. Talk to your doctor, limit your baby's exposure to other children in confined spaces (within reason), don't smoke and watch for symptoms.

Knowing the facts about what causes ear infections, how to prevent them and how to treat them can help reduce the amount of time you and your child spend in the doctor's office – and waking up at night.

A Homeopathic Remedy at Work Jenni B., a member of the iParenting.com community, remembers her son Evan's one and only ear infection. "He was about 6 months old and in pain," she says. "The pediatrician explained to me about bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics, so we took a wait and see approach. A friend recommended the local herbal store, where the owner gave me some mullein and garlic ear oil. It sounds weird, but it worked!" Jenni says she placed a few drops of the warm oil in her son's ears a couple times a day for a few days. "It made a difference in the pain he was feeling," she says. "It was obvious that the oil soothed his ears. He got over it in about a week and hasn't had another infection since."

Want to see more?

• A Prescription Primer: A Guide to Commonly Prescribed Medications for Children
• When to Call the Doctor
• Down the Hatch
• http://babiestoday.com/resources/articles/downhatch.htm

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