How to help an infant to sleep better during an ear infection?

I have dealt with ear infections with both of my kids.Even at 7 months. You want to give them motrin for pain. Are tylenol I always go with motrin because it is more for pain and it last longer for them.I would keep a eye are them for a few days. If they get a high fever, aren't eating right, not sleeping good.Then take them to the doctor. They will prescribe a antibotic for it. The reason I say wait a few days is sometimes they clear up on there own.Good Luck

Hi, J.!

My little girl is now 4 yrs old and we only had several ear infection that I can remember. I used Simalasan Ear drops but there are also Hyland's ear drops. Both use natural herbal ways to relieve pain and swelling. I believe they both are to be used for the first 1-2 days for relief of pain after it's been diagnosed by the doctor. I think before we discovered the drops, we actually propped my daughter up in the crib one night so she slept halfway sitting up. I was nervous and checked on her often but it helped a lot. The drops are probably much safer. I can remember as soon as we laid her down flat she cried in pain.

Oh, you should be able to get these products at Walmart or Walgreens. In the pharmacy area w/ all the meds. You might have to look a little bit but they usually carry one or the other.

J.

My son used to get ear infections all the time when he was a baby, and we were able to help him sleep with these ear numbing drops that our doctor would prescribe. Now you can buy them at pharmacies, grocery stores, etc. I'm sorry that I can't remember the name...ABotic, or something like that. They would give him relief almost instantly, and then we were able to sleep too! I think most of the pain from the infection would be gone in a few days, but it really depended on the severity of the infection. Our doctor used to schedule ear rechecks about 2-3 weeks after the original visit to make sure it was gone completely. Good luck!

My daughter started getting them when she was 9 months. We used the numbing drops (prescribed) plus she really liked a warm wash cloth when she was younger along with taking Tyleno. When she has them now, we use Motrin and also see the chiropractor.
Good luck. Don't forget to some rest for yourself as you feel helpless when they have this kind of pain and can't make it immediately better.

He should be on anticiotics and usually the pain goes away after 24 hours, sometimes 36. I had ear infections from the time I was born and my oldest had ear infections. If an ear infection is not treated then the ear drum can rupture and cause hearing loss as it did in my case. The hearing loss is rarely perminant, though. Constant ear infections or fluid in the ear can cause speech delay because they are hearing through the fluid and it sounds somewhat muffled. I read another post that doctors are quick to prescribe medication which I do agree with. If you are constantly getting antibiotics they quit working and you are never solving the problem. What ever method you use, make sure you are supervised by a doctor (not necissarily a md)and that it is working. The heating pad is probably your best way to take care of the pain. If you are giving a pain medication, ibeprophen (that may be spelled wron) works better then tylenol because it is an anti-infalmitory.

Well I think it depends upon the severity of it but we kept up the meds on ours for about a week to make sure it was good and clear. but once the meds kicked in the pain was lessened enormously...I'd say that was within 24-48 hours. If he's still having some pain give him some Motrin or Tylenol. As for sleeping better at night...DEFINITELY give him some Motrin/Tylenol about 15 minutes before you put him down...that should do the trick.

If he acts like he's in any pain you could use a warm compress,or tylenol.However if he's acting fine just let the antibiotics do the work.Usually it doesn't take long for them to be feeling better after they go on the antibiotics.If he's still having trouble with sleeping give him some tylenol right before he lays down.

Chiropractors and naturopaths have the best success rate. They should teach you a simple massage technique that allows built up fluids to drain and the ear infection should clear up. It will also relieve the pressure. They can also recommend the supplements and/or dietary ideas that will truly assist the body to heal itself (something all bodies need to learn while they are young). Medicating children unecessarily teaches their bodies that they are not exprected to learn to heal themselves. It discourages the healthy development of immune responses. Yet, many MDs admit to prescribing antibiotics for common colds simply because they felt the parents expected it and would be angry if they didn't.

I always recommend trying the chiropractic approach before considering any medications. It has always worked, every time. Many of the meds given to babies with ear infections result in damages to the digestive system and result in allergies and sensitivities. I have worked around chiropractors for many years and have never seen their approach fail.

normally with a child under the age of 3, the doctor wants to see the baby and as a precaution will write out a prescription for an antibiotic - this is according to my pediatrician when she saw my 4 year old 2 months ago. The pedi if needed can prescribe numbing drops for the child - which is what she did for my daughter. also to help with the pain/fever they may suggest infant tylenol or infant ibrupofen. but please contact your baby's pedi first.

you did not mention if there is any drainage. if there is drainage, get your baby to the pedi asap! that is a sign of a perforated eardrum and must be seen at once.
hope that helps

Good Morning J., ear infections can be common with little folks. What we used to do was warm olive oil and place it in the ear with cotton. Now they suggest baby ear drops.

3 yr old Corbin had a really terrible one a while back that his Ped missed and then when took him back he didn't treat or clean out. We did a weak mix of peroxide and water, left it for a short time to lossen. Then placed the ear drops in. Giving him Tylenol or mortin.

Under a yr old you would need to ask the Dr. about medications. The drops soften the wax build up and its easier to remove.

God Bless you and your little one's
K. Nana of 5

Hi J., Not sure how long they last. My daughter usually had to have antibiotics to get rid of them and had to have tubes put in. She had narrow passages all through her head - she was fun for the first 4 years! But anyway, have you tried getting some numbing drops for him? The doctor can give them to you or some health food stores have them (my friend has a healthfood store and she sells some).

It is okay to dose your baby with Infant Motrin or Infant Tylenol for the pain and keep him propped up at night while he sleeps to allow everything to drain down. Some ear infections can clear up on their own but some do require a visit to your pediatrician for a prescription. If he starts not eating well and not sleeping well then you might want to take him in. Hope he feels better soon!

Hi J., Be sure to do some research before going to the Dr. for antibiotics. I've read that most ear infections don't require antibiotics and the kids who do take antibiotics, it only helps a minimal amount. Ear infections clear up on their own, so things like a warm compress should help. Also you mentioned he has a cold, that will make their ears feel stuffy and they will pull on their ears, so he may not even have an ear infection at all. Good luck.

Take him to the doctor. They will put him on antibiotics and it will help tremendously!!! Fever goes away, crankiness, lethargy, etc. It all goes away quickly after starting the medication. Good luck!

I always use olive oil and melaleuca oil warm and the put a cotton balls and warm compact on the ear and set them up to sleep on the ear and with in 2 days they are fine. It is better not to give them any type of meds if all possible.

you can find out more about the oil at melaleuca.com/
dd