My poor baby girl (5.5 months old) has her first ear infection. She is miserable. We have her on an antibiotic which we started yesterday, plus we were given the OK to give her Motrin instead of Tylenol for the pain (and for the fever, which seems to have finally broken-she had a fever from Sunday night until this morning, which is Thursday). I am using some Similsan Ear Drops to try to ease the discomfort but she is SO upset. I cannot lay her down at all, she is sleeping in her bouncy seat or on me, those are the only ways she will sleep at all. She is also coughing terribly, as all the gunk in her nose is now dripping down her throat into her chest. I am looking for ideas to ease her pain, other than what I am doing...to see if anyone has any home remedies, things their parents or grandparents used to do for them that might work. I remember getting very painful EIs as a kid, and my mom used drops and then put cotton in my ear to keep the medicine in. Renee flipped out at the cotton so I had to take it out. My mom used to also have me sleep with my ear on a heating pad set low, but given how young she is and the fact that she's been feverish off and on for days now, I am hesitant to try that.
She is screaming every time she sneezes or coughs. I know it's causing pressure in her ear and probably hurts her throat. She sounds so hoarse. And there's not much in the meds department for babies anymore.
Ideas? Thanks.
Thanks everyone! We have seen an improvement in the past 24 hours or so. Renee is less irritable (evenings seem to be the toughest time of day for her, but that might be because she gets tired, and I know when I had ear infections, the evenings were the roughest for some reason). We're using saline (the ped. gave us some samples of little saline respules instead of us trying to use a larger bottle because it can come out too fast). She's been on the antibiotics since Wednesday afternoon. We've got the humidifier going in her bedroom and we bring it to the living room during the day since that's where she was spending most of her time. She was able to sleep in her crib last night for the first time since the weekend. We're using the Vicks Baby Rub on her chest and back to help break up the congestion. Right now the cough seems to be the most bothersome for her, but we're still treating the EI with the meds and saline. She actually handles the ear drops well, she gets them twice a day and has not cried at all when I put them in. No fever since yesterday morning, so we are heading in the right direction.
Thank you all SO much...I got so many responses...and I am going to keep that salt idea that a few of you suggested...that's totally a new one to me. My grandma was the queen of interesting home remedies and that is not one that I had ever heard before...I wonder why it works!
I am hoping this is the last of ear infections for a while. Hopefully she is feeling better when I call home (she is home with her daddy today and I am back to work).
put a phone book under her mattress so she is not laying flat. Laying them flat makes it worse. Good luck
Jenn
Try this: Take a washcloth or a couple paper towels, and rinse it in HOT water, wring it out, and place it in the bottom of a cup, then hold the cup over her ear.
Good luck, this too shall pass.
-C.
Awww, poor baby! Try a warm damp washcloth on her ear to ease the pain. You might also want to use a humidifier in her room at night to help ease her conjestion. Use the snot-sniffer as much as she'll let you (or you are up to fighting) I know they hate it, but in the long run it does help. You should notice her having some relief today...the antibiotic's should really start making a difference. Good luck and best wishes.
I only use herbals but I do know that you can give her a liquid chamomile calm by Herbs for Kids to help her sleep. Now a Dr would tell you not to listen to what I am about to say but my daughter had ALOT of ear infections and we could never get them to go away. She would have double ear infections to the point we operated on her. Now nowing what I know I would have never done that but this is the best advise I can give and I know it to be true because my daughter has not had an infection for over 3 years. When kids get infections it is due to something they are eating doesn't agree with them. If your baby is on formula try checking and seeing about switching her to something else. If you are nursing something in your diet isn't agreeing with her. It causes a allergic reaction and that causes the gestational tubes to swell. For my daughter it was peanut butter and some things put in things that are a preserve. She can now handle peanut butter but at a younger age she was not able to have it and because I gave it to her she had ear problems. I have done ALOT of research on this matter. Doctors don't tell you this because they practice modern medicine, I want natural ways to help my kids. I have 2 other children that after my first we watch them more with foods and my others haven't had ear infections. Hope this helps.
You can try to alternate between infants tylenol and motrin (give the motrin, then 2 hours later the tylenol) to see if she gets better pain relief. Also, my mom used to put salt in a sock and heat it up then lay that against our ear for a short time to relieve the pain. I would also rinse her nose with saline to try and flush out the mucus as much as possible to limit her coughing and sneezing. Good LUck!
A.,
Has your doctor reccomended using both tylenol and ibuprophin?
If you combine them ex: a dose of tylenol and then a dose of ibuprophin about 2 hours later the combination really helps with pain and fever. Use a warm humidifier, that will help ease her throat. Instead of using a heating pad, take a washcloth, run under hot water(enough you can touch), slightly rise out, fold, put in a ziplock and place a washcloth over the bag and have your daughter lay her head on that. It should not be too hot for her, and its more natural. If you want to try and get her sleeping back in her crib, take a pillow or folded blanket and raise the head portion of her mattress. if your worried about her sliding down you can have another very stiff pillow at her feet to hold her up, and if you have one ot those foam things that keep them from rolling lay her in that too. just some basic ideas for ya. Altough sometime its harder on us but them sleeping on our chest is very comforting to them.
I'm so sorry for you and your baby. Ear infections really can be miserable, but luckily you should be on your way to feeling better soon. We've usually found the antibiotic really kicks in after about 3 doses (make sure you continue to give the full course though or you'll be creating resistant bacteria and have a harder time fighting them). If it doesn't, call the doc and they'll probably prescribe another antibiotic (in which case you would stop the first one and then start the new one).
Also, my mom always swore by the warm salt. Heat a bunch of salt in a pan and then wrap it in a dish towel or sock. Make sure it's not too hot and then lay your baby with the sore ear down on the salt. With a little one, you'll probably have to lay them on your chest to do this. The heat will help, but it won't get cold like a wet cloth will do before too long, and keeping that ear down may allow some fluid drainage as well.
For the cold itself a humidifier or taking the baby in a steamy bathroom for a while should help loosen the congestion and help with breathing.
Hope things improve quickly!
You need to get a humidifier for the baby
S.
I don't know about medications, but the one time my daughter had an ear infection, whatever we could do so she could REST seemed to be a great help. We did lots of keeping her upright in a baby carrier (we use a sling because I make them) but also we had her car seat in the house, propped her up with pillows, etc.. Whatever she needed so that she wasn't laying down - making it hurt so much. Is she big enough to chew on popsicles? Can you freeze some mashed up favorite food - I know it's not teething related, but it might sooth her throat and sinuses if they are inflamed? Our antibiotics started working pretty soon and we had our old kid back - keep in touch with your ped if you don't see improvements right away and good luck!
What you're doing is what's recommended. Make sure that you're giving her the proper dosage of Motrin (some mothers will underdose because they're afraid). Call your pharmacy for the exact dosing guidelines, called milligrams per kilograms. Keeping her head elevated hopefully is helping her a little because of the pressure. A warm bath may also soothe her because the steam may help open up her nose and relieve some of that congestion.
Also, just a word of advice from a health care professional (I'm a pharmacist). If she ever gets more ear infections (God forbid!), don't automatically ask for an antibiotic. Lots of studies show that they aren't always necessary, and overuse has led to lots of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria that were once easily killed by simple, low-level antibiotics. Hopefully all of your supportive measures will help her through this quickly.
Get one cup boiling water and 1/2 tsp of salt and let it cool and then get a dropper and squeese it up her nose and you will NOT like what you see coming out but it does work.(or you could go to the store and get saliene drops-same thing) Also heat some salt in a pan (watch becasue it gets very hot fast) and then put it in a sock and let the baby put her head (ear) on it if she would sleep on it. The salt kills the infection with the warm making it feel better. And about 3 does of the med and she should be feeling better and if not call the dr back and get another medication.
Good luck Jade
Have you ever gone to a chiropractor? We've taken all of our kids since they were less than a week old. An adjustment can really help when they have colds. My chiropractor also does an ear adjustment that worked wonders when nothing else would nip an infection my youngest had last spring. It's a careful and tiny adjustment - they hold inside the earlobe and gentle pull it down and out which physically opens that canal to let things drain. It's a bit uncomfortable for them to have anyone mess with their ears so they don't like the adjustment, but relief followed shortly - once they forget they are mad. He also recommended massaging firmly behind and just below the ear - again they don't really love it, but it helps work things out a bit so if you can do it a few times throughout the day it helps. If you are interested in a chiro name, I'd be happy to share mine. It's a family practice (dad & 2 sons). The sons both have young kids and so they work well with them.
I hope she is feeling a little better by now. There are ear drops for kids with garlic and mullein in them. They are very soothing and anti viral/antibacterial. If your child has a virus antibiotics will do nothing. Check your local health food store. Good luck.
Did your doctor give you the antibiotic drops that go in the ear? They work so much faster. I hate when they are in pain :( Hopefully it subsides very soon for you!
It might help to run a cool mist humidifier in the room she is spending the most time in (since she isn't sleeping in her crib I'm guessing).
I would also seriously consider calling the pediatrician and let them know how she is suffering. Perhaps there is something else they can do for her.
I wish you luck.
For the congestion... we still do this for our older kids, they request it. 1 cup warm water, half teaspoon salt, dissolve. This is your saline. Lay her down, prepare for squirming. Using a cloth, absorb some saline, drop a few drops down the nose. Let her sit up. Copious amounts will come out. It's not pretty. But it clears things. Like when you're at the beach as a kid and get salt water up your nose!
My babies didn't enjoy it. But they did breathe easier afterward. Takes the pressure off the ear, if there's less stuff crammed up there. Fun fun fun.
The antibiotic should kick in soon!
I really feel for you. You must be going through a terrible ordeal right now and seeing you baby girl in pain when you don't know what to do to help her doesn't make in any better.
I don't know how to help your daughter with the ear infection. But, I do know of something that will help the congestion that she has. Go to the drug store and get a product called Sudacare Advance. This is medicine that you plug into the wall outlet and then the medicine fills the air. When your daughter breathes, it will help to ease the discomfort of the congestion. I has worked for my youngest every time.
Good Luck.
My daughter has had 8 ear infections. I know they are miserable and you are in constant worry. The anti-biotic that the Dr prescibed may not be stong enough if you dont see any signs of relief after 3 days.My daughter needed the stronger one (its white) Oh Augmenten is the one.It sometimes took 10-14 days for the entire infecttion to run its course
Call your Ped and tell them right away so they can prescribe a different kind. I gave her Motrin for the pain relief and you can alternate every 4 hours
with the Tylenol. Elevate the head and yes warm wash clothes
and suck out as much mucus as you can with the bulb. I have been through it so many times,its hard for them and you.
S.
make sure to have a cool mist humidifier on. elevate the side of her crib where her head is. i would take a stack of magazines and put them under the matress. when she lays down and is elevated the drainage will not be so bad. i know you can also buy those plug in medicated things that vaporizes the room. i also heard when you are sick it is good to put vicks vaporub on the feet and cover them with socks before you go to bed.this sounds gross but i remember my friends mom told me to get rid of and ear infection take some urine and put some drops in the ear. i never did it but she swore that it worked. take a bath with her also and see if there is some type of baby bath that has ecualyptus in it so it will help releive some of the congestion. make sure to make the water warm as you can but, not to burn he.close the curtains while sitting in the tub. this should help. i did that before when i had a bad upper respiratory infection. i hope this helps and i hope she feels better. it is hard to help our little ones when they are sick and can not tell us what is wrong. take care.
We had the same problem with our son. The doctor told us to alternate the Tylenol and the Motrin every 3 hours. She said they are different medicines one for the fever and one for the pain.
Hi A.,
Write Lucey Harley about your concerns.
____@____.com
She may be able to help you.
Contact a local lymph drainage person.
Hope this helps. D.
I feel your pain, my now 6 year old had severe ear infections from birth to 2 yrs when we finally put in tubes. Heat is the best solution, but I wouldnt necessarily do the electric heating pad b/c of the cord but their are products out there for the microwave or that you heat in water and place it right behind the ear it will ease it long enough for her to get a good amount of sleep. I also used a humidifier for the coughing. Also for sleeping my daughter slept on me for the 1st year (with me sitting up) then we learned to elevate the one side of her mattress in the crib and she started sleeping in her bed. I wish you all the luck and I hope she feels better soon.
By the time my second son was 10 months old we had gone through nearly 3 rounds of antibiotics and his ear was still red inside when the dr. checked him. I decided that that wasn't the way I wanted to medicate my children, so I checked into natural remedies. I came across one that I always want to have mixed up and on hand. Usually with one application the children are relieved and complain no more about their ears hurting. Take 11 drops of olive oil, contents of 1 softgel vit. E and contents of 1 garlic softgel; mix together and drop into ear until the ear is full. Then massage around the ear to make sure that the mixture goes well down into the ear. I save my Tylenol infant bottles and use those to fix the mix, then I always keep it on hand for when the children have trouble with their ears. Simple, but I've used this many times--and the child doesn't fill up on antibiotics.
First of all, I am so very very sorry you are experiencing this with your little one. Both mine have had a lot of ear infections, so I've been around and around with them. The best thing is that now that you have the antibiotics the discomfort should resolve within about 3 doses. If the antibiotic is working it's a very fast turn around. If you don't see a change after 2 days, you should call your doctor back for another antibiotic. These things can be resistent to the first line antibiotic and require a second. (happens a lot to us).
As for home remedies, I do have a good one, best used when the pain is at it's worst and if you know the ear drum has not ruptured. take a sandwich baggie and fill it with about 1 tsp of olive oil, or other oil. tie a knot in the baggie so there is a tight little bubble of oil in the corner of the baggie. Submerge it for a minute in hot water to warm the oil. place a pinhole in the baggie and drip a drop or two of warm (not hot) oil into the painful ear. It really works.
If the ear drum has ruptured you should not do this, for obvious reasons. You would know if it ruptured because there would be clear, red, or pussy drainage outside of the ear, on her skin or on the bed sheets.
Keep her upright on your chest for sleeping, she'll be more comfortable.
There's nothing worse than watching a little baby SO miserable! I suggest:
1. Elevate her crib at the top by either placing phone books under the top legs OR
2. Let her sleep in her bouncy seat or carseat
3. Run a cool mist humidifier in her room at night (let it get going for about an hour before her bedtime.
4. Saline nose drops for the congestion
5. I would be afraid to try a heating pad but you can mirowave (just warm it a bit) a small washcloth or towel to put on her ear area
Good luck--the antibiotics will kick in and she will get some relief soon.
It sounds like by now your daughter should have been on the antibiotic for 24 hours. That SHOULD mean that the worst is over. If NOT, really watch her and call your pediatrician's office TODAY (Friday, while it's OPEN), to see what to do, or if this is normal. I would not add a bunch of other meds on top of what the doctor has prescribed. Home remedies that worked 40 years ago were just htat. They were home remedies because we didn't GO to the doctor. Once you add antibiotics to the mix, you want to be sure that you aren't mxing drugs incorrectly.
Actually, a doctor once told me that most ear infections are viral, not bacterial, but that they prescribe antibiotics for them due to the incredible amount of pain they cause, and the potential for hearing loss.
Also watch her after she goes OFF the antibiotic. Since you had ear infections as a child, and since it sounds like she also has a cold, and stuff sinuses, keep your eye out. One of our 4 kids had ear infections one after another one winter, until the doctor prescribed a low dose antibiotic that she was on until the end of May. When your daughter has her re-check, just be aware that while the infection may be gone, there can still be fluid in the ear and it can flar back up.
but honestly, I think you have come through the worst of it by now. :-)
No sure this would help a whole lot, but just for stuffy noses, I will rub vick or vicks for infants on my own chest and then hold them upright against my chest. That seems to help with congestion. maybe if you used a warm washcloth version of the heating pad in the same manner, sandwiched between you and baby she might tolerate it enought to help ease the discomfort some.
Try to keep thinking, this too shall pass.
Dear A.,
See if your daughter will let you put a warm washcloth on her ear. Just run the washcloth under warm (not hot) water and ring it out and place it on her ear. There are also reuseable gel pads you can put in the microwave for a few seconds that can be used the same way. Some slip into a cover that looks like a stuffed animal. If your daughter is in so much pain, have you taken her to an ENT - Ear, nose and throat doctor? Sometimes, the fluid has to be drained though the use of a small tube placed in the ear.
Make sure your daughter is at an angle that prevents her formula from backing up into her eustacian tube, don't let her lay flat when drinking. Try elevating the head end of the mattrice in her crib. See if that helps with drainage. It gets pretty scary even for an adult when you lay down and you can't breath because your sinuses close up and your throat swells with drainage. A cool mist vaporizor is great for moisturizing the air when you have to breath through your mouth. Sometimes when I'm so conjested, it's the only relief that works.
Another thought - I have a problem with ear drops. I am allergic to the oily kind and they make the inside of my ear swell, making the pain from pressure that much worse. The only kind I can use are the swimmers ear drops to dry up fluid. It might be worth a visit to the ENT to see if your daughter is having problems with the drops. Don't change what you are doing before consulting with a professional. I don't know if the swimmers ear drops are suitable for babies.
Poor thing!!!
Well, I really like the Similisan but have also found that Hyland's Earache relief is a miracle worker! Cammomile tablets offer natural pain relief too.
And if you're by any chance, breastfeeding, you can (believe it or not) put breastmilk right in her ear! It is a natural anti-biotic with NO side effects and is usually far more effective than antibiotics are.
I hope that she feels better soon! Poor thing!
A.
PS:
Since she's on antibiotics, I HIGHLY suggest that she be on a probiotic too so that she doesnt' end up w/ a yeast infection or diarrhea or anything. You can find ones made for infants @ your local health food store.
Warmth often helps. A warm washcloth, dry if possible, held
against the sore cheek, ear, neck (maybe as you hold her against yourself) may help relieve some of the discomfort.
