Input requested: Ear infections
A few of you mentioned Kaitlynn might possibly have an ear infection. Since Kathrynne has never had ear infections before, I'm totally unexperienced with these.
Are there telltale signs I should be looking for? Kaitlynn's very congested, coughing, running a fever, and quite fussy most of the time right now, especially at night. I was just attributing all this to teething since her gums are very swollen and it's obvious they hurt. However, I'm wondering if maybe she has something besides just a bad case of teething? Thoughts?
Also, since Kaitlynn is still nursing exclusively, I'm trying to take a lot of immune boosters and probiotics which I'm hoping will benefit her. Any thoughts or suggestions there?
Thanks for your help! I feel like this is whole new territory for us since Kathrynne's teething only lasted a short while and was helped tremendously by simply giving her Orajel and a little pain reliever here and there. Kaitlynn has been a completely different story...
Are there telltale signs I should be looking for? Kaitlynn's very congested, coughing, running a fever, and quite fussy most of the time right now, especially at night. I was just attributing all this to teething since her gums are very swollen and it's obvious they hurt. However, I'm wondering if maybe she has something besides just a bad case of teething? Thoughts?
Also, since Kaitlynn is still nursing exclusively, I'm trying to take a lot of immune boosters and probiotics which I'm hoping will benefit her. Any thoughts or suggestions there?
Thanks for your help! I feel like this is whole new territory for us since Kathrynne's teething only lasted a short while and was helped tremendously by simply giving her Orajel and a little pain reliever here and there. Kaitlynn has been a completely different story...
posted by Crystal Paine at 10:20 AM
74 Comments:
Fortunately, I really never had problems with ear infections or teething with any of my children. None of them ever complained of them and I'd only find out they have ear infections when at the Doctor's for check-ups!
However, I've got friends who do go through this kind of thing. If I were you, I'd definitely take Kaitlynn to the doctor to see if she may be having ear infections - which may be why you are "thinking" she's teething, when in fact, it may just actually be ear infections! I hope she gets better SOON!!!
I would definately go in to the doctor and have her ears checked. My son just got over an infection and is teething at the same time. We started the antibiotics (I know there is controversy but I decided to do them) and he was a happy boy within 24 hours. Call your doctor they usually will see you the same day with those symptoms. I feel for you all.
It does sound like the poor baby might have an ear infection which I'm sure you know are,most of the time, caused by a virus. Congestion and plugged ears could also put pressure on any teeth that she is ready to pop out. If you could ease her congestion it might help-have you tried saline drops? I personally don't like to medicate but I have heard of garlic oil or tea tree oil in the ears. I have only had one baby with ear infection and both times I did not know it until his ear drum burst! Then of course he needed anitbiotics.
I think the biggest sign in infants is constantly grabbing/touching their ear while they fuss. She may still be too young to make this connection, though.
A soothing home remedy for ear aches is to put some rice (any variety) into a sock and heat it in the microwave (a short time goes a long way in heating up the rice!) This somehow creates a moist heat that is very soothing for ear aches. I've used this often myself as I had chronic ear infections up until a few years ago, and I've also used it with the kids I nanny and they love it.
If she does have an ear infection and it starts to drain, you might want to see a physician because this can lead to a broken ear drum which is *very* painful.
I hope she feels better soon.
I am unfortunately a near expert with ear infections. I definitely think you need to take her to the doctor. It sounds like this has been going on for a few days, I personally think if it were going to heal on its own, it would have. There are some kids who do get over ear infections on their own, but unfortunately some do not. Both of my kids would become very sick. Of course, I should also say that we are on the extreme side - my 7 year old currently has her 4th set of tubes. :( With the tubes and daily allergy medicine, she is healthy now, though! For now, if she is old enough to take children's ibuprofin, I do recommend that for pain. Also, just keeping her head elevated will help with the pressure. I can't remember if you have tried the nasal saline nose drops, but if she has congestion, those will really help. They are non-medicated, and the kids do not like them, but they do really help them breathe better.
Sheila in CO
The only thing I know about ear infections is that using antibiotics routinely leads to a child who is prone to regular ear infections and quickly becomes "immune" to even the strongest antibiotics.
My mom always had garlic oil capsules on hand. She would pop one, put a few drops of oil in the infected ear, and tuck a bit of cotton ball in to keep from making a mess. It stinks -- boy does it stink! -- but it always, always healed the infection.
Hi,
It is possible that she has an ear infection. The eustachian tubes are very small in an infant and almost parallel to the jawline which make them harder to drain. Trying raising the head of her sleeping area about 4 to 6 inches above the foot.
Another thing that I always have on hand is a wonderful herbal remedy that will stop the pain and get rid of the infection.
I have been treating my children with herbal remedies for almost 25 years now and my 9 year old has had many ear infections but never needed antibiotics (not that I am opposed to them if he needs them).
You can make this yourself or you can purchase a product made by HerbPharm called Mullein Garlic Compound. It is an oil maceration consisting of olive oil, the flowers of St. Johns Wort, Calendula and Mullein along with garlic. This oil is wonderful.
Warm it slightly in your hand (never the oven and NEVER the microwave!!!)or place it in your bra for about 10 minutes. It will relieve the pain almost on contact!
If your local health food store can't get it, I am sure you can order it online.
You can read more about Mullein here on my website....I would be happy to answer any questions you might have. http://tnfarmgirl.christianagrarian.com/?p=84
Blessings,
Cheri
Crystal,
Same here ds never had an ear infection, but dd had several. A few things I learned. The European countries no longer give antibiotics for an ear infection. We still do here depending upon the doctor.
DD first ear infection, I did, but not for the subsequent ones, and she got over them.
My chiropractor said that the same nerves that have to do with teeth also affect the ears. I'm sure she worded this better, but hope you understand. I say this to say if you're worried about an ear infection, it's something you'll probably have to get diagnosed, but don't be surprised if it's maybe just teeth.
My dd had the sign of goopy eyes, which always meant an ear infection for her other than the other signs.
You could always try Hylands Ear Ache Tablets, they'll just dissolve in her mouth and they are homeopathic. I'm not sure of the age on them though. They can be found at local health food store maybe in more places I'd probably check the internet.
We also nurse her with her sitting up more so she could get more drainage down her eustachean tube (sp?). Also massage down from behind her ear down her neck where the tube is.
All this was said in case she was diagnosed with an ear infection. They also have ear oil that you can purchase and put in her ear. This seemed to help a lot too.
We did these things and never got the antibiotic for the subsequent ear infections. Also give her tylenol for pain.
Sorry so long. We are praying for you all, and hope somethng said will help.
Edwena
ear infections are no fun- for Mommy or child. Two home remedies that I'm pretty sure work- a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water. put a few drops in the ear. the temp of the solution should be close to body temp. Apparantly the vinegar offsets the ph so bacteria cannot grow in the ear. A friend who used to be amissionary in Africa used that with her kids. The other method a friend of mine once tried was (sounds strange..but) breast milk. Express some and put it into the ear. I to have heard garlic oil and tea tree oil- whick should be diluted 1st for ears. Good luck.
A hot shower snuggled up against me has always soothed a little one with an ear infection.
As for having one ... I don't know. Usually they don't get one until after the cold. It seems rare that they get one at the start of a cold or before one, but every child is different. Ear infections seem to come on as a secondary infection for a little one who has had a cold.
So, I would consider giving my little one some infant pain meds at night to sleep well and wait it out to see what happens.
Telltale signs ... almost impossible to know in a baby. But they do tend to get worse at night. And they can be relieved by a moist compress a little and raising the end of the crib so their head is up (if she stays in one spot at night).
If she is purely miserable (screaming and so sad) then take her in to get her checked. Or if mommy just wants to rule it out (been known to do that many a time).
I know there are homeopathic remedies which I have considered by never tried. I almost always waited out the infection and then got antibiotics if it seemed hard to kick. So medicine has been rare here ... but not something we completely avoid.
brooke
I wouldn't do this for a baby younger than 3 months, but you can put garlic oil (a drop or two) in the ear I've heard, and personally I've had a lot of success with tea tree oil diffused into olive oil. You add 5-10 drops per teaspoon of olive oil, then use a cotton swab to swab behind the ear, in the outer part of the opening, and allow a drop to drip into the ear. Works like a charm for us every time.
Be careful of positioning while you nurse her, she needs to be as upright as possible, with her face pointed downward slightly and not upward, to drain the tubes. It's possible it's not an infection per se but clogged tubes. She is way too little to have anything that would help dry her up (like sudafed), but you can try vicks on a cloth near her.
Garlic is a great immune booster for you as well. HTH!
My aunt, who is a nurse, recommends putting course salt in a microwave for a few minutes, and then putting it in a sock. Apply the sock to the ear (make sure it isn't hot enough to burn), and it will help draw fluids out of the ear. If you're still not sure, you can always call her pediatrician and describe the symptoms. They can usually tell if she needs to see a doctor or if these are typical symptoms of teething.
Whatever it is, I hope you find a solution soon!
Several of my children have had trouble with ear infections. We have 2 simple remedies.
crush a clove of garlic & put it in a Tbs or so of olive oil. heat in microwave for a minute or so. leave it set a few minutes, then strain the garlic, saving the oil. now, this stinks, so if you have some essential oil of cinnamon or clove, add a few drops to help cover the garlic - this step is for momma, more than baby, although the essential oils do have antimicrobial properties & clove oil will really help numb the pain.
when the oil is slightly warmer than body temp, put a dab in your ear & make sure your mix isn't too strong - if it 'burns' add more olive oil. once your oil is 'right', use a q-tip and put in K's ear - even rub some along her jaw & her lymph nodes. put some on the soles of her feet. rub some on her chest & back (see why the cin or cloves would be nice?)
do this a few times a day.
also - a low blowdryer set at warm is very soothing to little ears & helps to dry out any moisture. just take a wet washcloth & protect her skin with it, so that she is only feeling the heat IN her ear & not ON it, or on her sweet face. keep the blowdyer moving & if it seems too hot, just go back and forth beween cool & warm so the temp feels good. We haven't used an antibiotic in many years using these two remedies.
i hope this made sense, email me if you need clarification.....
i have had friends find my remedies odd, but when they've finally tried them (sometimes YEARS after I first suggested trying...) they have been SHOCKED to find 'they really do work!!'
if you don't do the garlic oil - please at least try the blowdryer a few times a day......
Blessings ~
Tracy in AR
Our daughter has had several ear infections that started when she was teething. (She was our foster child at the time so we went right to the doctor--we had to do that.) After the doctor's remedies, I always put a rolled up blanket under the crib mattress when I'd lay her down to elevate her head. That seemed to help her sleep.
Ear infections can cause hearing loss if they go untreated. My MIL learned that with DH when he was little and he has lived with hearing loss because of it.
Blessings--
Dana
The oil treatments do help tremendously. I would usually take a wet rag and warm it up, then hold it against the affected ear as well.
Beyond that, treating the pain is really the only other thing to do. As the others have pointed out, antibiotics usually do nothing because ear infections are usually viral, not bacterial, in nature.
Best of luck - isn't it miserable to see our little ones hurting? >hugs<
I presently have an ear infection so I'm grateful for your post and all the interesting suggestions. I think I'll go home and try the blowdryer idea right away! Thanks!
I think it could definitley be an ear infection. Some kids are more prone to them than others. My son never got them, but my daughter does. Put your finger in ear ear - just a little- and if she cries, it is an ear infection. She'll also cry when you pull a shirt over her head. An antibiotic makes it go away very soon though (symptoms gone in 24 - 36 hrs.).
-Kara
Hi Crystal,
Before you try putting anything in baby's ears, please get them checked. If she does have an infection and the eardrum did rupture, even slightly, NOTHING should be put in her ear without a doctor's consent. The eardrum, aside from hearing function, serves as protection for the delicate inner ear. Also, with teething, cold or tylenol generally offer some relief. The fussing isn't usually constant. That was always my first clue with my four girls. My prayers are with you.
Sorah
Crystal, Unfortunately I (like your commenter Sheila) know a whole lot about ear infections. In fact, we just took my son for a consult for tubes yesterday...
The tell-tale signs in him are:
Goopy eyes (mucus-looking, although this is a late sign), rectal temps above 101, poor eating, poor sleeping, fussiness, rubbing eyes and ears a lot.
I'm embarrassed to say that it took me a long time to learn these signs in him...but now that I know them, we make a dr's appointment asap!
On a side note, I realize that lots of mothers, Christian and non-Christian are very "anti-antibiotic." And I certainly agree that antibiotics are prescribed too often in some cases. However, a mama MUST use her own discretion for her individual child. There are times when vinegar, oils, heat, etc just will NOT cure a bacterial infection. If a bacterial ear infection is left untreated, it can be dangerous - and it is up to a doctor and otoscope to determine that! My point is to just be aware that all ear infections and treatments are not the same for all children.
Praying today has been better for your family!
-Lauren in NC
A trick we use to test for infection in the ear is to place your finger covering the hole entering the ear wiggle it back and forth. Be somewhat firm but not rough. If your baby cries or pulls away, it suggests that there is pain in the ear and probably an infection. It has worked on every child we've ever tried it on with accuracy accept my dd whose infections become so severe so fast that her ear goes numb from the swelling so she doesn't react. It's a really simple tip but it seems not many people know it. I don't like causing my kiddos discomfort but it's saved us many trips to the doctor when it was just a cold and helped us a few times when it was an infection.
I'm not sure if this would work for a 6 month old baby, but when our son had an ear and throat infection, the doctor recommended for him to take children's advil. It was a while ago now, but I think he said to give him advil for a day or two: according to the dosage recommendation for his age. Advil helps to reduce the swelling, which in turn allows the ears to drain like they should. We too prefer to avoid antibiotics and advil worked really well for us.
To build up an immunity to antibiotics, I think the child would have to be using them a lot. We rarely even use pain killers like advil - usually only for fevers - so for us they work well.
I would talk to a doctor first though. Could you call your family doctor? Ours will take questions and have his nurse call us back with the information. Sometimes it takes a few hours before we get an answer, but it saves having to a take trip across town.
Antibiotics are useful in treating a bacterial ear infection, but useless against a viral. The most common difference between the two is duration. A viral ear infection will run it's course in a couple of days. A bacterial ear infection will get progressively worse and may eventually rupture the eardrum. It sounds scary but it actually offers pain relief, the pain of an ear infection is due to the pressure on the eardrum. Do not put anything in her ear without getting it checked first. If it has ruptured you may cause inner ear damage. The ear drum also serves to protect the inner ear. I suspect she may have a bacterial ear infection, so ask for some numbing drops along with the antibiotics. You will have a different child tomorrow!!!
Crystal,
I'm so sorry you and Kaitlynn are going thru this! I'll be praying. Her symptoms are classic of an ear infection in my humble mom of 8 kids opinion! LOL! Mine never wanted to lay down when they had an ear infection. I usually walked the floor or slept upright in the recliner until I could take them into the doctor in the morning. Hope she gets to feeling better soon!
Keli
I second the suggestions for garlic oil in the ear. It works wonders. Something else you can do that will boost her immune system over all and help with the other symptoms is to rub fresh crushed garlic onto her feet and put some socks on her. You can do this several times a day. The garlic oil will be absorbed through the soles of her feet and works very well. Stinky, but a much better alternative than antibiotics which studies have shown only help in a small minority of ear infections.
Ashley
any warm body temp oil is going to apply counterpressure to an inflamed eardrum and soothe it. i also use breastmilk. it's the right temp and easy to get. it can get a little messy though :)
our chiropractor tells us to gently pull on their ears, down and out in a very gentle manner. you can try it on yourself first and feel the directions that seem to drain your own healthy ears a bit then try that on her. it helps drain the fluid. if her eyes start getting gooey, again, breastmilk is the most soothing and healing thing you can use.
I would definitely take her to the doctor to get her checked out. My oldest had constant ear infections, 3 surgerys and still at 27 has a hearing loss because of it. She sounds like its more than just teething to me.
Hi Crystal! Here's the lowdown from my mom, who's a pediatric nurse practitioner (and raised 8 kids):
If she's waking at night and fussing more than usual but not screaming in pain, she may just be teething. Can you see into her ear canal at all? If you can, shine a flashlight on her ear and look (my mom keeps an actual earlight around). Usually the canal should be a soft pink like the inside of a seashell (regardless of the baby's race). With teething (which puts pressure on the hollow parts of the jaw and the ears) or a mild infection, the canal will be an angrier pink or "hot pink", which may be aggravated if she's rubbing the ear to relieve the pressure. With a full blown ear infection the canal will look "like raw meat".
If she's screaming in pain or her ear canal is red, head to the doctor right away. If it's not that bad, try nursing her more often as this will help to relieve pressure (whether from a mild infection or teething) and is comforting. You can also give her a frozen wet rag or washcloth to suck on if she'll accept it.
Don't use drops in a baby's ears unless you know that the infection is in the ear canal- most infections are behind the eardrum and drops & solutions don't help and may irritate her ears further. A warm compress is a good idea though if it seems to help. Pouring a solution into the ear is good for "external" ear infections (like swimmer's ear), but these are uncommon in babies.
Hope that helps a bit! :)
My youngest son had several ear infections in a row. Alot of our doctors here will not give antibiotics unless they are really needed. Sad to say, in his case they were really needed, but the infection kept coming back. Finally a friend who was a chriopractor showed me a little massage that helps the ears to drain properly when they start to get clogged. It is a little hard to describe, but if you are interested, email me and I will try. He has not had one since.
They also gave me something they sometimes will just give you without prescription which is drops that help with the pain.
Anyhow, constant crying, painful cries especially when trying to lay them flat, (my son ended up sleeping in his swing alot because of it) and pulling on the ears. I think sometimes it can be related to teething as the ears are not draining as well and the body is more open to infections in that time.
Also, I am careful what you put into an ear without having it checked as my sister had her eardrum burst when she was 1 and you can damage a eardrum with things if there is a problem.
This sounds just like my son...who happens to be 9 months. We finally went to the doctor and it was his first ear infection...and a double one at that!
I third the garlic oil. It is very soothing and usually knocks out an ear problem in two days. Out of 5 kiddos, we've only made one visit to the dr. for an ear infection. I've also read that a few drops of breast milk in the ear every few hours works wonders.
http://amyswandering.wordpress.com/
We've had a handful of ear infections here, but my kids seemed to outgrow them after they turned a 1-2 yrs old. I always gave them Tylenol or Motrin for the pain. I've had one ear infection since I've been an adult, and they HURT! I would take her to the doctor and find out it she has one. Also, I don't think anything is wrong with using antibiotics as long as it's just occasionally. I've also tried Similac ear drops for pain. They seemed to help some. I think it's all natural. You can buy it any drug store.
Crystal-
Now that you mentioned the congestion I believe that you should go to the doctor. She may not have an ear infection but could have an ENT infection. What happens is the sinus drainage drains and collects behind the ear drum which puts pressure against the tubes and the ear drum causing severe pain. I know this because I suffer from it and so does my youngest. You may not need antibiotics but maybe they will prescribe some cold medicien with an anihistime that will dry that drainage up. It does hurt because when I get them, they literally bring tears to my eyes and I am 32. So my heart really goes out to the littlest ones... Home remedys are always good and I know the weather is bad up there, but I would let a DR diagnose and then maybe see what home remedies you can do for the diagnosis.
Well, three out of my four kids have all had ear problems to one degree or another (one quite serious). Any baby that gets up that often in the night should definitely be seen to at least rule out something besides teething (probably ear infection). Just MHO!
Melanie B.
Oh, and as I read some of the comments posted here, I would recommend seeing a dr., even if you decide to try "natural" remedies. Ear infections can become quite serious and can cause hearing loss rather quickly.
Michael had hearing loss by the age of 8 months because of repeated ear infections. He got ear tubes about that age (best thing we ever did - I know there is some controversy) and has been almost totally without ear infections since (and has normal hearing and speech). However, even now he will still get one about every 18 months or so. And yes, we still visit the dr. for them. This is just our personal experience.
Melanie B.
one way I used to know for sure if my children were teething was to check the diaper area. My children were just breast feed also, but always developed a rash and a strong smell to their bowel movemnets when teething. Whne they had an ear infection they had no diaper rash, just the fussyness and cold symptoms. Hope this helps.
Char in NC
Sounds like an ear infection. I did the same thing a few months ago. The nurse told me that his fever was higher than a low-grade teething fever (it was averaging 101-102). Another sign that it was an ear infection was that he rested comfortably on my shoulder. Teethers aren't usually comforted by resting in certain positions. I hope she is feeling better soon!
My daughter just got over an ear infection. She was constantly tugging and pulling on her ears. They were a little red inside, too. I purchased some drops from CVS (I'm sure you could've guessed that!). It didn't take too long before she was doing better. I'll keep her in my prayers, and you, too.
Most of my children had bad ear infections every time they started to cut another tooth on the top. The pediatrician seemed to indicate this was common.
With one of my children, who is now 13, chiropractic care seems to help the best in prevention and treatment, but with a baby, I would take her to the pediatrician for advice.
This sounds like the time my son had an ear infection. It was above and beyond the normal teething symptoms, like you described. He's the only one of my three who ever had an ear infection (that I know of, at least) and the symptoms that convinced me were him getting up every 30-45 minutes in the night and then he went on a nursing strike (because the pressure that nursing creates hurt his ears too much). So I took him in and sure enough, he had an ear infection. And that was the only one any of my exclusively breastfed babies had.
Hope she is feeling better soon!
As a mother of an 8-month old who is also teething (six at one time!) and nursing this has been a very helpful set of comments for me as well, thank you!
Luckily, we haven't had an ear infection yet, but I wanted to encourage you to continue taking probiotics fr your little one. My mother's doctor (my mom has MS and is treating it homeopathically) recommended I begin taking them when I was pregnant and (after researching them!) I began at around 3 months pregnant and have been taking them religiously ever since. Throughout my pregnancy I never once got a yeast infection (and I'm prone to them) nor have I still, we've never had a problem with thrush and he's never been colicky. He's also been incredibly alert since birth with strong neck muscles at birth and, so far, no problems gastronomically nor allergies that we've been able to discern. The only time he was colicky (twice) it was after I'd been away for a few days traveling and had forgotten my probiotics at home and hadn't taken them for three or four days. Once I started them again the colic syndromes were gone within a day or two.
I use the Jarro brand of probiotics (www.jarrow.com) that you keep in the fridge (The yellow bottle - I took two a day while pregnant and three a day since he's been born) and my mom recently found some shelf stable probiotics (also from Jarro) that I'm going to keep on hand for traveling from now on! Jarro also has a baby variety which I'll definitely include in my little guys' diet when we are no longer nursing and he can't get them from me.
Obviously, I am a probiotic promoter!
Unfortunately, I don't have any further information about ear infections, but the comments section here has definitely given some great advice and I will be praying for you! It sounds like you are doing the right things!!
God Bless,
Sarah
I recommend seeing the doctor. Your little girl is in pain, and it's really hard to watch that. You also don't want to mess with her hearing if she does have an infection. Your doc can tell you if she has an ear infection, or give you peace of mind that she doesn't. If you really don't want to use an antibiotic, ask your doc if it's necessary or if there's a natural alternative he recommends.
- Julie
I can't add too much more. The garlic oil does work. And so does the rice in a sock warmed up. You may want to try something called Unkers salve(similar to Vicks) Put it on her feet and behind the ears. I get it at an Amish/mennonite store in Pennsylvania- if you can't find it vicks will work too. A drop of hydrogen peroxide in the ear also helps, but may be bothersome to a baby-it fizzes for a while.
Sounds like my Kaitlin. Ear infections are caused by drainage getting trapped in the ear. Since some babies get runny noses and drool when they are teething, ear infections can occur. My Kaitlin had 2 ear infections, and only when she was teething. She would get a fever, hardly nursed or cried after nursing, and was not her sweet self. I would take her in to your Dr. asap. We will be praying for her, and you (I'm sure your exhausted)
Amanda Ledferd
Yes, I would agree on getting her checked out. My youngest dd, our third, we thought was teething...no other signs aside from general fussiness. We let it go on a few days, and then suddenly on the weekend she was running 104.5 degree temps. Turned out it was a double ear infection all along...she DID get teeth, about a week later.
Cathy
I vote for going to the DR. My daughter is big proponent of trying the natural, rice bag, warmth, and oil in the ear thing...but 9 out of 10 times, she's ended up taking a little one to the dr.
a little one with an ear infection is a bummer!
My son had an ear infection a few months ago and it was the first time I dealt with one too. He wasn't batting his ears and he didn't have a temperature, but he had had a cold for a few days and every time I laid him down to sleep he cried out in pain. His cold had drained into his ears and the fluid hurts when lying flat. This often happens after a cold, according to my doctor. I tried homeopathic "earache tablets", garlic oil and herbs, but honestly I think it's important to give your baby ibprofen when they have an ear infection, because it hurts more than we know. You can give her antibiotics, which is all your doctor will prescribe, but I know two doctors who are married and only give their children pain reliever when they get ear infections because ear infections do heal themselves. I would take her to the doctor to get diagnosed and definitely give pain releiver, if not antibiotic. Once you give her something to help the pain, you and she should be sleeping much better at night! Ear infections hurt SO BADLY, especially for little babies. They can definitely be miserable for us moms!
Since this has been ongoing, I would definately suggest taking Kaitlynn to the doctor. It sounds like she is in alot of pain. At least then you would know whether it was an ear infection, which is terribly painful for an infant to have. Poor thing! :( Hope she (and momma!) can get some relief.
Hey Crystal,
Prayers for Kaitlynn. Grace was EBF'd (and we're extended BF'rs now, she's almost 17 months) and only had one year infection; however, my hubby was BF'd and had a ton...just how his ears drained. All of her symptoms could indicate an ear infection. Grace had a double ear infection about a month ago and I would've had no idea other than her fever and cold (very congested with a cough, which was unlike her...that was her first "illness"). She never tugged at her ears or anything. Amoxicillin for 10 days cleared it up.
I'd also suggest some star anise put into a pot of boiling water (place the pot wherever Kaitlynn is hanging out or sleeping...we're co-sleepers, and this method totally cleared up my congestion, too!). It does help with congestion and is natural. Other than that, I've given Grace the YoBaby organic yogurt (with live cultures, though they all have live cultures in them...don't let packaging and ads fool you!) every day since she was about seven months old (she had some yeast issues back then). I do credit yogurt's cultures somewhat with her good health - though I don't know if they'd totally affect/influence a cold or not.
Other than that, keep on nursing as much as possible and give your little gal a hug from us! :o) Let us know if you go to the doc and what they say about her ears!
~ Kelly
Honestly Kaitlynn's symptoms sounds more like an ear infection than teething, or perhaps she is going through BOTH things at the same time. Either way, I really urge you to seek some medical help. With symptoms like this they can often squeeze you in the same day for an impromptu appointment. You could also ask to speak to the doctor's nurse. That's what I did when my son had the flu, and the nurse was SO helpful and encouraging. That's what they are there for!
Crystal,
I think it might be best for you to bring her to her pediatrician just to make sure you aren't dealing with several issues. I'm a believer in self-treatment at the early stages but if something progresses or lasts for awhile I always think it's better to go to the doctor.
I didn't see that anyone mentioned this, but just to be aware of (not that this is Kaitlyn) - when I was a child I had constant ear infections and to this day one of my ears is scarred. I was intolerant to dairy from when I was born and yet no one ever properly diagnosed me until I was over 40. Most people seem to think ear infections are just that, and don't think beyond to allergies. Also, not every child grows out of such allergies, which is what most people think too.
If it is an ear infection and she does have continuous problems, I would have it checked out. I was also a very colicky baby & dairy later on in life caused me more issues. The only way one can truly find out a food allergy is to eliminate it from the diet (which for Kaitlyn would be your diet right now). Any skin or blood testing is not 100% effective for food allergies. Another thing people do not relate to food allergies are problems with the bowels - if one is having problems on either extreme, looking at one's diet is a good place to start. I don't believe things like IBS, etc., today, are just coincidence.
It wouldn't hurt at least to be aware of any changes in Kaitlyn due to your diet since you are nursing. I'm sure it is more simple for her & pray so, but I just wanted to add my info to help.
As a nurse, I think you should definetly not put anything in the ear with out a Dr.'s consent. I agree whole heartedly with the others that stated that in thier comments too.
As a mom, I think you should follow your instinct and take her into the Dr. if things do not seem right to you.
My son was prone to recurring ear infections. Antiboitics did nothing except give him diarrhea. We were going to have tubes put in his ears, but it was going to be very expensive, so we decided to try taking him to a chiropractor. The chiro adjusts him to allow the fluids to drain, and he body to heal naturally. I don't know why it works, but we were able to avoid tubes, and he hasn't had an ear infection since!
watch to see if she's pulling at her ears, and for the teething, have you tried teething tablets? They really worked on my daughter.
I would have her checked out.Ear infections can happend while teething and even to breast fed babies.I nursed both of mine for well over a year and they both had numerous ear infections.
I understand from the recent news that most of the time antbiotics aren't even given for ear infections and since I am not a doctor Kaitlynn could even have something else.Hope she feels better.
I haven't read the other comments, so I don't know if this has been suggested.
We saute a little fresh minced garlic in olive oil. While it is still warm (not hot) put a couple of drops in each ear.
Garlic has amazing healing properties.
My first child had chronic ear infections. (The other three children were never bothered by them.) Her symptoms included a fever and sometimes tugging on the ear. However, it was not always apparent to me that it was definitely the ears; the doctor said our daughter must have had a high pain threshold, as she would be fussy and feverish for a prolonged enough amount of time that I would take her in, but I wouldn't always realize the problem was the ears. My motto became "When in doubt, check it out."
Although I prefer to be conservative in treatment when possible, and there are good reasons to be cautious about the overuse of antibiotics, in my daughter's case taking antibiotics was the *only* thing that would kick the infections and bring her relief. The relief she would have in terms of fever and pain would take place within mere hours of starting the antibiotic. We initially resisted ear tubes (I felt like it was a "craze," like everyone got their tonsils out when I was a child but it's relatively rare now), but when we went to get a second opinion that doctor did a hearing test and it was determined our daughter had a 60% hearing loss in one ear. We went ahead and did the tubes and she did get the hearing back.
Figuring out how to treat the problem is a balancing act that will vary widely from child to child -- depending on the child, the nature of the infection (bacterial vs. viral), whether the problem is chronic, etc. etc.! -- which sure doesn't make it easy on a mom trying to figure it all out!
In the meantime...hopefully it's not an ear infection, but it's best to be certain if she has a prolonged cold and fussiness. Best case scenario, the doctor will be able to reassure you and you can go on your way with less worry. Good luck!
Best wishes,
Laura
Hi Crystal, As mentioned in one of the comments, European countries no longer treat "ear infections" with antibiotics. There is a growing trend for the same here in the USA. My M.D. recently explained that there is a way to determine if there is an actual infection verses redness and pain caused by the congestion and drainage. He looks into the ear with a light while blowing air on the ear drum (with some other device) and watches to see the movement of the drum and that determines if its infected. (I can't remember if he was looking for movement or lack of it.) So recently when my son, who was old enough to complain of ear pain, was tested in this way, it was determined that it was NOT infected, just red and painful from the drainage. The doctor did prescribe the gel ear drops and advised tylenol. I now keep the ear drops on hand for this particular son who has asthma and much congestion this time of year. I tell you all of this because like you I have not had much experience with ear infections even though I have 5 children but I do know that often parents want an antibiotic because its what they are conditioned to believe is NECESSARY for ear pain and redness when in fact it will only help if its a true bacterial infection. (I'm in no way putting down those mommies of the precious ones who have true cronic conditions -infections, tubes, surgeries, etc.
Sorry to be long winded...I hope your sweet one is better soon. It does sound like more than teething to me and it doesn't hurt to get a doctor's evaluation. God bless you!
i just am reading this and dont know when you posted it but seriously this morning when you mentioned her fussiness, I too thought she may have an infection.
Esp. the night crying, it hurts when they lay down. I would just have here seen and the antibiotics wont hurt (you are not abusing them) she will be so much happier and pain free soon. I wouldn't drag it out as she has been fussy for some time. just my 2cents... at any rate I will pray she feels better soon! BTW, sometimes ear infections and teeth have lots to do with eachother, don't ask me why. also, my totally nursed son until age 2 had TONS of infections! I found out later it could have been because I nursed him laying down at night (he slept with us) the milk drains funny into the ear canal or something... dont ask where i read that... I have baby brain right now with my sweet 8 week old...
My son had quite a few ear infections as an infant and toddler and ended up with tubes in his ears last year. Normally his symptoms were quite mild, but he often had had cold symptoms and then a low grade fever that didn't go away. A lot of doctors will tell you that htey run a high fever with ear infections but that has not been my experience. I would definitely have her checked out! I too nursed exclusively and can't even imagine how the poor guy would have struggled if I hadn't!
my last child had 5 ear infections by 6mo old. we did antibiotics, shots, garlic oil, etc etc. the infections kept coming. what worked: a simple adjustment from a chiropractor. one adjustment and the baby has been healthy for the last year. good luck!
our pediatrician has said that often what looks like teething is actually an ear infection, and some symptoms that look like an ear infection is actually teething...that being said, I would recommend paying a visit to the doctor to make sure she doesn't have an ear infection and then you'll know for sure.
Good luck!
My daughter has had quite a few ear infections. She never gets a fever, but she does get quite congested and more fussy that is normal for her. I would get her checked out just in case. Hope she feels better soon!
My boys haven't had any ear infections, but Harry's last teething episode was horrible. He woke up crying multiple time at night, had very bloody gums, acidic stools/rash, and a high fever. I think he must have had a cold at the same time because his brother did.
I think you should see a dr. At least give the office a call. I avoid the drs as much as possible, but ear infections are painful.I really would not stick anything in the ear until you know what is going on.
-Zan
Crystal-
I am praying that the Lord will give you and Jesse wisdom with all this advice.
Pray, ask the Lord, and follow your husbands leading!
My little girl had repeated ear infetions and her ear drums burst 3 or 4 times. She is 8 years old now and her hearing is just fine. We choose to use antibiotics with her but personally we wish we wouldn't have. This is just our own journey.
We have two other children and have not given them antibiotics for ear infections. As mentioned in many other comments, garlic oil is a wonderful alternative.
But, my best advice is to pray and follow your husband's leading. God will show you what He wants you to do!
Praying for you!
There seems to be a lot of talk about ear infections healing themselves. Possibly in an older child, but not one as young as your dd. Please take her in and get it checked. Antibiotics will probably be neccessary which will prevent the ear drum from rupturing (I know all to well abou this). Ear infections can and do damage a child's hearing. They are also extremely painful and you do need to give her some pain killer. Good luck and I hope she is better soon.
PS, my kids never ran fevers when teething. All of her symptoms are also symptoms of ear infections, so getting things checked out is the best thing for your dd.
I don't have time to read all the comments here so please forgive me if I am restating what has already been said. I would take her to the doctor and have her checked. It sounds like she might be suffering from ear infections. However, go guarded. Although the American Academy for Pediatrics is promoting less usage of anitbiotics not all doctors are following this guidline. They are continuing to give out anitbiotics when they aren't needed. Approx. 80 percent of all ear infections will clear up on their own. (the probiotics you are taking will definately help her!). If the ears are really really infected then yes you should probably give them to her. But if they are only "pink" (doctors terms for the start of an infection) I would, and have with my own children, put garlic oil drops in her ears frequently. Garlic oil is wonderful (although it doesn't smell so great). It is naturally antimicrobial. And it reduces the swelling so the ears can drain. My son is 4.5 and has never needed antibiotics, nor has his 19 mo. old sister. I attribute a lot of that to the fact that the moment we see signs of runny noses or the like we start garlic drops in the ears. Just my two cents...ok well maybe it was more like a dime!
One of my sons had chronic ear infections. The telltale sign we had was pulling on his ears.
It is not uncommon for children- especially when teething- to have ear infections secondary to the increased fluid and poorly position euschatian tubes.
Get it checked. An ear infection untreated can lead to bigger problems.
Hi Crystal,
Ear infections can be tricky to diagnose as children can have different signs and symptoms.
My 1st daughter had an ear infection with every single tooth. How did I know? 103+ fevers and endless nights of no sleep. It became routine with every tooth getting ready to burst through.
My 1st son had constant ear infections from 3 wks on when he caught a cold from a sick relative at Thanksgiving. How did I know? He got fussy. No fever. No sick indications. He just wasn't his happy self. But, when we checked his ears, they would be rip-roaring red. We didn't get rid of those ear infections with him until he was 3 yo and a pediatrician put him on low dose amoxicillin for 3 months to allow the fluid in his ears to have a chance to dry up without reinfection.
I don't like to us antibiotics unless absolutely necessary. And some ear infections will clear up quickly without any intervention. But, imho, there is a time and a place to use them. Severe ear infections are very painful. Burst eardrums even more so.
If she were my child, I would have her ears checked. They can tell you if her ears are pink and borderline or red and bulging or ready to burst. They can also test to see how much pressure is behind the eardrum if they have the correct tool.
just my 2 cents,
Laralee
http://PlymouthRockRanch.com
Recording the Faithfulness and Provision of God for Future Generations
You could try putting onion juice in her ears with cotton. It will help make her ear stop hurting and will heal the infections too. I hope that will work for her and that she will feel better soon.
It may be an ear infection. My daughter used to constantly have an ear infection. She was on antibiotics constantly-and they didn't help! It caused her eardrum to burst. The signs I noticed (even before the fever) was that she had a constant need to be held in my arms. She constantly wanted to be nursed, but only did so for a short time because the sucking creates a vacuum, builds pressure and causes more pain.
Forgive me if this is not new to you, but, as a nursing mother, when I eliminated all dairy from my diet, my daughter's ear infections stopped. Maybe you could try this for a week and see if she improves.
I'm a little late getting in on this one, and didn't have time to read all of the previous comments. I have a 4 month old voracious teether at the moment, so I can definitely relate. I was worried about her ears too, but took her in for her 4 month checkup, and her ears were clear. All this to say, here are 2 things we have used in our family (we have 3 girls) that have helped w/teething & ear infections. First, I can't say enough about the Hyland's products. They are natural products, and we have personally used the teething & colic tablets with great results. The second product I can recommend was actually used by my pediatrician when I would take the girls in to check their ears. It's called an Ear Check monitor and I got it at drugstore.com for around $40. He would use it everytime and it checks for the presence of fluid in the ears. It was good to get in the habit of using it, and I basically got the same results he would so knew when it was serious enough to warrant a visit to him. It also helped in the middle of the night to know if I should give them ear drops or something to help comfort them until we could get to the Dr. Hope this helps!
Both my boys had quite a few ear infections, both with and without teething. They both endup with tubes....for me a better option than constantly being on antibiotics. That being said both boys had many ear infections that I didn't 'treat' with antibiotics but let them run there course so to speak....however a high temperature for a couple of days sent me to the Doctor to have it checked and more often then not a course of antibiotics.
Wow, you have gotten a lot of comments on this one!
I never had an ear infection with Elena, but I have had one, which I did cure with garlic oil and hot rice packs. It did work for me. :-)
But I do think it's good to make sure that your ear drum hasn't ruptured before you try anything.
As far as any of the other remedies suggested, I would do some research and try it on yourself first! (just to make sure it isn't uncomfortable).
God Bless! I hope you are all doing better soon.
My son has never had an ear infection, but I've heard that garlic works wonders. Place a few cloves of garlic in cheese cloth/washcloth and pour boiling water over it and let it sit for about 2 min. Let it cool down a bit because you don't want to burn her and then just hold the cloth up the ear. If it's a bacterial infection the garlic will supposedly draw the bacteria out. you could search online for more information about it.
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