From the article: How Are Ear Infections Treated?
Earache's can be difficult for small children. Combined with the fact that they are fussy and in pain, small children can't always communicate. This can leave you trying to guess why your child is so fussy. Some children get ear infections often, and as hard as it is, their parents become pros when it comes to earaches. Tell us what works for your child. Relieving a Child's Pain
Rocking and moving
- If the pain is so bad that your child is in misery, then it's time to go to the doctor. But I found that gently rocking my child in the rocking chair, or holding him and dancing around the room slowly, often seemed to help. And if all else fails, I put him in the carseat and go for a drive. If he's been uncomfortable and fussing for a while, he usually falls right asleep.
- —Guest Susan
Tylenol and prevention
- Tylenol can work great for pain, including an earache from infection. If you can give the Tylenol at the first sign of pain, it is even more effective. If the earaches happen often, it's best to prevent them entirely. I've seen great results from ear tubes, which helps to reduce the use of antibiotics, the pain, and the possible hearing damage that chronic ear infections can cause.
- —Guest Anne W.
Chronic Ear Infections
- My 8 month old baby has Down syndrome and gets very frequent ear infections because his ear canals are so small. He deals with them really well, but does get fussy occasionally. I always try to remember to give him Tylenol or Motrin to help with the pain (it's so easy to focus on getting those antibiotics and forget that they don't actually help with pain!). I also try to elevate the head of his bed because laying down flat increases the pressure and often makes the pain worse. He will be getting tubes in his ears in the next few months, so hopefully that will help cut down on the number of ear infections he's getting!
- —Guest Kristi
