My 5 month-old keeps getting ear infections. What to do?

Question

The doctor wants to put him on a daily low-dose antibiotic for 2 months! I'm wondering if others have suggestions on how to reduce his risk of infection.

He's exclusively breastmilk-fed, although he gets it in bottles during the day because I work.

No I don't smoke.

He's always held upright for his bottles. His day-care is a center, and it's required by the states for babies to be held when given bottles.

His doctor is a pediatrician, and he did talk about the tubes, but as a "last resort" for if he gets an infection while on the prophylactics (2 month low-dose antibiotic). I'm hoping there's something less invasive I can do to help first, and only do tubes if that doesn't solve the problem.

Answer 1

The majority of ear infections are caused by viruses, which antibiotics are useless against
When antibiotics are repeatedly used for middle ear infection in children, it increases the chances of further infection by 200 - 600%!
Supplementation with a multivitamin-mineral supplement together with cod-liver oil can reduce rates of ear infections in children, according to a clinical trial published in the Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology Repeated courses of antibiotics increases the chances that surgery will ultimately be needed
90% of children get better just as fast whether they take antibiotics or not. There is no significant differences in speed of relief of pain, how quickly temperature returns to normal or how soon ear discharge stops.
Antibiotics have nasty side effects like destroying all the good and bad bacteria from the body and leading to immune suppression, gastrointestinal problems like bloating and diarrhea, and potential allergies.

Answer 2

I'm a nurse, an LPN, I do not have children but I do know that antibiotics can decrease anyones immune system and response to fight off infections. Some babies get recurrent ear infections do to smaller ear canals. I would get a second opinion with another MD. A pediatrician is best, not just a family practice MD. The two month antibiotic idea doesn't sound good to me.

Answer 3

Find a new daycare center. Obviously this one isn't very strict with their sick policy. While ear infections aren't contagious, colds are, and I found that with my older son (who also had recurring ear infections) he'd get a cold, then it was GUARANTEED he'd end up with an ear infection about a week later.

We'd finally had enough, so we took him to an ENT and she said that baby's eustacean tubes are very small and shaped differently from an adults, and that's why they're more likely to get an ear infection than an adult is. A baby's ears also don't drain well, hence the buildup, pus, bacteria, etc. She suggested waiting until the end of cold/flu season (which we did) and he hasn't had one since. He's now 2 1/2, is fine, and apparently has normally developing eustacean tubes. :)

Answer 4

They can put tubes in his ears to drain them, it lowers the cause of infection by draining. If your child has consistent ear infections then that is what they should do. My son got an ear infection almost every month until about a year, so they were about ready to do the tubes until he went a couple of months with out a infection. I would check on the tubes.

Answer 5

whats up, Our 9 365 days previous daughter were given fairly some ear infections from about 6 months until eventually she became about 2 a million/2. I nursed until eventually she became over a 365 days previous, and our pediatrician reported i attempt to circumvent nursing her "section mendacity," and quite, purely feed her sitting up. It did not look to assist. She also oftentimes had what we concept were colds. i'm a stay at homestead mom, and she or he wasn't round different childrens very commonly, so i became puzzled why she would have any such large kind of colds. yet, her adverse little nostril will be so pink and raw and drippy and her top lip became in many cases chapped. i'm no longer positive what made us ultimately figure out that she had seasonal hypersensitive reactions (maximum in all probability our pediatrician got here up with it), yet putting her on a 0.5 of a baby's zyrtec daily became the treatment. no extra "colds." no extra ear infections. After she became 4, we in basic terms about stopped giving her the meds- and she or he's been positive. on occasion, relying on pollen contained in the air, and so on., she'll take one, yet in many cases no longer. i'm no longer positive how previous a baby needs to be for OTC hypersensitive reaction meds- maximum acceptable to invite your well-known practitioner first. i have also heard of many childrens getting tubes of their ears to assist with drainage... fortunately, we did no longer ought to attempt this. solid success!! :)

Answer 6

It probably has nothing to do with his feedings, it probably is becaue his eustacian tube is small, and clogs easily. I had 2 kids like that. Put him on anti biotics, and if that doesn't work, look into getting his ears tubed to at least relieve the pressure and pain. If he was older, you could consider decongestants as well

Answer 7

Keep the baby out of the wind, whether it be outside or inside near a fan. If the baby is outside, put a bonnet or hat on always!

Answer 8

Have you asked your doctor about getting tubes in your babies ears? We tried everything with my boy finally we got tubes in his ears it was like we had a whole different baby after wards. I couldn't believe how happy he was.

Answer 9

you need to find out if he is being given the bottle by propping it while he is in a crib or lying down somewhere. also if you are nursing him make sure that you are sitting up and he is reclining or else the milk or formula will go into his ear canal.

Answer 10

I would try boiling the bottle tops every night after washing them and any pacifiers if used, that should really help. That's awesome your breastfeeding its the best.