can you prevent ear infections in babies?

Answer 1

NINE STEPS TO PREVENTING EAR INFECTIONS
If your child has had several ear infections already, or you simple wish to lower her risk of getting them in the first place, here are some ways to prevent or at least lessen the frequency and severity of ear infections:

1. Breastfeeding. There is no doubt whatsoever in the medical literature that prolonged breastfeeding lowers your child's chances of getting ear infections.

2. Daycare setting. Continuous exposure to other children increases the risk that your child will catch more colds, and consequently more ear infections. Crowded daycare settings are a set up for germ sharing. If possible, switch your child to a small, home daycare setting. This will lower the risk.

3. Control allergies. If you think allergies are contributing to your child's runny nose and, consequently, ear infections,click on allergies to find out more about how to minimize your child's allergies.

4. Feed baby upright. Lying down while bottle-feeding can cause the milk to irritate the Eustachian tube which can contribute to ear infections.

5. Keep the nose clear. When a runny nose and cold start, do your best to keep the nose clear by using steam, saline nose drops, and suctioning. See colds for more info on this.

6. Cigarette smoke. There is strong evidence that smoking irritates baby's nasal passage, which leads to Eustachian tube dysfunction.

7. Echinacea - this is an herb which can safely and effectively boost the immune system. Click here for more information.

8. Chiropractic care - I firmly believe that chiropractic adjustments to the skull and neck can improve middle ear drainage and decrease ear infections.

9. Eat more raw fruits and vegetables - these can greatly boost your child's immune system and help fight off infections. If you have a picky eater, click here to read how Juice Plus can provide this nutrition for your child

Do not get the flu shot to prevent this, that's not proven to prevent ear infections
A flu shot does not protect you or your child from pneumonia, asthma, ear infections, colds, avian flu, SARS or other respiratory infections. A flu shot only offers temporary protection to the three specific strains included in the vaccine each year. If there is a different strain circulating, like there was last year, then a flu shot is virtually useless.

Answer 2

No you can't fully prevent them in babies and young children. Doc says that up until about age 5or 6 that the child will get quite a few of ear infections as it's very common. But just be careful not to overdo it on the antibiotics. The child could start to develop immunity to it if they take it too often.

Answer 3

Ear infections in babies can be caused by bottle feeding with the head too low, or by bath water going into the ear. Ear infections are common in babies, as the Eustachian tube is short and horizontal. Prompt treatment is necessary, as they can lead to perforation of the ear drum and deafness.

Answer 4

No you can't prevent them,because of the Eustachian tube that runs fro the middle ear into the back of the throat is very short in babies,that area is frequently infected.You may be able to lessen the chances,by common sense, like keeping sick symptomatic people away,kids and adults,getting a "flu" shot now,its not to late,flu season is just now gearing up,will take about 7-10 days for it to provide immunity.Pediatricians in my state,recommend them for babies over 6 months.Take care. SW RNP