Constant Ear Infections-hurting Baby and Depressing Mommy!

I would see a specialist. Our son had tubes in his ears before he was 2 years old and the infections went away.

We had ear infections all the time. Atibiotics stopped working and they would prescribe stronger ones a day after being off she would be complaiing again. We were referred to an ENT he said she was hearing everything as if she were under water because she had so much fluid in her ears. We did the tubes, short and simple surgery. It was the best thing we could hav done for her. She has not had an ear infection since. The only downfall is now we have to becarefull of getting water in her ears so no underwater exploring without a swimcap or earplugs. The ENT will become your savior once they cure the cause. Good luck!

I know your pain and frustration. We went through 6 months of this with my second daughter. We tried every different antibiotic, some which we found out she was allergic to, and nothing helped. I waited until the weather was nice hoping that fresh air would help, but it did not. So we went with tubes. I'm so happy that we did. It was like getting a new kid. She went from being a total crab to being a smiley, happy baby.
If you want to try diet or another holistic route seek a professional to help you with this, don't just wing it from what you read online, you'll make yourself crazy.

Just try to ignore all "advice" as much as you can! It's a good thing to go to the ENT. My daughter had a ton of ear infections also. She had fluid in her middle ear constantly. Our ENT put tubes in and we have had 2 infections since (in over 2 years)Just tell all the 'helpful people' that you are going to a specialist Saturday and try to change the subject! Good luck and hang in there!

Oh honey, hang in there. luckily your ped has realized their limitations and is sending you to a specialist. I suspect that whatever caused the initial infection simply didn't get cleared up and keeps waxing and waning in severity. It can be really tough playing detective for a baby who can't quite speak up for themselves. I got my own otoscope (thru a pet supply co) and when my kids are cranky, i take a peek in their ears to see if their eardrums are red and shiny (indication there is fluid buildup). Alot of docs aren't prescribing anything these days for ear infections to help reduce resistance to antibiotics. With their ear canals changing they can have lots of trouble with them.

I personally don't see the evil of wheat and dairy for the bulk of the population... alternative medicines may be great last resorts for some when traditional medicine doesn't work, and even though a fever is a natural body response, left untreated, it can get dangerously high. I chose not to treat my daughters fever (only 101 at the time) and within a few hours it shot up to 106 - i put her in dangers way... i treat every fever, every time now... considering it's only a couple times a year, i really don't think my kids are having their livers over taxed... but i could have caused permanent brain damage if we hadn't brought her temp down quickly.

I know it's tough... you have to just trust that people mean well when they give advice, even if it doesn't mesh with your philosophy for raising your child. take the advice you are comfortable with and let the rest go :)

i hope the ENT has a solution for your daughter.. i had bad infections in my left ear as a kid and i had my eardrum burst a couple times (which incidently is quite a relief from the pain) - i have permanent hearing loss now... so you're on the right track...

hang in there momma... it is the worst when you cant help them feel better :(

Don't listen to them, do what you think is best. My son had a constant ear infection he was on 6 antibiotics from Nov-Dec, we were FINALLY refered to an ENT, he/we decided to try a preventative, (lower dose of an antibiotic) for a couple of weeks, if he got one ear infection while on it, we would do tubes, sure enough, not even a week later back in the dr. office with an ear infection. We did the tubes, they were the best decision WE made, he was starting to have hearing problems. I can't even tell you how many days I had to stay home from work because he couldn't be in daycare with a fever unless I went to the dr. and got a note that it was just an ear infection and nothing more, I would cry, because I was afriad I would lose my job, I got repremeded once for too much time off, I had to use all of my vac/sick time to be home with him. It was a mess. He has had 1 ear infection since, the surgery was over a year ago, it was done in less than 15 min. he cried a lot when it was done, and they warned us, because the child is very disoriented from the antistia (sp?) he slept on the way home, woke up at the pharmacy, was running around the house when we go home. Good luck with whatever you decide. If you need more info, please feel free to pm.

Ouch! poor baby! My son had constant ear infections and we finally got tubes in his ears. It's an easy procedure, they fall out later on their own, and he hasn't had an infection since, not even really a bad cold. It just keeps the fluid from building up in there. Your ENT will probably suggest them. Alternate forms of treatment are abundant, and some work for some people and some are complete hooey. Go with your gut and do what you are comfortable with and have time and money for, and not what anyone tells you is "best" or "natural". I would love to avoid antibiotics, but who wants to watch their child suffer, and who can afford to miss that much sleep? And I like chiropractors, but I don't have the time to take my kids in once a week or even once a month, not to mention the $50 copay each time, for each child. Listen to yourself. Good luck!

my daughter just had tubes put in her ears today, she is 23months old and over the last year or so she has had an ear infection a month. when she had the surgery it lasted about 5-10minutes and she came home and was running around like herself all day. in fact she felt better and wasnt so irritable probably because all the fluid was out of her ear. she had so much fluid in her ear and so much pressure built up from the fluid that she was constantly in pain and always on antibiotics.i am so happy that i did it. i would consult with an ent and look into it. she isnt talking but i am hoping that this may help her start talking as her hearing was very poor

I recommend seeing an allergist. It won't hurt to take her off the wheat and dairy for a couple weeks to see if it helps....but it's confusing when everyone is trying to be helpful and it's just making you more confused. I hear you saying you haven't asked for all the different advice, but you did ask for help, and you have a baby on the way, so it's even more stressful. take a deep breath and hopefully the ent will give you good results. It's frustrating when you can't find the solution, believe me I know.

I am going to agree with some of the other moms who were grateful they did the tubes route! My son had ear infections, and like your daughter they just sometimes wouldn't go away, or they would get better and turn right back into one. We went with tubes at 1 yrs old, and honestly it was night and day from the day they were put in! I thought he was a stubborn baby, crabby, etc. The day after tubes I called his name because he was getting into something (normally we had to YELL his name for him to even give us notice) and he turned around and actually started crying. He could HEAR us!

One thing to note, is that during that 1-2 yr range is when they develop their language skills. My older son suffered with ear infections during that time, and his speech still (at 7) isn't as clear as my younger son's.

Also, when they do tubes, they have a hearing test first. My son PASSED the hearing test, but when they did the tubes, they found that he had a LAYER of what would be equated to rubber cement against his ear drums from the infections just collecting and NOT going away. They would not have FOUND that until they did the tubes, and he would have had hearing / language issues with that on there. It was such a blessing.. and it's a "simple" and quick procedure. (Nerve racking because they DO go under, but luckily it's a short time and they are back with you soon).

Hope that helps!

A.,

Try not to fret - I know how difficult it is to endure your child suffering in any way. You will likely get good results with an ENT - they know their stuff.

My son had very frequent ear infections when he was little - and since he was born with no hearing in one ear I had to really 'guard' the health of his good ear.

Just keep doing what you are doing and she will be just fine.

cheers,

W.