Ear Pulling

I would tend to agree baby may be teething. I've also had very good experience with chiropractic adjustment correcting ear infections in my kids. If he does have an infection, use warm garlic drops in his ears. slightly crush a garlic clove and put in a small (1/4) cup of olive oil. Warm this on the stove top(don't boil). Strain the garlic out and put a few drops of comfortably warm oil in his ear, about three times a day. this works well for any age.

Tiffany, I would really recommend a chiropractic adjustment. Even if it is an ear infection this can be cleared up by a chiropractor. It could just be a misalignment of the neck and pinching a nerve that is going to his ear. After I learned of chiropractic care my children were never on an antibiotic for an ear infection. We would get him/her adjusted and it would clear up on its own.

Ear pulling can be so non specific. I read that babies will pull at their ears to indicate something hurts or just to pull on their ear. On the other hand...my daughter had an ear infection every 2 weeks for 6 months and I never recall her pulling on her ears. However, with the other symptoms you are probably right that something is up. Could it be teething? Could it be a growth spurt? It is hard to tell. Just keep trying to solve the puzzle.

This happened to my nephew. when he started puling on his ear, he had a deep inner ear infection. Take your child to a good ENT. Hope this helps.

If the doctor said that it was not an infection he could have fluid on his ear that is bothering him. If he is old enough (like 6 months) you could give him some decongestion med. to help clear up the fluid. I would keep an eye on him just to make sure that it does not get infected. It also could just be he is teething. It may help with the jaw pain. If it is teething there is these little teething tablets that you can give him for the teething that work great! They are called "Teething Tablets" I believe (they are found at the pharmacy). Or you can just rub some baby Tylenol on them, this also helps.

I would take him to a Chiropractor and have his upper neck adjusted. Studies show that reduced nerve supply due to misalignment can cause ear pain.

I would think teething...the nerves in the gums (particularly on the lower jaw area) run up into the jaw bone/ear area and can really hurt. There could be fluid behind the ear, or he could just be a bit stopped up...try running a humidifier and giving some tylenol...

Hi Tiffany,

if your baby is still tuggint and patting at his ear, i would consider going to see an ENT. Sometimes the pediatricians cant see that great into babies ears. I know this from experience with my son who has had 3 sets of tubes. It never hurts to have an established relationship with an ENT just in case.

If the baby is teething---motrin always worked for us and the teething swabs are great!! my sister in law loves the teething tablets. it is worth a shot!!

Good Luck!!

If it IS an ear infection, it would probably be worse at night and/or when lying down, and not as bad when more upright. If that's the case, go back or get a second opinion. Also, chiropractic adjustments can greatly help with ear infections if you want to forego antibiotics. There are also some wonderful homeopathic ear remedies - check your local heath food store or Whole Foods Market. All this is from plenty of experience with my OWN ear infections.
Another strong possibility is teething. Teething can certainly cause these symptoms. Hyland's Teething Tablets are amazing, and you can find them at Walmart or many health food stores, or Whole Foods Market. They really work, and are completely safe with no side effects.
Also, just an aside, I would stear away from the Prevnar vaccine - that's the one my youngest had some severe reactions to.
Hope this helps,
T. - mom of 4 wonderful children

My baby always pulled on his ears when he was teething. I think the jaw pain is referred...

He's teething! Fill some pacifiers with cooled boiled water and stick them in the freezer. Chewing on them will make him feel better. It might take a few tries till he sees the benefit, but don't force anything.

My Daughter used to pull on her ears teething.
She didn't get ear infections till we went to Mother's Day Out...
Until she was able to tell me her "eeer huats" If she was messing with them I'd gently pull on her lobe of the ear being touched, if she had an ear infection, she'd cry b/c even the gentle pressure hurt...
hope this helps.
C.

Have the doctor check for fluid - that can be more painful than an infection. Also, children cannot sleep through the night if they have fluid. (That might be another indicator)

Tiffany, my personal opinion would be to seek a second opinion. I have been a mom for 9 years and that sounds like one to me or the onset of one. Also after this clears up ask about Prevnar, a vaccination against ear infections. My daughter will be 9 on monday and has had this and has only had 4 ear infections in 9 years.

Tiffany, get a 2nd opinion! Sounds like an ear infection.

God bless you!!

Hey Tiffany, your little one may be teething....but if that's not the case, just to put your mind at ease take him/her to an ear, nose, throat specialist just to be certain....good luck. R.

Your baby may just be teething. All those signs that you listed are related to teething, you are very right to bring them to the doctor though because they are also sign of ear infection. I would just chalk it up to teething if your doctor says no sign of infection. Good Luck

Tiffany,

Is your child an infant? When my son was an infant, he would do similiar things, including poking himself in the eye. It was just poor hand control and learning what limbs do what functions. He would often play with his ears - I think because he could make things sound different. Is your child old enough to begin teething? They can start that very early - months before any teeth begin to show. My son pulled on his ears when he was teething, too.

To this day, when he get really upset, he will put his hands to his ears.

If the Dr says there is no problem, I'm sure its nothing to be overly concerned with.

Be happy and well.

It might be teething pressure or just the fact that he has "found" that ear and is fascinated with it. He'll find other more interesting parts as he grows up. Little boys!! Continue to gently put his hand down on his tummy when you see him doing this. It is probably just a habit that will disappear.

AS so many have said before he could be teething but then again ear infections can come on so very quickly. YOu could have had him in to see your pediatrician yesterday and things changed over night.I would just wait a couple of days and if he is still the same take him back. Good luck

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Hi Tiffany,
My daughter just turned a year old. She pulls on her ears and pats at them when she is tired. Also she is teething and she does it then. I would try teething tablets for her teething. They are all natural. It helps my daughter. My daughter goes through stages of not wanting to eat and not sleeping well. Her pediatrician says it could be because of teething. Keeping your child upright helps so the pain doesn't go to the ears and head. I hope some of this helps.

S. Gladwell
Helping moms work from home
http://www.always4myfamily.com

If the pediatrician has said there is no ear infection, he could be teething. Sometimes they actually have referred pain from their teeth to their ears. Try some infant tylenol or the homeopathic teething tablets, and see if that makes a difference.