Telling the Difference Between Ear Infection and Teething

My daughter got an ear infection almost every time she cut teeth. Her doctor tried to tell me the two were not related, but it was EVERY time. I would take him in, because if it is an ear infection and it goes untreated it can lead to hearing loss. Good luck!

My boys are in high School. They never pulled on their ear with teething. It was ALWAYS an infection if they did that.

God Bless,
L.

I had the same problem with my eight month old last month. I took him in, no ear infection, they just said he had a cold and teething. The extreme crabbiness kept up so I took him back about 7 days later......double ear infections! There is no way to tell the difference yourself, you have to take him in. My son was also pulling on his ears the first time I took him in and he didnt have an ear infection, but its still a sign of ear infection. My advice, take him in. We even had to go through 2 different antibiotics before it went away. Good luck!

Good Morning K., a lot of the time when teething it effects the ears, not necessarily infections just discomfort. A little infant Tylenol or baby Motrin will help. There's a lot of pressure that builds up in their little gums & jaws, and they are really close to those precious ears. Your Miracle Prince should be ok, but if he does run a temp, or it gets red then do call your Pedi.

God Bless you and your Little Prince
K. Nana of 5

Hi Karen,

All children are different and until you get to know how your little guy responds it will be difficult.

My little Granddaughter never pulled at her ears or cried, but every time she had an ear infection she would not suck on her bottle. My three kids on the other hand always pulled the ears and cried.

Follow your instincts and if you feel the need to have the Dr. check it out go for it! You won't be the first mommy that brings the little one in when they are not sure, and you won't be the last. That is what you have a Dr. for! This is obviously a worry to you so put your mind at ease and take him in, it's always better safe then sorry!

Good luck and congratulations - we have that miracle Grand child so I know how happy he has made you!

N.

Take him in anyway just to be sure. Both issues have many of the same symptoms so you really can't tell the difference without an ear-scope-thingy, and if there is an ear infection it is better to catch it sooner rather than later. My son had an ear infection and his ears were not hot or particularly red (except when he was pulling on them), he was just fussy and putting his hand to his ear. I took him in and was so glad I did! That is what the doctors are there for! To help us mommies (even those of us that started families well into our thirties!) and ease our fears! Blessings to you both!

If tylenol does not work and he's still pulling, I would take him to the doctor. I do not remember my daughter pulling on her ear with any tetthing but does with ear infections. As I always say 'better safe than sorry'.

Since he was born 10.5 weeks early I'm surprised he's cutting his teeth already. My preemie cut his around 8-9 mo. old. Since he is leaning his head over I personally would take him in to the doctor. I had kids have no symptoms even and they had an ear infection and since he's your first and so young you don't know his signals yet and it would be wise to check it out. Doctor's understand although it does cost to go and yet you won't be doing this every time in the future probably.
I'm happy you were able to have this little guy. What a blessing.

coming from a mom of an ear-infection kid (he's 2 1/2 now and we just finished our 4th round of antibiotics for ear infections in the last 3 months.) i'll tell you there's really no way to tell if it's teething or an ear infection, unless you've been through it a few times. my son does NOT show that he's sick. the first time we caught an ear infection in him, he just had a slightly runny nose. he woke up from a nap one day, and just would not stop crying. not knowing what else to do i took him to the walgreen's clinic and lo and behold, he had double ear infections in both ears. he gave NO clue until about an hour before. i have to watch him really closely. thank goodness he's old enough now to (sometimes) be able to tell me what hurts. point being, you have awhile before his 9 month checkup - i might take him in if it was me. but you're the mom so you have to make the call. one of the joys of being a first time mom!

a typical sign of ear infection is pulling and yanking on the ears. I would deffinetly take him to the doc, ear infections are extremely painful.

My son had a double ear infection when he was 2 and didn't show any sign (crabby or pulling ears). The reason I brought him to the doctor was because he had a horrible cough at night. I guess, when he would lay down, the fluid drained and caused the cough. SOOOO thankful I brought him to the Dr.
Another time he had an ear infection, he was VERY sensitive to noise. Covered his ears in the bath when the water was running, when the phone would ring, etc.
I would say, if he seems more uncomfortable when laying down, it's likely an ear infection.
HTH
lb

His crying will sound different with the more intense pain. I want to say maybe higher pitched. With him leaning on that side to me it sounds like one. My daughter who is 10 mos. had one not long ago and that is what she did. She wanted to lay on it. We slept in the chair that night before the night was over I knew it was an ear ache. Usually after the sun goes down then the pain comes back with an ear infection when they can seem fine during the day. Teething can cause ear infections too, so that may have been what brought it on. Most times with teething they are mostly just crabby. Also with your son being born pre-term, he may be more likely to get ear infections, it's a preemie thing. My oldest was born 10 wks early and she had ear infections all the time they told me then (18 years-old) that was likely the cause. They put tubes in her ears 3 times, she still suffers from hearing loss and she was is speech starting at age 4 til 1st grade.