It is heartbreaking to see your baby sick. Ear infections and so difficult because you know your baby is in pain. You want so badly to ease the pain and comfort your baby. When my oldest was little we struggled with ear infections quite a bit. She would just scream and scream each time she got one. It truly is sad to see a baby struggle. So, we found some ways to comfort her during these times and bring much needed relief.
First, we would bring her to the pediatrician and get her a prescription for antibiotics. I never advocate the overuse of antibiotics, so make sure they are needed before administering any. She had a few ear infections that we held off on the meds and the infection went away without treatment.
Second, or sometimes first, we would administer pain relievers. Talk to your doctor first.
Then, if the pain persisted or we decided to try a natural route first, we used a warm compress. A warm compress or warm washcloth can be used to press up to the baby’s ear to ease pain.
I have heard that breastmilk drops in the ear cure the infection. Another natural remedy is to boil a garlic clove until soft. Then place on the ear, not in the canal, and secure it with first aid tape. Change often. The garlic draws out the infection.
Take Note:
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents wait 48 to 72 hours to see if ear infection symptoms improve if the child is over six months of age and otherwise healthy.
If your baby is taking antibiotics, continue taking the medication for the full prescribed course even if the symptoms improve. Don’t take homeopathic treatments without discussing them with your pediatrician first. More research is needed on the use of these medications, according to MayoClinic.com, and the Food and Drug Administration doesn’t monitor these homeopathic treatments.