When my daughter came down with her first ear infection as a baby she was in a tremendous amount of pain. Back then I did what most first-time moms would do, I high tailed it to the pediatrician and expected the doctor to help alleviate my baby’s discomfort and help heal her infection.
However, instead of leaving the ped’s office with a handful of prescription antibiotics and a list of tried and true pain relieving techniques, all I went home with was a super cranky baby. My daughter’s doctor has a wait-and-see policy to avoid over-prescribing antibiotics to their young patients. She also reassured me that standard ear infections rarely result in any lasting damage and typically clear up on their own after a few days.
I also learned that ear infections are the most commonly diagnosed illness in babies after the cold. Medical experts maintain that babies are most susceptible to ear infections after battling colds. Interestingly, my daughter’s doctor also shared that gender plays a role in ear infections. Studies show that boys tend to get ear infections more often than girls. In addition, babies exposed to secondhand smoke have increased frequency and severity of ear infections.
To prevent ear infections, you should keep your baby away from tobacco smoke. Another way you can prevent ear infections is to limit your child’s exposure to large groups of kids that have cold symptoms, as colds viruses are often a precursor to ear infections.
Other preventative measures include washing your hands frequently to cut down on the transmission of germs that can cause colds and viruses, especially if you are carrying your baby for long periods of time. You should also clean your baby’s hands periodically throughout the day. Finally, stay current on immunizations. Health experts say that some childhood vaccines can prevent illnesses that can lead to ear infections.