DD is battling her third ear infection (she's 5, BTW). This is fairly new territory for us as our kids weren't in daycare, so they entered germ warfare when they headed off to gov't school. We've done the Amoxicillin routine twice and that's probably what we'll get again today.

Does anybody have any tried and true homeopathic remedies or other suggestions that might help make things more comfortable for any child with an earache? I was just heartbroken last night, knowing she had to wait until this morning to see her doctor.

TIA

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We went thru many ear infections with my 2nd son. If we even went in for his well baby check up, he had one! We see a chiropractor, so I talked to her about it. We started having him adjusted when his infections would start. It would help his ears drain. She would keep an eye on him by checking his ears and was not against sending us to the doctor if he needed it. Since we started this, years ago, he has only seen our doctor for his ear infections once! That time our chiropractor said it was not going away, so she recommended we take him to the doctor. The surprising thing was that the doctor told us it didn't look bad enough for antibiotics and sent us home. He said they are starting to give out less antibiotics because all the infections are becoming immune to them.
If you haven't used a chiropractor before, it may be scary, but I have had myself, my DH and my kids adjusted since they were babies. My first born used to get constipated. When I took him in, it was always the same vertebrae that was out. He would get adjusted and within an hour he would poop every time. I nicknamed it the poopy vertebrae!

busymom19,

I used to go to a chiro, but didn't have any idea it could affect ear infections. We may have to try that. DH and I want our daughter to be well again, but we are not big fans of over medicating. Thankfully, our pediatrician is older (age 68) and very old fashioned/conservative.

Thanks for the info.

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Both our daughters had ear infections when they were young. Both had tubes, oldest had tubes twice with adenoids removed the 2nd time. I can't remember the name, but when they were particularly painful, the doctor would prescribe some numbing ear drops that we could drop in there. Also, Tylenol or Motrin seemed to help some. That was a miserable time and I was so happy when they finally outgrew them. Good luck.

Lisa

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I have two kids with ear infections that were back to back always. I finally said no more to antibotics and started just giving them tyenyol for pain and a decongestant like trimantic or sudefad, and they seem not to come as back to back anymore.

so good luck and hope the kid feels better.

It has been my experience that most ear infections are usually the symptom of something else. Quite frequently, they are caused from sinuses are "full"/congested and that is causing pressure on the ear, which in turn is causing the ear to become inflamed, irritated, and painful. Also, if a child is having any trouble w/ tonsils/adenoids--that can cause the ears to become swollen and painful. If they have excess sinus drainage--which can cause a back up of fluid in the ear; again you have the same irritated, inflamed, and painful ear(s).

Some things we have found can be helpful--warm olive oil (about 2-3 drops) in the ear and then place cotton in the ear. This seems to help.
Cold/Warm packs--it just depends. Sometimes a warm pack helps, sometimes a cold pack helps. Try one and see. If it doesn't work, try the other one.
The numbing drops are by prescription only and they are not antibiotics--they usually contain one of the "caine" medications (benzocaine, lidocaine, etc.) And they can be a god send!
Have your child sleep propped up, run a cool mist humidifier and use one of the vapor things (the rubs, the patches, the vapor plug thingies that emits the sinus unstopping vapors).
Sometimes if they are really stuffy or congested a nice warm shower w/ lots of steam will help.
OTC decongestants or antihistamines--if they are stuffy decongestants, if they are runny antihistamines.
Tylenol or Motrin--whichever works best for your child. With ours, we normally give Tylenol first and if after 3 hours they are still hurting we will give a dose of of Ibuprofen. (consult your doctor on dosing like this--some doctors do not recommend it).

Of course, if your child is running a high fever, or is in a great deal of pain (nothing like having one wake up in the middle of the night screaming because their ear hurts!) Contact your doctor.

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Put a wet (wring it out but make sure it is still moist) washcloth in the microwave until steaming, then put the washcloth in a coffee cup. Have the child place the affected ear over the coffee cup--the warm moist heat helps to soothe. Also Tylenol or Motrin for the pain/fever.

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Antibiotics when used correctly can and do help ear infections. Some children are prone to infections.
I had two kids from birth that had multiple infections. 18 years ago they both had mastiod surgery. After that my dd had one infection and my ds had none. Ear infections do affect hearing and also affect their ability to learn.

I used to get swimmer's ear alot as a kid, since I practically lived in the pool. There's nothing like waking up in the middle of the night with ear pain-- NOTHING. A few things would help, other than pain meds. LOL

One is a warm blow dryer on medium setting and a couple of drops of garlic juice. Hold it at least a foot away from the ear and only do this until the pain stops (usually 1-2 seconds) then stop. It may not fix an infection, but it will make it feel better.

Holly

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Thanks to every one of you for the suggestions. We did get an Rx for those numbing ear drops. The pediatrician said they are like Anbesol for the ears. They helped quite a bit. Still doing the Tylenol/Motrin routine and I put a vapor plug in her room last night. She slept so much better.

Wrote down and tucked away all of your suggestions because I'm sure this won't be the last time.

Thanks again!

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I've tried a number of homeopathic remedies for various problems, but found they had little effect on me. They DID work on my cats, so YMMV. Might peroxide in the ears help clear out the infection? You'd want to ask a doctor first, but it's not an awful process.

My kids have only had 1 that I know of.. we were all sick for around a month, kept passing whatever it was around.. finally went to the doctor all on the same day and got rid of it.. but found out my kids had a "raging ear infection". Now when I was a kid.. I remember crying and whining all night because it hurt so bad.. even got in bed with my mother to do it lol... so I was shocked they had ear infections!

I've heard this kind of stuff is really helpful but I haven't needed to try it.. Amazon.com: Mullein Garlic Ear Oil: Health & Personal Care

My sister had tons of ear infections as a baby/kid and got the tubes in long ago... I think they helped her with speech, I know she went to Head Start because of problems with it (and she's fine now btw)

Oh the poor thang! I can so feel for you guys. My DS 16 1/2 came home from school with a bad earache just today. I've tried Tylenol (2 extra strength) and I heated a towel and he held that on it for a while. I think the towel seemed to help more than the Tylenol though. He is still waking up every little while with it hurting. I can only imagine how it would be hurting a little one since it's doing a number on him.

Guess, we'll be off to the doctor tomorrow.


BTW, SunnyDay, the heated wet washcloth in the cup idea sounds really good. I'll have to suggest that to DS.

Laura

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