As you likely all know, we were first introduced to ear infections a couple weeks ago. Many parents struggle with these frequently, so this led me on a search for some treatments for my own kids, that I'll share here to hopefully help other kids avoid getting them in the first place, and what to do if you have one.
The first thing every parent needs is an Otoscope. This is the little light your doctor looks into the ears with. I got mine at Walgreens for about 10 bucks. The link below tells you what an eardrum should look like, and how to tell if it infected. I would recommend looking in your child's ear regularly, until you know what a healthy ear looks like, so then you can easier tell if it is infected. Basically, on children/babies, pull the ear up and back to straighten the canal (down and back on an older child or adult). Look in, and if it is reddened then it's infected. The eardrum should be whitish and glossy, not red or bulgy looking. It should look like a drum, for which it's named. On babies this is difficult to see, so have someone hold baby while you hold the ear and look. That will help immensely. http://www.otoscopes.org/
Once you confirm they have one (or even suspect it, but are not sure) you can start treatment. These products I have not used myself, but were recommended to me by parents who I know have had ear infections in their kids. The common thing in them, is there is something in them that kills the bacteria or virus. Tea tree oil, garlic, grapefruit seed extract...they are all good for killing bugs. So, even if you don't know for sure that the ear is infected, it won't do any harm to put some in their ears.
http://www.nutribiotic.com/ear-drops.html
http://www.eclecticherb.com/ (look up ear drop)
http://www.similasanusa.com/products-earache-relief.cfm
(this product doesn't contain any antiviral products, but is a homeopathy for the ear pain. You would need something to kill the bugs too)
The other home remedy that works well is to make your own Garlic Oil. To do this:
-heat up a bit of olive oil in a spoon over a burner and add a clove of garlic
-let simmer 30 seconds or so (it will bubble)
-cool to body temperature
-pour into ear (pulling ear canal straight as directed above), filling as much as you can (I use a dropper, but pouring out of the spoon works too). It will bubble while the oil is going in the ear and the air is coming out, so baby won't like it, but be persistent.
-put in some cotton to keep it in, and keep that ear on the "up" side
-do this 2-3 times per day until symptoms subside
Note: If you want to reuse the same oil for the next dose, be sure to remove the garlic right away after you make it, as you don't want the oil to get too potent. Then just heat the oil to the right temperature.
The garlic oil works in 3 ways. It kills the bacteria/virus, it reduces inflammation (which also reduces pain), and it increases blood flow to the ear to help the body rid the infection faster.
**Do not put anything in the ear, if you suspect it has ruptured. This could further the infection. If there is blood or any amount of drainage in the canal, you can suspect this.
Ways to keep them comfortable with an infection:
-Ibuprofen or Tylenol for the pain (or those ear drops mentioned above)
-Warm compresses to affected ear
-Warm/hot drinks to increase blood flow and help body rid the infection
Ways to prevent ear infections:
-Feed babies upright, rather than laying down whenever possible
-Get them to the chiropractor, if they have had ear infections in the past. When the neck is out of place, it can pinch off the tubes that drain from the ears into the sinuses, causing infection. Making sure the neck is aligned rules out one area that can cause infections.
-Reduce milk & milk products when child has a cold as they increase mucous.
-Breastfeed as long as possible
-Reduce outside exposure to germs
-Frequent thorough hand washing
-Get them on a good probiotic for at least 6 weeks after any antibiotics. You can even give the probiotics while they are on antibiotics, but just make sure they are given at least 2 hours apart. This will keep the antibiotics from killing the probiotics in the stomach.
-Use immune boosters in the winter especially (I use Astragalus/Echinacea, vitamin C, multivitamins & garlic by mouth in the winter when a cold is coming on) You can use Astragalus by itself indefinitely for immune boosting, but Echinacea loses its effectiveness if taken continuously. Use Echinacea 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off. I usually just give it if we are getting run down or see cold symptoms in the kids. I don't give any of the supplements to the baby (under one), but do give baby probiotics and fish oil to help boost immunity overall.
The first thing every parent needs is an Otoscope. This is the little light your doctor looks into the ears with. I got mine at Walgreens for about 10 bucks. The link below tells you what an eardrum should look like, and how to tell if it infected. I would recommend looking in your child's ear regularly, until you know what a healthy ear looks like, so then you can easier tell if it is infected. Basically, on children/babies, pull the ear up and back to straighten the canal (down and back on an older child or adult). Look in, and if it is reddened then it's infected. The eardrum should be whitish and glossy, not red or bulgy looking. It should look like a drum, for which it's named. On babies this is difficult to see, so have someone hold baby while you hold the ear and look. That will help immensely. http://www.otoscopes.org/
Once you confirm they have one (or even suspect it, but are not sure) you can start treatment. These products I have not used myself, but were recommended to me by parents who I know have had ear infections in their kids. The common thing in them, is there is something in them that kills the bacteria or virus. Tea tree oil, garlic, grapefruit seed extract...they are all good for killing bugs. So, even if you don't know for sure that the ear is infected, it won't do any harm to put some in their ears.
http://www.nutribiotic.com/ear-drops.html
http://www.eclecticherb.com/ (look up ear drop)
http://www.similasanusa.com/products-earache-relief.cfm
(this product doesn't contain any antiviral products, but is a homeopathy for the ear pain. You would need something to kill the bugs too)
The other home remedy that works well is to make your own Garlic Oil. To do this:
-heat up a bit of olive oil in a spoon over a burner and add a clove of garlic
-let simmer 30 seconds or so (it will bubble)
-cool to body temperature
-pour into ear (pulling ear canal straight as directed above), filling as much as you can (I use a dropper, but pouring out of the spoon works too). It will bubble while the oil is going in the ear and the air is coming out, so baby won't like it, but be persistent.
-put in some cotton to keep it in, and keep that ear on the "up" side
-do this 2-3 times per day until symptoms subside
Note: If you want to reuse the same oil for the next dose, be sure to remove the garlic right away after you make it, as you don't want the oil to get too potent. Then just heat the oil to the right temperature.
The garlic oil works in 3 ways. It kills the bacteria/virus, it reduces inflammation (which also reduces pain), and it increases blood flow to the ear to help the body rid the infection faster.
**Do not put anything in the ear, if you suspect it has ruptured. This could further the infection. If there is blood or any amount of drainage in the canal, you can suspect this.
Ways to keep them comfortable with an infection:
-Ibuprofen or Tylenol for the pain (or those ear drops mentioned above)
-Warm compresses to affected ear
-Warm/hot drinks to increase blood flow and help body rid the infection
Ways to prevent ear infections:
-Feed babies upright, rather than laying down whenever possible
-Get them to the chiropractor, if they have had ear infections in the past. When the neck is out of place, it can pinch off the tubes that drain from the ears into the sinuses, causing infection. Making sure the neck is aligned rules out one area that can cause infections.
-Reduce milk & milk products when child has a cold as they increase mucous.
-Breastfeed as long as possible
-Reduce outside exposure to germs
-Frequent thorough hand washing
-Get them on a good probiotic for at least 6 weeks after any antibiotics. You can even give the probiotics while they are on antibiotics, but just make sure they are given at least 2 hours apart. This will keep the antibiotics from killing the probiotics in the stomach.
-Use immune boosters in the winter especially (I use Astragalus/Echinacea, vitamin C, multivitamins & garlic by mouth in the winter when a cold is coming on) You can use Astragalus by itself indefinitely for immune boosting, but Echinacea loses its effectiveness if taken continuously. Use Echinacea 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off. I usually just give it if we are getting run down or see cold symptoms in the kids. I don't give any of the supplements to the baby (under one), but do give baby probiotics and fish oil to help boost immunity overall.
