Any earache remedies?

[It's A Happy Day]

DD4 (almost 5) has had an earache since yesterday. We have been doing Tylenol every 4 hours and she is up in 2 1/2 crying again about pain She has been told that if it is no better in the morning then we will be going to the pediatrician THAT will be fun! The last time we went, the kids ped. was telling me about the new standards on prescribing of antibiotics for ear infections...basically they don't want to do it (main reason we didn't go today. I figured we would try to tough it out 24 more hours and see how she was feeling). Knock on wood, both kids are rarely sick and they have only been on antibiotics maybe 2x each in 5/6 yrs so we have been lucky! And I do support the Dr's stand on over prescribing meds to kids. Too many super bugs out there! Anyway, antibiotics won't help with the pain regardless, it will just speed up the healing process...maybe

Any home remedies or something I can do (that has worked for you) to help ease her discomfort. The whimpering is making me feel like a bad mommy!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Hugs!

DD8 has been complaining of ear pain for the past 2 days. It came on all of the sudden and was her left ear for the first day then somehow moved to her right ear. She has cried real tears over the pain or I would think it was a show for attention. Even Tylenol and Motrin haven't given her much relief. You can rotate what medicine you give her so that you can actually dose her every 2 hours. Tylenol at noon, 4pm, 8pm, etc... then Motrin at 2pm, 6pm, 10pm, etc...

You can set a heating pad on low and have her lay on the heating pad - check to make sure it doesn't get too hot or if you don't want to use the heating pad then get a washcloth wet in really hot water and wring it out and fold it and place it over her ear.

I tried to call the Pediatrician all day today to get an appointment and the phone rang busy. I don't know if their phone was not working or if they were really that busy!

Hope your little one feels better soon. I'll be in the Pediatrician's office tomorrow if I can ever get thru on the phone!

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

A couple of things:

--sometimes antihistimines/decongestants can help relieve fluid build-up, which can be partially causing the pressure.

--the doctor allowed us to alternate tylenol/motrin every two hours, which could help as well.

--warm compresses on the affected ear.

You can also check the local pharmacy for some ear drops. We had a prescription for some given to us when DD had both ears bleeding on our Disney Cruise. I held her upright because it was the only way she would keep from screaming.

Good luck. If you can keep her calm enough to rest, she should be ok after visiting the doc.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

Fun! We just went through this last night. Finally around 1 am (dd 6 up screaming in pain) I sent dh to Walmart and he came back with (over the counter) Auro Earache Pain Relief ear drops. They worked great and she got some sleep. We went to ped today and she is on antibiotic ear drops (its a pretty nasty infection), in only the infected ear (vs oral antibiotics because of antibotic overuse, etc). They said we could keep using the pain relief drops if we needed to.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

I would be piggy backing the Tylenol/Motrin every 4 hours IF I could get her to take it!!! She HATES to take any medicine and the only thing she will willingly take is Tylenol Grape pills not Liquid. Motrin pills she said taste like "lemon" and she FREAKS out if I try to get her take them! Its easier to just dose her every 4 hours with Tylenol than fight over it and have her crying to the point of vomiting

 

[JennaTX]

I feel so sorry for you and your child.

Both of my children have had bad earaches (once per child so far) and they were miserable. Even with Tylenol, and I sent DH to buy over-the-counter numbing drops, it stlll didn't help.

I hope you are able to get in to see your dr. tomorrow and are able to get some antibiotics. That is the only thing that helped my two.

 

[julie_yet]

This is going to sound odd but when I had earaches as a child my mom would take garlic supplement gelcaps, prick them with a needle, squeeze out the liquid into a spoon, hold the spoon over the warm stove and then pour it into my ear.

I know it seems weird but I swear it worked every time.

 

[asta]

When I have an earache I use my hairdryer on its lowest warm setting and use it to gently blow in the affected ear. I know that it may be harder to do this with someone else or a child but the warmth gives me a lot of relief. Just make sure that you don't get too close to the ear.

 

[grinningghost]

When I have an earache I use my hairdryer on its lowest warm setting and use it to gently blow in the affected ear. I know that it may be harder to do this with someone else or a child but the warmth gives me a lot of relief. Just make sure that you don't get too close to the ear.

It works. DD's pediatrician suggested this many years ago and it really helped.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

Called the ped's office at 9AM, they got us in at 10:30!!! I LOVE our pediatrician. Definite 1 ear infection & suspected strep - she was SOOOO miserable he said he wasn't going to even attempt a culture. Gave us a script for Zithromycin for 1xday for 5 days - that will be a HOOT! She does NOT take meds for us AT ALL!!! But, better than the other antibiotics that are 2-4x per day for 7-10 days

 

[babynurse1]

Get a clean sock, put rice in it, and stick it in the microwave until it's as warm as your child can stand it. It's less awkward than a heating pad and kids like it, because it's unique.

Good luck with your dd. Two of my ds's had chronic ear infections.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

My brother used to get earraches often and my mom would dip a cotton ball in very warm oil and put the cotton in his ear (not all the way in, but just sort of placed in the opening). It was the warmth that helped, so I think the other ways that were mentioned would be just as good.

 

[Zandy595]

Called the ped's office at 9AM, they got us in at 10:30!!! I LOVE our pediatrician. Definite 1 ear infection & suspected strep - she was SOOOO miserable he said he wasn't going to even attempt a culture. Gave us a script for Zithromycin for 1xday for 5 days - that will be a HOOT! She does NOT take meds for us AT ALL!!! But, better than the other antibiotics that are 2-4x per day for 7-10 days

Did they give you any ear drops for the pain? If not, you could try Similasan Earache Relief ear drops. They worked for DS when he had a double ear infection (along with Motrin and antibiotics).

 

[hydster]

My brother used to get earraches often and my mom would dip a cotton ball in very warm oil and put the cotton in his ear (not all the way in, but just sort of placed in the opening). It was the warmth that helped, so I think the other ways that were mentioned would be just as good.

My mom would do the cotton ball thing with me too as a child only she put rubbing alcohol on it and it got rid of them every time. I never had an ear infection but had tons of ear aches!

 

[budbeerlady]

When she starts to feel better and will lay with her head down while she watches a movie you can try an ear candle.

I bought them at the health food store near us ($1.10ea) and did it for DD. The noise made her a little nervous but she lays her head on a pillow at the table while watching a movie (only takes 5 min). It helps her alot, she would have an ear infection with most of the colds she caught.

 

[Zandy595]

When she starts to feel better and will lay with her head down while she watches a movie you can try an ear candle.

I bought them at the health food store near us ($1.10ea) and did it for DD. The noise made her a little nervous but she lays her head on a pillow at the table while watching a movie (only takes 5 min). It helps her alot, she would have an ear infection with most of the colds she caught.

What in the world is an ear candle? I'm picturing a big wax candle sticking out of someone's ear.

* Nevermind, I just did a search and found all kinds of information about it. Much of it was about the dangers of it. Sorry, but that just doesn't sound like a good idea, especially for a small child.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I've had no personal success with this, but have had several patients swear it helps with the pain, so it might. A drop or two of Sweet Oil in the ear, with a cotton ball, too.

I hope your DD feels better soon. I had one last year and ooh, did it hurt until my eardrum burst (which, btw, is no big deal.)

 

[C.Ann]

Vicks.. Take some and rub it down along under her ear - where the glands would be in her neck.. Worked like a charm for my kids..

 

[Jennifer S]

I almost posted this same exact thing this morning but my DS wouldn't let me leave his side. Took him to the dr this afternoon and he has a pretty bad infection.

The ped. said Motrin works better than Tylenol because it has an anti-inflamatory. So we are taking that and an antibiotic as well.