https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 29 May 2026 17:05:37 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581778 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 14:47:09 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2581778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: yup this is definitely something we need to do. She uses a pacifier to fall asleep, not any more beyond that, but I'm sure it's not helping. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581742 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 14:06:59 +0000 Mrsbells 2581742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Carrot: does she suck her thumb or a pacifier? Because eliminating any constant sucking can help a lot </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581648 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 12:50:09 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2581648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaG: Yup, we've got Nasacort, so along the same lines. Seems like the poor kid inherited my crappy sinuses! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581646 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 12:48:49 +0000 MamaG 2581646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Carrot: We did Singulair with my older daughter this spring. It worked great. She was on Zyrtec (liquid), Singulair (chewable) and Flonase (nasal spray). Not to mention her vitamins and immune support supplement. Poor girl, but she didn't get sick!</p> <p>Our air quality is just so horrible in North Texas that my girls really suffer when they are exposed to the outside. Which of course is daily and like any kid, they love to be outside.</p> <p>I've not heard of anyone else using Singulair like we did, so I'm glad it worked for you too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581644 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 12:48:18 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2581644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: I completely agree, my question was more of a "in the future" nature. I talked to our PCP today and she said her problem is fluid buildup, so antibiotics are probably not doing a whole lot anyway, until the infection forms. If it happens again, we have a prescription allergy/asthma med (Singulair) and I might try something non medical to see if we can avert the infection from building up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581641 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 12:46:33 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2581641@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetCaroline: We went right to Cefdinir, but I give her probiotics automatically no matter what. I've had plenty of antibiotics experiences that messed up my own stomach, so it's a given for me. We might be going the tubes direction too, we'll see. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581637 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 12:45:12 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2581637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaG: We actually have given her Singulair before. She was so congested back in the spring, in addition to the ear infections, that her PCP gave it to her to help clear out the mess in her sinuses. My feeling, and the PCP thinks I'm right as per our conversation today, is that the issue is more with the fluid accumulation than actual infection. She told us to start up with Singulair again and put her on Cefdinir to clear out the infection that is in there. She said it's actually fairly mild, but the fluid is likely what's causing the problem and needs to be cleared up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581631 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 12:42:40 +0000 coopsmama 2581631@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have only ever dealt with one ear infection so I can't weigh in (and antibiotics took care of it), but I have a friend who has a daughter who had literally 4 or 5 ear infections back to back and antibiotics weren't doing the trick. Eventually she just took her off of antibiotics and let her body deal with it. It wasn't a fun week or so, and they went to the doctor for monitoring, but she hasn't had ONE since and they were about to go to tubes. She used essential oils and treated for pain but otherwise let her body fight it off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581611 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 12:24:34 +0000 SweetCaroline 2581611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Carrot: if you do move on to Augmentin, I highly encourage you to give probiotics (Culterelle for Kids works). That antibiotic is infamous for being really hard on the stomach.</p> <p>Also, I eventually had to demand antibiotic shots, used Rocephin to clear them up. I agree with @ShootingStar: I use home remedies before the ear infection is awful, but when there is a raging ear infection don't hesitate asking about the big guns. I am not an antibiotic fanatic, but it has its time and place.</p> <p>We eliminated dairy and also use xylitol (nasal spray form), as it is very low risk and has shown benefit in some studies.</p> <p>All that and my kid has tubes :silly: either way, good luck to you mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581515 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 09:36:59 +0000 ShootingStar 2581515@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So personally, I feel like home remedies are a first line of defense, not the last line. Meaning, if the infection is mild and they work, great. But if my kid has an ear infection that antibiotics aren't working on, I wouldn't go to a solution with less strength. </p> <p>A year or so ago DS had an infection that 2 rounds of oral antibiotics wouldn't work on. They ended up giving him a shot of a different antibiotic, but I can't remember what it was called. That was what finally worked. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581507 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 09:16:48 +0000 gilmoregirl 2581507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't tried anything besides antibiotics, but my son doesn't respond to amoxicillin or augmentum. Both of those scripts resulted in never-ending infections like you mention. Cefdinir has been more successful and usually kicks the infection in a week or so. His ENT told us it's normal for it to take a while for all the fluid to clear, even after the infection is gone. It might be worth asking the doctor some questions about which meds and exactly what's going on because that sounds miserable for you both. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581478 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 08:07:04 +0000 FaithFertility 2581478@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Yes, I saline spray before bed!<br /> Like<br /> @MamaG: We are talking to our pedi about allergies and starting something </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581475 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 08:05:28 +0000 MamaG 2581475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Carrot: ask about allergy meds. Both of my girls take Zyrtec daily and it helps so much. When we were going through ear infections our Ped kept introducing different antibiotics. We never did the same one twice unless it was one that seemed to work. Tubes was ultimately the solution for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581474 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 08:05:22 +0000 Foodnerd81 2581474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FaithFertility: I have heard sucking out the mucous doesn't actually help as much as just the saline spray in the nose to help drain. Like, if she can't breath it will help in the moment, but no real longer term benefits. Since my baby hates it so much I reserve it for when she sounds like she can't breath through her nose and do spray otherwise. (Though it's my almost 3 yo who gets the ear infections). </p> <p>@T.H.O.U.: she doesn't drink a ton of milk as it is but next time she gets sick I'll get almond milk- she likes it anyway so can't hurt! (I can't really drink milk so she calls almond milk " mommy a special milk" 😊) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581464 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 08:00:10 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2581464@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Dolphin: this is what I keep reading online, which sparked my curiosity about non medical interventions. I'll look up that spray, I wonder if we have something similar. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581462 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 07:59:35 +0000 skipra 2581462@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Still waiting to deal with our first ear infection but I have heard from another mom whose kids are prone to them that garlic drops from the natural food stores seem to work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581458 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 07:58:33 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2581458@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: we actually cut out milk almost entirely for this very reason. She has maybe 1/4 a day these days, cuz they give it to them at school during lunch. This time around she doesn't even have a runny nose, but there's definitely mucus rattling around up top (not sure if it's the cause or effect, I'm guessing it's allergies). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581456 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 07:56:19 +0000 FaithFertility 2581456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: Yes, we have the Zarby's but really didn't help? I suck her poor nose 100x a day!<br /> She Seems on the up!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581454 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 07:55:03 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2581454@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I actually told the doc who saw her last week that amoxicillin isn't going to help, but she said it looked mild and we should try it. Lo and behold I was right. We are seeing her PCP today so I'm going to ask some aggressive questions about this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581452 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 07:54:19 +0000 Mrs. Dolphin 2581452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This might be not at all helpful, but when we were in Italy, our then-fifteen-month-old got an ear infection (his third; we used antibiotics previously because it's what his pediatrician prescribed in the US) and the pharmacy gave us a spray by Otoear. It has tea tree oil, vitamin E and aloe vera gel. The pharmacist in Italy said she doesn't like to give antibiotics to young children unless absolutely necessary and this spray really helped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581448 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 07:53:00 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2581448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FaithFertility: Zarbys makes a mucus reducer that I give (just because I guess it can't hurt right). And then lots of hot baths and nose bulbs and stuff like that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581447 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 07:51:53 +0000 FaithFertility 2581447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: Ughhhh never thought of that? DD had an awful ear/sinus infection! The nasal and cough is ridiculous!<br /> Just got her somesome meds, but didn't even think. About dairy, that makes total sense!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581445 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 07:49:54 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2581445@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would also do as much nasal congestion relief as you can. Most of that is what drains to the ears. </p> <p>Also, we quit cows milk when my kids are congested and I've heard it also contributes to ear infections in some kids. My kids are always so snotty with cows milk (especially at dinner/before bed) but seem to be ok with other dairy stuff like cheese and yogurt. So we switched to an almond milk for a while in the evenings. I really think it helped with the runny nose. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581440 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 07:44:31 +0000 FaithFertility 2581440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: that is why I was asking!<br /> Swimmers ear is caused by water I believe and not as much as an actual infection </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581436 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 07:39:29 +0000 looch 2581436@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Yes, agree with you on starting right away on a stronger antibiotic. My son is allergic to amoxicillin and at the very end, we ended up having to use cefdinir and I would push the doc to prescribe it first, which they did when we had back to back infections (that really were the first one not getting fully cleared).</p> <p>I've read garlic oil drops can be helpful to clear infections, but I would want to try that on me first, just to be sure you know? And I don't get ear infections any longer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581435 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 07:38:49 +0000 Foodnerd81 2581435@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FaithFertility: I asked my pediatrician about swimming because my daughter does swim once a week and she said it's a totally different type of ear infection, not related. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581433 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 07:35:05 +0000 FaithFertility 2581433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Carrot: :( sorry we are getting over our first </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581432 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 07:33:07 +0000 Foodnerd81 2581432@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Carrot: ear infections are the worst- we have had FIVE since January! (And are meeting an ent to talk about tubes in August). The only recommendation I had was Benadryl at night to help dry up the fluid. If she gets another one I will also ask about going straight to augmentin- she started with amoxicillin twice and it came right back and needed the augmentin so I think it's pointless to start with amoxicillin now. I can't imagine four rounds- poor baby. Do you give her probiotics to help any tummy issues? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581431 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 07:22:46 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2581431@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FaithFertility: not a lot. We go to our pool one or twice a month during the summer but the last infection started in March, so it wasn't water related. I'll ask about the drops though, my mom mentioned boric acid drops as a potential solution. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ear-infections-non-antibiotic-treatments#post-2581430 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 07:11:46 +0000 FaithFertility 2581430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does she swim a lot?!<br /> My pedi a drop of swimmers ear helps reduce wax and the water getting stuck! </p>