Alright, so my son is 19 months and my daughter is 6 months and between the two of them I have never had reason to suspect an ear infection. We've been really lucky on that front, I guess, because they seem to be really common?
How did you know when to take your LO to the ped because of a suspected ear infection? How many has your child had and how old are they?
I'm just asking because I'm sure at some point one of them will get one!!
apricot / 343 posts
Ok, my twins both had 3 double infections last year in a 3 month span, when they were about 14 months old, so I consider myself somewhat expert! Fever, Fussiness, screaming in the middle of the night for prolonged periods, laying on the ground on their ear were the main symptoms. Also, they wouldn't want to eat food but would gladly suck on a bottle or pouch of baby food, because the sucking feels good, apparently. During the last one, I got a great "test" from a nurse on the phone that is brilliant and I don't know why I didn't think of it...she had me tug gently on the ear. Not enough to hurt it, but if it's infected a gentle pull will generally cause a reaction. If not, it's probably not infected.
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
E has one right now actually. She would go down for a nap and wake up hysterical 45 min later. And also do it in the MOTN. No ear tugging or nothing. Just hysteria
nectarine / 2521 posts
My LO is 12 months old, and we had our first ear infection last month. My only clue was that he screamed during diaper changes when I laid him down on his back. Otherwise, I chalked it off to teething or a cold. I actually took him in for his cold and found out about his ears. 
cantaloupe / 6059 posts
@Eminthevalley: @blackbird: Okay, so for both of your situations the kids were obvious that something was off!! I'm sorry they've experienced that but it makes me feel a bit better because I've wondered, since they seem to be common, if I've ever missed one but I'm thinking now that would be unlikely!
cantaloupe / 6059 posts
@Tanjowen: Oh, so that one wasn't super obvious!!
See, when my kids have been sick with a cold or slight fever, I've never been one to rush them to the ped. I usually give it a day or two - the only time I took M was when she was 7 weeks with a cold and for being that tiny I was nervous. So hopefully they've never had one and been silently miserable because of the fact that I don't take them in for every sickness. I've debated whether I should or what. (My kids have a stuffy nose, slight couch, and runny eyes which is what got me thinking about this.)
nectarine / 2521 posts
@coopsmama: I wondered the same thing after my visit as it wasn't our first sniffles! But seeing how miserable he was and not improving (enough to send me to the pediatrician for the first time for a cold) made me realize something was wrong.
squash / 13764 posts
Basically he was miserable unless he was on Motrin. Like screaming, crying inconsolably miserable. That continued for like 3 days and then we brought him in.
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
@coopsmama: oh yeah something was off! But nothing said "ear infection" to me! E has had a cold and fever-but she gets those a LOT without an ear infection. Our ped said they're susceptible after a cold because the drainage collects and grows bacteria
Honestly, if DH hadn't just had strep, I probably would've waited a couple more days to take her. Whoops
coconut / 8079 posts
He's had a few and I only caught one. That time he was a little fussy and tugging at his ears. The other two were caught at well visits. He never gets a fever or anything. I'm sure that is not helpful at all! One time I took him to the doctor for a suspected ear infection and it was only teething! 
nectarine / 2132 posts
@coopsmama: My 2 year old has never had one but my 4 month has had 2 (just diagnosed with her second today).
Both times the only reason I would have thought about a possible ear infection was because she was just sick in general. She doesn't fuss more than usual, isn't super clingy. Her sleep has been a little funky the past couple of days but I thought it could be from being so congested or the dreaded 4 month regression.
Basically my doctor said if a cold persists for longer than 7 days then there might be one (this is for infants, I have no idea about toddlers!)
Another little thing, I noticed over the weekend LO was pulling on her ears. But because she wasn't fussing or clingy I thought maybe she just discovered them.
cantaloupe / 6059 posts
@jmarionsmith: Thank you!! That is helpful. I will keep that 7 day rule in mind, and now that I think about it, neither of them have been sick that long yet. I appreciate you chiming in and hope your sweet girl feels better quickly! 
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
My son would get ear infections following a cold, around 2 weeks after. It is because the canals are still developing and don't have a natural "bend" to them to help fluid drain out, so mucus would get caught in there and bacteria would infect it. Our first ear infection was after 2 years of age, and now at 4, we haven't had one since this past summer.
Our ped told us this canal development is why kids "grow out" of ear infections, because the drainage then becomes efficient.
pomegranate / 3565 posts
For us, the only consistent thing was he got them after being congested like a runny nose or cough. Sometimes he got fevers, sometimes he pulled at his ears, last time he woke up crying and wouldnt calm down. Totally depends. Now if they get a cold, I usually take him to the doctor because he has an ear infection afterwards usually.
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts
Honestly she's only had 1 in her life (at 2 1/2) I took her in for what I thought was a sinus infection and they said she had an ear infection too. She never gave any signs of it, however she was miserable from the sinus infection it didn't surprise me. NO tugging or complaining they hurt, so I was clueless. Not much help, I'm sorry.
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