Any way to avoid or minimise ear infection?

[spamm]

DS (3.10) has a bad cold, bad chesty cough and is full of snot. He has started to complain about his ear - this would be the third infection this year. Is there anything I can do to help before it sets in? Or is it already too late when it is getting painful?

So far, he is lying on the sofa under a blanket, watching TV. Is eating quite well and drinking plenty and I have just given him a dose of calpol.

Any advice welcome - as I would love to avoid antibiotics again.

[bellavita]

I think it is too late when it gets painful. Tbh, I don't think there is anything you can do to stop them.

My DS1 from being 6 months old (now 11.8) still suffers with them. He is full of cold at the moment and has got the most horrendous cough and I fully expect him to tell me his ear hurts.

[spamm]

Thanks BV. I sort of thought the same, but am hoping somebody has an idea...I suppose best is to keep him warm and comfortable and just ride it out, as long as it does not get too painful.

Do you take your ds1 to the doctor for each infection or do you just cope with them now?

I have so far taken him each time, but they seem to say that you should just let it run its course. We had antibiotics last time only because we were getting on a plane for an 8 hour flight two days later.

[pamplemousse]

Apparently Antony Worral Thompsons daughter kept getting ear infections and he tried her on goats milk and they went. It has the story on the side of the carton.
I know if dd is ill and snotty keeping her off cows milk really helps, might be worth a shot to see if it helps?
Good luck, they do grow out of them, its all to do with the angle of the station tube which drains the ear, as they get older it moves move on a diagonal and drains easier.

[spamm]

Thanks Pamplemousse - will keep him off milk products for a little while. By the way, to clarify, my post should have said third infection in a year, not this year.

[bellavita]

I have taken him every time and each time they have given him antibiotics.

He has also had glue ear in the past which we managed to ride out without the need for grommits.

[pamplemousse]

May I suggest you try a month to make a real difference? Snot takes a while to clear... My sister was cow free until she was a teenager and it sorted her out too ;) I am a strong believer in diet affecting health and could go on for hours about it!