Ear infections in babies, common or should I worry?

[deaconblue]

Ds 10 months has had three ear infections since November, each taking two lots of antibiotics and several weeks to clear up. Is this just how it is with babies til their immune systems are stronger or does it mean he's going to have ear, nose and throat problems?

[LIZS]

dd had had two by 4 months but has only had 2 or 3 since by 5. She is more prone to getting fluid in her ears though and is borderline for glue ear atm. First winters are a nightmare and best advice is to prevent it with nurofen, decongestants/vaporisers , keeping room cool and raising height of head in bed when they get a cold.

[frances5]

Ear infections are horrible. The first winter is a nightmare. My son's ear perforated 5 times and he has glue ear at 5 years old.

Only time will tell if your son has ENT problems. The only advice I can give you is that if your son's speech is in anyway delayed, push for your son to have a proper hearing test. Glue ear really messed my son's development when he was little.

[deaconblue]

Thanks. His hearing seems really good but I'll keep an eye on it. First winters are so grim, I'm just glad he was a spring baby so was 7 months and quite big and strong before he started catching bugs, must be really worrying with a winter born baby.

[frances5]

My son's a winter born baby. It wasnt a problem as he was exclusively breastfed and we didn't go out much. He didnt get any bugs until 9 months.

Medised is good. The decongestant part helps reduce the snot. Its got paracental for pain. Have you got a humidifer. We got one from argos a few years ago for £25. You can put oil of olbas in a cup and the steam helps breathing.

Hearing is a difficult thing to assess. I thought my son had excellent hearing. However I was wrong. However his speech didn't develop. When he started pre school the teacher was convinced he was autisic because he could not understand her. It turned out he had nothing more than a case of raging glue ear.

Sometimes hearing loss is not obvious as a bright child can be very good at compenstating. Glue can also be mistaken for the child being naughty, ADHD or even autism.

He had his adenoids removed and grommets and his speech improved dramatically. Unfortunately the grommets got infected and fell out after 8 weeks. My son now has temporary hearing aids.

[deaconblue]

Your poor son, sounds like he had a tough time. Ds didn't get any bugs until I gave up breast feeding when he was 6 months, there must be a connection.

[frances5]

6 months breastfeeding is a great achievement. I doult that feeding any longer would have made a difference.

I think that glue ear is genetic. Whatever you do as a mother your child ends up with glue ear. I think the reason that my son didnt get ill as a baby is that I hardly ever went out. I was just stuck on the sofa. Living a life like a recluse is not an option forever.

Our second winter was really bad. We practically lived in the doctor's surgery. My son's ears perforated 5 times between the ages of 9 and 15 months.

It seems unfair that we don't smoke, we have a sensible diet, good housing yet my son has severe glue ear.

[deaconblue]

It does seem unfair. Anything we do as parents leaves us guilt ridden I reckon.