4yo with ear infection, help

[justasmalltownmum]

Hi all

If anyone is awake, could do with some tips.

4yo with ear infection. Have been giving calpol for past three days, which masks the pain but it hasn't really improved though.

Pharmacist said they can't give anything else without prescription, which I can't get for a few days.

Any other advice on how to help dc?

TIA

We had the same a couple of weeks ago, if you have a hot water bottle hold it on their ear it really seemed to help my 3yo, other than that just regular painkillers and alternating between calpol and nurofen

Ditto alternate calpol and nurofen, don’t go out without a hat pulled down ears, sleeping half sitting up against pillow - it’s much worse laid down for my DD. Usually worse at night too.

Ask for drops not normal antibiotics, they react faster.

sorry about the timing for you all, hope it’s not too bad.

Yes a warm hot water bottle is incredibly soothing (don’t use boiling water just in case it leaks). And being warm (but not hot) generally.

Also sucking something can help to relieve and equalise pressure, or sipping warm drinks. No use at night, but maybe helpful in the daytime.

Completely agree with the hot water bottle suggestion. I have a lot of ear infections and the warmth helps.

I'd also suggest calling 111 when you can. You should be able to get an emergency doc's apt and hopefully get some antibiotics if needed. The pain can be awful so I'd do this if you possibly can.

Can 111 not help with a prescription? Ds’s respond almost immediately to amoxicillin

111 for antibiotics if needed. Ear infections can be nasty and there's always a worry re hearing loss (normally temporary but still not nice). Good luck OP. Awfully rough dealing with a lo with an ear infection!

Agree with everyone else. Nurofen as well as calpol at alternating times

Why can't you get them seen by a doctor to get a prescription?

Definitely nurofen just before bedtime and if they wake in the night.

My DC finds that watching Animal ASMR (usually a tortoise eating watermelon at the moment) or Thomas the tank engine on YouTube helps to calm him down enough to try sleep.

Thanks for the replies.