Possible Ear Infection - need advice please

[Earlybird]

Hi - dd is getting over a cold. She woke last night whimpering and saying her ear hurt. I wondered if she had the start of an ear infection, and gave her some Calpol and put her back to bed with her head elevated.

This morning, she still sounds a bit stuffy with the remnants of a cold, just had a major sneezing fit, but says her ear doesn't hurt anymore. I wonder if I should take her to the doctor as a precaution. We have a hugely important day tomorrow with a reception assessment, which she really needs to be well for. We've been lucky enough to never have an ear infection, so I don't know how they incubate/develop. Don't know if we had a warning last night, and it's quietly building up (and so needs attention), or if it would be bad by now if it was, in fact, an ear infection.

I know this is muddled, but would love educated guesses from mum's familiar with the development of ear infections. Would we be wise to spend the morning at the doctor's office just in case?

Message withdrawn

i know they can last a few days - ds who is almost 6 (on Saturday!) had them a lot from about 8 months old and they seemed to be worse at night - he used to doze for about 1/2 hr at a time and then scream - and i mean scream - i used to have to sit up all night with him propped with his ear against my chest - i think the warm makes it feel better - even tho he'd had calpol.

Well, we didn't go to the doctor in the end as she seems to be fine today. She went to school, bounced home for lunch, and is currently at Tumbletots. Hopefully last night was just a blip, and there's nothing incubating.

I'm the one feeling crap, and waiting to hear about a doctor's appointment! I was much healthier pre-dd. I seem to catch everything going, and take days longer to get over it than she does. Thanks for the advice, though.