Soothing and Preventing Earaches

Soothing and Preventing Earaches

If your child suffers from chronic earaches you probably cringe at the first symptom. You hate the thought of them dealing with the relentless discomfort, and selfishly, you know you are about to be sleepless for a few days! If you suspect your child may have their first one, learning to identify symptoms early will allow you to treat it before it progresses.

Causes

There are three common causes of earaches:

1. Fluid behind the eardrum
2. Infection in ear canal
3. Infection in middle ear

Signs and Symptoms

• Redness or swelling
• Ear pain
• Rubbing or pulling ears
• Leakage from the ear
• Ear popping or full feeling
• Difficulty hearing
• Fussiness
• Fever
• Headache
• Vomiting

Soothing the Pain

There are a few natural remedies that will help soothe the discomfort. Obviously, you always want to call your doctor. However, if you can ease the pain it could mean the difference between driving to the doctor in the middle of a snowstorm during rush hour before the office closes and being able to wait until roads are clear the next day. 

•  Elevation – Keep the head elevated on a pillow. If you have a baby, keep them upright in a car seat.
•  Moist Towel – A warm, moist towel can be applied near the ear.
•  Environment – Creating a soothing environment will help them relax. Draw the shades and make sure the temperature is comfortable. If you have a water fountain, put them to sleep in the room where it is. The sound is very relaxing. You can get a nice one at stores like LuxeWaterWalls.com.
•  Swallowing – If your child is old enough to safely chew gum give them a piece of sugar-free variety. Chewing opens the Eustachian tube, which promotes drainage from the middle ear.
• Oils – Warm olive or sesame oil to room temperature to drop in the external ear canal. Some recommend sprinkling cinnamon in the oil.
• Colloidal Silver – Like oil, this can be warmed to room temperature and dropped in. It is more effective mixed with lavender, thyme, or tea tree essential oil. For every 20 drops of colloidal silver you can add 1 drop of essential oil.

Prevention

• Skip Pacifiers – The constant sucking is said to pull fluids into the middle ear.
• Breastfeed – Bottle-fed babies are more vulnerable.
• Wash Hands – Make sure your child gets in the habit of washing their hands after playing, especially after being with other kids. Colds and viruses make them more prone to earaches, if they are susceptible.
• Avoid Secondhand Smoke – The risk of ear infection is increased for children around secondhand smoke.
• Ear Plugs – If your child swims wearing earplugs in the water can help reduce their risk.