How to Treat a Toddler Ear Infection

Ear infections are very common in toddlers. They may be more common in young ones that attend day care; this is because children are constantly in contact with one another. Germs can easily be spread that eventually lead to an ear infection. There are things that can be done to treat the condition. Many times ear infections heal on their own without the help of antibiotics.

• Make an appointment with your child’s health care provider. Even if your child has had an ear infection before your child’s doctor still wants them to be seen; this is to make sure the condition is diagnosed and treated properly.


• Visit your child’s doctor on their scheduled appointment day. Only a licensed medical provider is able to diagnose an ear infection. They look inside your child’s ear to see if the eardrum is red. The procedure is simple and painless.


• Follow your child’s doctor instructions. If your child’s doctor prescribes an antibiotic, make sure you follow the directions on the bottle.


• Ask your child’s doctor about giving your child children’s Tylenol for pain. Depending upon your doctor they may not want you to give your child Tylenol, they may recommend Ibuprofen. The doctor may also prescribe ear drops with an anesthetic which is known to relieve pain.


• Provide your little one plenty of liquids. You may want to avoid having them do too much sucking on a bottle if they are still taking one. You may encourage them to drink more from their sippy cup.


• Give your little one extra care and love. They may want to be held and cuddle a little more during this time. It is important to give them as much of your attention as possible during this time.