Google “ear infections and babies” and you get 15,600,000 results. Well, make that 15,600,001 because this post is about ear infections, babies and a parent’s challenge in finding the fix. The right fix for your baby.

DS (12 mos) is on his 5^th ear infection in 4 months. That is five rounds of antibiotics. FIVE. And after I researched, read and wrote THIS connecting autism and antibiotics…I think 5 is way too many.

If you have been following my tweets—I have been tweeting about this (a lot).

Ear infections suck.  Waiting 4 months to see an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist in a mega-city sucks more. Surely, he will get more infections between now and then.  And I will have to decide whether to give him more antibiotics or manage it with pain reliever (which I guess doesn’t take care of the infection—but is it fluid build up or a virus?  I’m confused about this).

Tubes sound like a silver lining. But putting a baby under general anesthetic is a scary thing. I hear it’s a 10-minute procedure and pretty easy on the kids (actually, I’ve heard it will be tougher on me than him).

And then, there are those good souls who recommend seeing a naturopath. Again, something I know nothing about—but isn’t fluid not draining a structural issue rather than environmental? Like plumbing pipes not quite at the right angle to drain.

And what do I do if I go the tube route? Will he have to wear ear plugs in the bath? Is all this fluid back-up going to affect his speech or hearing? Will all these antibiotics build up a super immunity?

Gah—I wish there was a manual for parents. Here’s your baby and here’s your user guide—check out the chapter on ear infections!

So, dear friends, an activity for your ear-tugging, grumpy, non-eating baby with an ear infection....lots of cuddles and follow-up calls for cancellations at the specialist's office.