Ear Infections and Eating Solids

Updated on June 15, 2011
M.J. asks from Saint Paul, MN
6 answers

Did anyone else experience problems with ear infections and solid feeding with their children? My 8 month old has had 5 ear infections and her ear drum has burst twice. We are now seeing an ENT (getting tubes put in her ears) but we are starting to wonder if the reason she doesn't like to eat baby food or any solids is because of her ears?? She doesn't want anything to do with it whether she has an ear infection or not.

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L.S.

answers from San Francisco on

that is a possibility. I know my son and daughter did not eat much when they were in pain because of teething or ear infections. You should have her adnoids checked. Also, check to make sure she isn't allergic or have a wheat sensitivity. You may also want to go ahead and have tubes put in her ears. My nephew is a year and half and finally had his adnoids out. They were causing all sorts of infections and problems with his ears. But I think the real reason was and is his sensitivity to wheat. Don't worry too much about solids now, she is still young enough to just drink formula or be breastfed. Best of luck to you with the ears. I know that it can be a very frustrating experience.

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D.S.

answers from Houston on

the fluid is probably putting pressure on her jaw. Which makes it hurt to eat. but she is young enough to survive on just formula

1 mom found this helpful
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S.L.

answers from Philadelphia on

When my son was 9 months old he got a double ear infection and he was treated with 4 different antibiotics before we were done with it. We were at the pediatrician's office every 2 weeks because the antibiotic would be done in 10 days and then the infection would come back and his ear drum would rupture again. In that whole process he often didn't eat much solids for the first 2-3 days on antibiotics, but by the time we neared the end of the dose he ate fine. (He nursed pretty well regardless, so I didn't worry about it too much.) I guess my answer is, his appetite was reduced some when he felt pretty bad, but it came back pretty quickly.

Does she have a lot of diarrhea from the antibiotics? We gave him lots of yogurt to help restore the good bacteria in his gut and that seemed to help a little. I hope she feels better soon!

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Y.Y.

answers from New York on

when babies or children are sick they tend to lose their appetite... just feed her whenever you think she is hungry... give her milk...

you really have to consult a specialist because ear infections can lead to brain because there's a direct rel. between ear and brain.... find out what causes her infections and it is not normal to have 5 infections..

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T.J.

answers from Seattle on

Try eliminating dairy! Except for good greek yogurt. I had an earache when I was sick last year and I remember it hurting my jaw too. And take her to a chiropractor! I've seen it work on my daughter and about 9 other kids with chronic ear infections.

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C.S.

answers from Chicago on

When my daughter was a baby she started getting ear infections at 6 months old. She was on a frustrating cycle of ear infection, antibiotic, clear for a few days, then another ear infection. After several infections (5 or 6 I cannot remember) we were referred to a wonderful pediatric ENT. Dr. David Walner (Luthern General) was fantastic. He was featured in Chicago Magazine's top MD's issue. Anyway, he suggested we have tubes put in and at 10 months old she had the surgery. The whole surgery lasted about 10 minutes. After she got the tubes we never had an ear infection again. It was amazing. They suffer so much with the infections, I wished she could have gotten the tubes even earlier. They fall out on their own about a year or so after being put in. No big deal. And a good doctor can put the tubes in and monitor them so there is no scarring or hearing loss. Oh when you do see the pediatric ENT request a hearing test because multiple ear infections can cause hearing loss if it created scar tissue. Good Luck.

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