ear infection?

hi moms --

i posted this in the baby bargains lounge, but i realized that it probably belongs here. i need advice -- my 8 month old daughter is getting over a cold and is pulling on her ears. she does not have a fever, and except for a couple of morning naps in the last week, has not had any trouble sleeping.

we just went to the doctor this past friday for her 8 month check up, and the doc looked in her ears and declared them just fine.

should i be worried about an ear infection now and bring her into the doc again? i'm such a neurotic, worrying first time mom -- i'm trying to be reasonable.

what would you guys do?

tia, cindy
mom to chloe (1/3/03)

Hi Cindy.

Yes! When in doubt go to the Doctor! I have a 2 year old and an 11 month old, both with ear tubes... I have sometimes taken them back the very next day and they would be diagnosed with an ear infection. My motto "when in doubt, check it out!"

;)

Ear infections can come on suddenly -- in just a hour or two. Children do not always run fevers, either. When it comes to ear infections it is always better to be safe then sorry. My 9 1/2 mo old daughter had 3 ear infection in five months. This is not two alarming to most Peds Doctors. (Standard is 5 in a year then refer to a ENT Specialist.) But with the history in my family (My 4 yr had troubles as an infant, had tubes at 10 mo and now is speech delayed and in speech therapy), I took her right away to see an ENT. He told me it was up to us if we wanted to have Ear tubes inserted. He said that if it was spring he would try and talk us out of it, but considering the season he would go with our decision. My husband & I decided to go getting the tubes. Good thing we did too. The morning of the day surgery, when the doctor was performing the procedure she had another infection starting. So we made the right decision he said.

Bottom line -- take her to the doctor to be sure.