need advise from mom's whose babies had lots of ear infections

Do DS (almost 1 yr) now has his 5th ear infection this winter. It always is the same - starts with a cold at the same time he starts getting teeth and then - boom - ear infection.

So the topic of tubes has come up and we don't know what to do. His ped said to wait it out and see how he does in the spring when the warm weather rolls around. I feel bad giving him antibiotics - his appetite suffers and he does not eat.....meaning he loses a few ounces every time. His ped said it was normal for daycare babies to have 6-7 infections the first year and maybe 4-5 the next year and that he would grow out of it by the time he was 2. We took him to see an ENT and his answer was tubes. I know plenty of kids get this surgery and its safe but its still sugery. I also feel like they were pushing as a course of action so I am not thrilled.

So, moms who have gone through this - WWYD?

Re: need advise from mom's whose babies had lots of ear infections

I went through this with my daughter when she was about 15-16 months through the age of 2. They kept bringing up tubes and I am really glad they decided to hold off. Pretty soon after, the ear infections just stopped. i think between the age of 2 1/2 and 7 she has had maybe 1 or 2 ear infections and thats it. If they continue to get worse, and the doctors are really pushing for it, it might be for the best. maybe wait it out another month and see if he gets anymore.

Re: need advise from mom's whose babies had lots of ear infections

DS had a ton during the 1st winter in daycare. I went to an ENT who gave him some medicine before the thought of tubes. We basically held off as well and now at 21 months we havent had a problem

Re: need advise from mom's whose babies had lots of ear infections

The thing with tubes and ear infections is more if the fluid is draining out. For my son the fluid was not draining and it was effecting his hearing. So we opted for the tubes and it was a great decision for us. My son had way more ear infections than just 5 or 6 he was getting them at least monthly and sometimes twice a month. Damien also had sleep apnea and went on to get his tonsils and adenoids out too when he was three, so he had more issues than just ear infections.

Did the ENT do a hearing test?

Re: need advise from mom's whose babies had lots of ear infections

DS had a lot of ear infections his first winter. They said the same thing, let's hold off and see how he does during the summer. ENT also said to wait and see how the summer went. Well, from May - August he didn't have any. Then in Sept, it started again and it didn't stop. He was getting at least one a month, and we brought up the tubes to the doc, but she said he really didn't qualify becuase his ears were draining and the infection was clearing up after a course of anitbiotics. Finally, in december he got a gouble ear infection that lasted through 3 doses of antibiotics and 6 weeks later wasn't gone. The doc finally said this was cause for concern, sent us back to the ENT who said yes, tubes. DS just got them in last week. The procedure, from the time they put him out to the time they told us we could go back and see him he was awake, was less than 15min. It's supposed to be painless and the only reason they knock little kids out is just so they don't squirm.

It doesn't hurt to wait to see how the summer goes and then see how the ears do next winter. But you also don't want to let your child suffer and have to constantly be on antibiotics if it looks like next year is going to be the same story.

Good luck and I hope he does better!