Some Questions....binky use possibly contributing to chronic ear infections

DS has had 7 ear infections from end of March 2009 through January 1st just past. He is 18 1/2 months old now.

Finally went to see an ENT ....of course he suggested stopping the binky.

He also suggested the tubes in the ears.

To avoid the suggested tubes in the ears, I will try ANYTHING else.

I think I would rather suffer a few days with the binky withdrawal.


SO......

1. Did anyone stop the binky and see any difference in the amount of ear infections?

2. How the H E L L do I stop him with the binky? Cold turkey? Cutting it? Stop for naps 1st then bedtime I feel cold turkey may be best?

3. If you did stop cold turkey, how long did it take for withdrawls?!

Any other suggestions appreciated also that may help stop these infections!

Message edited 1/11/2010 2:12:44 PM.

Re: Some Questions....binky use possibly contributing to chronic ear infections

My son had tubes done, Dr did not suggest stop using a pacifier (dont see the connection)baby's ears are not draining and fluid and bacteria build up..they outgrow this as they grow.

As for weaning the paci, I would limit it to just his crib. If he wants to suck on it he has to do it in his crib. He will get bored and leave it behind (x'ing fingers). Im going thru that now with my daughter, its working..its not easy but we are compromising.

good luck - hope your boy get better.

Re: Some Questions....binky use possibly contributing to chronic ear infections

A PED I met while PG, did imply the connection between the pacifier and ear infection. It was at a seminar.

Especially after they are 6 months old. That's because of the suction being much stronger, it creates too much pressure for the ears.

Re: Some Questions....binky use possibly contributing to chronic ear infections

Re: Some Questions....binky use possibly contributing to chronic ear infections

Yes we noticed a difference (knock on wood), we were sure she was going to have tubes in this year (she had 5 ear infections last year) but so far she has only had 1 infection this winter...

We stopped cold turkey when she was 16 months or so but mostly because her Ped said he could see her teeth getting misshaped. She really didn't miss it so much - we were very surprised. We just stopped offering it to her and she was fine- we must have picked a good day to do it...

Although now she has a baby elmo with a fake binky and she pretends to use it We keep telling her that its elmo's, not hers.

By the way, there is def a connection between ears and sucking - thats why sucking on a candy during a plane trip helps relieve the pressure in your ears.


ETA - she did wake up an hour ealier than usual for about 2 weeks after stopping. I think she had used it previously to soothe herself back to sleep. But she when back to normal pretty quickly.

Message edited 1/11/2010 3:28:01 PM.

Re: Some Questions....binky use possibly contributing to chronic ear infections

I have heard of this but honestly wouldnt bet his ear infections disappearing just because you stop the binky.

TJ is 2.5 and has had 2 ear infections his whole life and STILL uses a binky. Derek is 4 mo. and has had 2 ear infections already and NEVER uses a binky.

As someone who had chronic ear infections as a child, I know you are trying to avoid getting tubes put in, but honestly if it will help him and help end his suffering from ear infections I think you should do it. It is not a major surgery, although any surgery is scary for a child. The long term benefits of him getting tubes outweigh the risk of the surgery IMO. My mom refused tubes for me and I ended up needing speech and reading through elementary school because the ear infections caused damage to my ear drums resulting in hearing deficits.

ETA: They have also link dairy and cigarette smoke to chronic ear infections. So who knows?

Message edited 1/11/2010 4:11:56 PM.

Re: Some Questions....binky use possibly contributing to chronic ear infections

AJ uses a paci
ENT said nothing about it.. didnt even ask. She's getting tubes. 7 ear infections in 2009. But she's in daycare so that could make a diff i guess?

AJ uses a paci to sleep and lately to soothe teething. *shrug*

Re: Some Questions....binky use possibly contributing to chronic ear infections

We had to see an ENT last year for DD b/c of her ear infections. One of the things suggested was taking away the paci. We did not, we did everything else on the list but that She only uses it to go to sleep, so we were reluctant to get rid of it.

In our case, she always get them (ear infections) when when she is cutting a tooth.

Good luck

Re: Some Questions....binky use possibly contributing to chronic ear infections

I think this makes a lot of sense

Re: Some Questions....binky use possibly contributing to chronic ear infections

there is some evidence linking binky use to increased evidence of ear infections.

my son is 27 months old and is STILL addicted to the paci... and while he's had plenty of colds, he's never had an ear infection. *knock on wood!*

i think it can't hurt to wean the paci to see if this helps your child... but i wouldn't feel the need to do it cold turkey. i might start by cutting down the time he uses it, like making it just for naptime.

Re: Some Questions....binky use possibly contributing to chronic ear infections

Well we had a LOT of fussing & crying for a few hours today....BUT he finally went to sleep without the binky for his nap.

So I sort of decided to take it away for all naps this week....then start trying on Friday night to go to bed without it.

Re: Some Questions....binky use possibly contributing to chronic ear infections

Re: Some Questions....binky use possibly contributing to chronic ear infections

If you want to wean a baby off the binky in order to avoid the infections, you can poke holes with a pin in the binky. All of Abby's binky's have holes in them. To be honest, she uses the binkys MUCH more now than before she had the tubes put in. However I never would have waited on the tubes. As soon as the ENT told me that to Abby, the world sounded as if she was underwater, there was no question. I did not want to risk speech and language issues. After the tubes, her language exploded.