Poll: How many ear infections has your toddler had?

ShanJosh777 · October 2010

DS has a double ear infection. His doc seemed kind of concerned and he said he's "young to be getting so many infections." He has probably had a total of 6 or 7 since he was born. I didn't think that seemed excessive, I thought all babies were prone to ear infections. But what do I know?

How many ear infections has your LO had? And if they have tubes, at what point did the doc feel it was necessary?

Lotte134 · October 2010

None - my brother had a ton growing up so I was expecting them, but nothing yet.

*knocks on wood*

Chrissy1563 · October 2010

we also have had none either...thankfully. I thought babies were prone to them as well, 6 wouldn't seem like an excessive amount to me...but, i'm not really sure...

TexasSmith · October 2010

1

ToBeMrsT · October 2010

2

618mom22boys · October 2010

6 we go to our f/u ENT appointment next week to see if he will be getting tubes or not.

Ankea97 · October 2010

Lots! And he tends to have fluid in his ears too.

However, I think most of them were the same ear infection that never healed. We have done a few ENT appointments- but since his ears are now clear, we are holding off on tubes.

kada626 · October 2010

dd1- never had one

dd2- one

BerriGirl · October 2010

At least six, but he hasn't had one in a while... maybe 6 months? I thought it was a lot, but the pedi didn't seem too concerned.

funchicken · October 2010

She's had two total, but she hasn't had one since she was 10 months old.

jenuine · October 2010

DD had tubes inserted at 1 year and reinserted at 2, as well as had her adenoids removed. She has had more ear infections than I can count. Has one right now as a matter of fact. The reason they get concerned with the number is antibiotic resistance. His ears will be fine. Talking with an ENT can't hurt.

40+twinmom · October 2010

None for either. We've been pretty lucky.

Asquared · October 2010

2. one as a baby and one a few months ago

columbiamommy · October 2010

None! But I've never had one either. Hopefully our next LO will be so lucky.

trizzie · October 2010

Four from ten months to 20 months. Then he got tubes.

regenab · October 2010

Neither of my girls has ever had an ear infection. My Mom said I had them all the time as a baby, so I was expecting them. But so far so good.

JoyousJulia · October 2010

Somewhere in the range of 4-6. One was really bad and lasted for almost 2 months. With my ear infection history (I had so many my pedi had my dad get an otoscope and taught him how to use it) we kind of expect it. We know that we'll probably have to do tubes at some point.

ebb7 · October 2010

DD has had 3...but knock on wood, none in the past year!

smash_effect · October 2010

4 here.

LaLaSweets · October 2010

Thankfully just one

crzygirl · October 2010

None Thank goodness

marta602 · October 2010

DS has had 0. My BFF's DS just got tubes put in at 20 months. He had 4 ear infections in 6 months and they said that was borderline for getting tubes. She went ahead and did it and he is doing so much better.

June2007 · October 2010

1.

rylee1 · October 2010

My son had chronic ear infections for 6 months. After the 4th one and many rounds of antibiotics we went to the ENT. By the time tubes were put in he was on #6. Hasn't had one since. Best thing we ever did.

abergale · October 2010

Between 1 and 2 my DD had 13 ear infections. Literally one would clear up and the other one would get infected. She would get rounds of antibiotics and then antibiotic shots. It was horrible. She went to the allergist and the ENT. She had tonsils the size of a 5 yo. So she had tonsils and adenoids removed, ear tubes inserted to help remove all the fluids. The last ear infection she had was right before the surgery and it wasn't responding to antibiotics. Since then she has been awesome

She goes for check ups every 6 months now so they can monitor when the tubes fall out and the ear is fully healed. Then she will be able to stop going. ENT believes when they fall out she won't need them because it is a result of the tonsils.

Jaimers375 · October 2010

2

augustjam16 · October 2010

From 5-10 months, DS probably had about 5. Pedi said if he had 1 more, we would talk tubes. By then it was spring and he never had another. Then September came again and like clockwork racked up another 4 from 17-22 months. The last one went from ear to ear and took 3 different antibiotics to clear up enough for surgery. He had tubes a week before his 2nd birthday and has barely even been sick since. His colds clear up fast where as before surgery they would linger and then he would get fluid in his ears. It was awful. Our life is 100% different this fall with tubes.

byrne15 · October 2010

none luckily

BabyCakes3 · October 2010

DD had maybe 5-6 from 6 months - 14 months. She hasn't had one since 14 months.

Echowysp · October 2010

Probably 7. I've lost count.

momtoRaegan041008 · October 2010

I think she has had 3.

1 her first winter, and 2 last winter.

eesome · October 2010

He has had two. I'm sorry to hear about your DS's ear infection. I hope it doesn't stay long!

ironmommy · October 2010

Lily had one a month during her second year of life -- it was awful. They were suggesting tubes and I honestly would have done it, but DH and I are self-employed and our insurance considered her ear problems to be a pre-existing condition and wouldn't cover them.

I have to say though -- I started giving her vitamins a few months ago and we have been infection-free for two whole months. This is the longest she's gone without a trip to the doctor in over a year.

coffeelovin'momma · October 2010

one time, when my daughter was 13 months old. I wouldn't be surprised if she gets more this winter . . . but hopefully none!

kelly&marty · October 2010

DS had 5 between 6-10 months old, and got tubes at 10 months. 1 since (soon after the tubes). His tubes just came out a few weeks ago, so now we're waiting for another one.

Tubes are a good thing. Too many antibiotics are bad, and chronic ear infections are horrible for their speech, hearing, and development. I had chronic ear problems as a child (still do), and so with my history we are watching DS closely.

wifeandmama · October 2010

He hasn't had any in the last year (knock on wood) but he had about 6 or 7 from age 1 - 2ish. That doctor wasn't concerned.

augustjam16 · October 2010

ironmommy:
Lily had one a month during her second year of life -- it was awful. They were suggesting tubes and I honestly would have done it, but DH and I are self-employed and our insurance considered her ear problems to be a pre-existing condition and wouldn't cover them.
I have to say though -- I started giving her vitamins a few months ago and we have been infection-free for two whole months. This is the longest she's gone without a trip to the doctor in over a year.

That's BS about your insurance. Pre-existing condition? They really wouldn't cover that? Its not even my kid and that makes me mad. Hoping your little girl makes it through the winter season infection free. I know your situation is tough but tubes are life changing. Your daughter will feel like a new kid. One a month is about the track we were on, its a lot and really hard on them. If you can swing it I highly, highly recommend the surgery. You won't regret it.