Ear infections and tubes experience?

Ljohn43 · June 2016

Just got back from the dr and G is on his 4th ear infection - he just turned 5 months on the 21st. The dr referred me to the ENT and says she's about 90% sure he's going to have to get ear tubes

anyone ne have experience with this? I know it's pretty common, but it still scares me being that it's a surgery. Has anyone ever had them done in a baby so young?

Cricket99 · June 2016

Two of my cousins had them as babies for the same reasons. Constant ear infections. They are both in their 20s now and I can only imagine the procedure has been perfected. It's definitely very common though!

ctmamaoftwo · June 2016

I had tubes in my ears when I was 6 months old (or close to it) I had constant ear infections. My mom said it was a pretty quick procedure and as PP mentioned I'm sure it's improved for the last few decades. But I understand being nervous for any procedure this young but I'm sure everything will be just fine and your babe will feel much better without all the ear infections!

littlecrimsonjester · June 2016

I got tubes in my ears when I was little and have not had an ear infection since totally worth it.

BarrettJ89 · June 2016

I had CONSTANT ear infections and got my first set of tubes at 9 months old. I had a total of 4 sets, and have ruptured my ear drums approximately 7 times each (literally lost count). I had tubes put in at 9 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 9 years old... the surgery itself is no biggie, although I'm dreading it with my own kids. It's outpatient and isn't a long procedure at all.

I'm calling the ENT tomorrow for my 18 month old. That poor boy is on round 3 of antibiotics for this one! Baby girl will likely need tubes too... yay genetics! The doctors said that my ear problems could be passed down.

kwentela · June 2016

Ok this may sound odd, but my sister in law had the same problem with my niece when she was an infant, ear infection after ear infection and they were really close to putting in tubes. But she was trying to find a way to avoid surgery and her friend recommended her to go to this chiropractor that specializes in infants and children. My sister thought it was worth a shot, took her a few times and hasn't had an ear infection since. She had her son and started taking him early and he never had an ear infection problem. It does make sense to me, infants are at higher risk for ear infections bc of the angle of their ear canal and some kids just can't get it to drain properly and they get ear infections, which is why they put tubes in, it drains the fluid out. so this chiropractor by different positioning gets the ears to drain. So if you believe in chiropractic care and can find someone with this specialized training it might be a non surgical option.

Ljohn43 · June 2016

Thanks for the input, everyone! @BarrettJ89 that sounds painful - so sorry! @kwentela I hadn't thought of that, but I may be willing to try it. I was seeing a chiro during my pregnancy that does infants as well. It still scares me a little bc I had a strange incident after she cracked my neck one time where my ears were ringing for ab 24 hrs after. I haven't been back since and that was right before baby in Jan... I guess I could try it! I would love to avoid a surgery if there was another option.

Thanks!

BabyHope2013 · June 2016

My DS one was a candidate for tubes. Had several ear infections. I was really apprehensive about going forward with the surgery. We met with an ENT---did hearing tests and everything. He was getting ear infections about once a month on average from about 5 months on. Finally we got a bit of a break around 15 months and the doctors and I agreed that if he had one more ear infection then he would get the surgery. Well as soon as I made this decision, guess what?! No more ear infections until he almost turned 2 years old. Now he might get one a year but that's it. I think it just took him some time for his ear canal to develop. Not saying this is the right thing for you and your baby---but I would talk it over with an ENT specialist and see what they have to say.

SuperherosMom · July 2016

Both my older ones has tubes at 12 months. No biggie. Million times better.

MissMheMhe · July 2016

LO will be 6mo on Tuesday and has an ENT appointment on Friday. He's only had 2 infections, but the first lasted 5 weeks and took 2 oral meds and finally needing 3 Rocephin shots to clear up. Then the next showed up about 10 days after getting the all clear from the first. Pedi thinks there may be a structural issue making him more prone to infections so we'll see what the ENT says. Most likely tubes are in our future to all his ears to drain.

BarrettJ89 · July 2016

My son is 18 months old and will be getting tubes in the 21st *sigh*

I've been through it my self so many times, but it is so much different when it's your baby...

Wicked4589 · July 2016

My sister in law had them done to my niece at about a year old. Her second daughter was battling ear infections for a long time. After the 5th round of antibiotics she took her to the chiro. After a few treatments she went back to the ped who said the infection was gone. She takes her monthly now just to make sure it doesn't come back since she's still teething. My son had one ear infection and we took him to the chiro once a week for three weeks. It cleared up with no problem. We take him regularly and he's never had an ear infection since. It's worth a shot. My sister in law said she wishes she would have given it a shot with her first daughter. She thinks it would have avoided the tubes entirely.

Ljohn43 · July 2016

We've been going to the chiro (been 3 times now) and will keep going 2x per week for the next 3 weeks. We go back to the dr in 3 weeks to re-evaluate so I will be interested to hear if it's made any difference.

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