As a mom, there’s nothing harder than seeing your child in pain, and ear infections can be especially tough for some kids. I used to get ear infections a lot when I was little and had to have tubes put in my ears several times. Even though I haven’t had one since I was about five, I still remember how painful they were, even more than other illnesses like strep throat.
Luckily, my kids have mostly steered clear of common childhood illnesses—maybe it’s our diet that helps? We’ve only had two ear infections with our five children under the age of eight, which is pretty good. Still, it’s hard to watch your child suffer, and I totally get the urge to rush to the doctor for quick relief. However, it’s not always that simple.
When my oldest son developed an ear infection as a baby, I took him to our family doctor for help. Ear infections are very common in kids and can become a serious issue if not treated, so I wanted to be careful. Both my parents have hearing problems, so protecting my son’s hearing was important. Surprisingly, our doctor advised using warm compresses, extra nursing, a few drops of breastmilk, and more sleep for a few days before using stronger treatments. He explained that antibiotics aren’t always necessary since many ear infections clear up on their own, and overusing antibiotics can lead to other problems as bacteria become resistant.
I’m really thankful that our doctor took the time to educate me on this approach. We’ve since moved, so when our other child had an ear infection last year, I didn’t have his advice handy. My son wasn’t nursing, so breastmilk wasn’t an option, and we couldn’t see the local doctor for a few days. I thought about going to urgent care but decided to research natural remedies and try them out for a day while keeping an eye on his symptoms.
During my research, I learned that not all earaches are caused by infections. Sometimes they might be due to teething or allergies, and often viruses, not bacteria, cause ear infections, making antibiotics ineffective. I also found out that frequent ear infections could be a sign of a food allergy or gut imbalance, which made sense since I had many ear infections and later discovered I had several food intolerances as a kid.
Ear infections can also result from swimming or something getting stuck in the ear. New guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend a more cautious approach for doctors in treating ear infections and provide warning signs for parents.
For our child, we decided to take the “wait and see” approach in his care, supporting his body to recover naturally. After looking into various remedies, we chose some that brought him relief within 24 hours.
It was crucial to ensure his eardrum wasn’t ruptured before applying any remedies, as I would never use anything if there was a risk of damage.
One remedy I always have on hand is elderberry syrup, especially during winter, as it naturally fights viruses. It’s easy to give to kids because it tastes good. I make it at home and use it to help them recover from ear infections.
For pain relief, we used a warm compress which seemed to work really well. We tried a hot water bottle, a rice heating pack, and a warm, wet washcloth. My son preferred the washcloth, so I infused it with soothing dried chamomile and rosemary for an added benefit, keeping the cloth warm by changing it frequently. This remedy helped him fall asleep quickly, and he woke up feeling much better.
Garlic is another potent natural antibiotic and antiviral but can be harsh on a child’s skin when used directly. I sliced fresh garlic, placed the slices between layers of gauze, and secured it with a bandana around his head. This allowed the beneficial properties to reach his ear without direct contact with his skin.
We repeated this treatment the next night, but he was already symptom-free after the first application. I’ve also heard that onions can be used in a similar way, but I used garlic since it was readily available. An Amish friend swears by a method of using garlic and onion poultices on the feet during sleep for various ailments, which has worked for her kids too.
I also keep garlic oil on hand for any signs of itching or ear pain, and since starting this, ear infections haven’t been a problem for us anymore. It’s important to keep the body hydrated and well-nourished, so I use homemade bone broth to support my kids’ health. We usually have some ready in the fridge or freezer for when anyone feels under the weather.
Have you ever treated an ear infection naturally? What remedies have you tried?
