PREVENT EAR INFECTIONS

Natural Prevention of an Ear Infection - More Than Home Remedies

People that get a lot of ear infections might actually be allergic to dairy products, egg whites, wheat, peanuts or soy. Or, their intake of fatty foods may be too high.

Chewing gum that contains Xylitol (Biotene Dry Mouth Gum, or SmartMouth Sugarfree Gum) helps fight bacteria. Chewing Xylitol gum regularly has been shown to prevent inner ear infections by keeping the bacteria in the mouth from moving up into the nose and ears.

Recurring ear infections may be due to the overuse of antibiotics. This is because the antibiotics also kill the intestinal flora in our body that are meant to keep out the bad things - like germs. Cutting sugars and refined carbohydrates from the diet would help a lot, although some parents find that this is not easy with their kids. So another choice is to replace the intestinal flora that was killed by the antibiotics. You do this with acidophilus, which comes in many forms: Acidophilus Tablets, Children's Chewable Acidophilus Tablets, Acidophilus Strawberry Liquid, and Children's Acidophilus Powder.

Prevent Baby's Ear Infections

A baby should not lay flat when you're feeding him or he is at risk of getting ear infections. This is because the liquid can enter the eustacian tube and introduce bacteria or viruses into the middle ear

Most people do prop up the head end of a baby more when giving a bottle, and breastfed babies are ususally held in a more upright position, both of which prevent milk from backing up through the eustachian tube into baby's ears. Breast milk also has some germ-fighting properties, but this is not always enough protection from ear infections if the baby lies flat while nursing.

There is hope even for mothers who nurse in bed. Your baby can be elevated enough if his head and upper body are on your pillow -- not his entire body, or he will still be lying flat -- or if his head is on your arm. Or, baby could lie flat if you are both on a wedge pillow.

Putting baby on a wedge in his crib will also help to prevent ear infections because this allows the ears to drain.

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