Some children are prone to recurrent ear infections. The most common cause is when the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the nose, doesn’t drain well because of its anatomical structure. This problem improves with age — hence most children “outgrow” ear infections.
It can be very distressing for a parent to repeatedly bring a child in with the same type of infection. There are some things that you can do to lessen your child’s risk of ear infections. Limit your child’s exposure to secondhand smoke, whenever possible. Research shows that exposure to cigarette smoke makes children more likely to develop ear infections and may prolong recovery. Also, try to minimize your child’s exposure to sick children. Children who attend group child care tend to suffer more illnesses of all sorts, including ear infections. Feeding practices such as breast feeding and avoiding feeding your baby lying down have been shown to decrease the risk of ear infections. In a small percentage of children, allergies may contribute to ear infections. And lastly, it is important to teach your child how to blow his or her nose, when age appropriate, to lessen chances of ear infections.