Breast Milk in the Ear: Myth or Cure?

I don't really know if you should or not but i now an expert that would. I'm on a site called bellyhood.com and there is a nurse that answers all sorts of quesstions. she's also a lactation consultant. so give that a shot.

In Africa, they say the contrary "be careful not to have breast milk get in your baby's ears because it develops frequent infections"

I have never heard of that but I do personally put peroxide in my ear if I have an ear ache. However if it is in your childs inner ear (which it probably is) then the proxide nor the breast milk can get to the infection.

Best Wishes!

That's very interesting, I've never heard of that, however, I do know that olive oil (off brand sweet oil) worked everytime with my oldest.

My great grandmother would put a little pee in her kids ears for an ear infection. You never know what people will try. The belief is that it is actually the warmth of the liquid that eases the pain, but it is not good to put liquid in an infected ear.

If I were you I would consult with an Otolaryngologist/ENT. My son had the same problem starting at 5 months. By the time he was 9 months and the doctors had tried every antibiotic including the antibiotic shots the ENT decided it was time for ear tubes. Although I was a little scared, the procedure (which took about 20 minutes) turned out to be the best decision we could have made. After the surgery which was in and out, there were no more ear infections, fevers, runny noses, medication, etc. When he was almost two years old the tubes fell out and the ear infection came back so the ENT inserted another set of tubes and removed his adnoids which seemed to be the main problem. The anoids was holding infections which were infecting his ears. I am happy to say that 4 years later we have not had one ear infection, no antibiotics, etc. Do a little research and talk to your doctor. Good Luck!

L., that really sounds like an old wives tale to me. I'm assuming that your daughter has a middle ear infection, which is on the other side of the eardrum from where you would be putting your breast milk. There's no way it could have any effect, short of magic. If your daughter had an outer ear infection, I could see it, but then the doctor would be giving her drops to put in her ear rather than antibiotics from within.

If this continues, and if you have not already done so, a consultation with an otolaryngologist would be beneficial. In the past removal of adenoids was performed and it did help with recurring ear infections for children with allergies. But I'm sure they would do nothing until the current infection is cleared up.

Stick with what your doctor has ordered, middle ear infections are stubborn and tough to get rid of.

I would check w/ your pediatrician before putting liquid in her ear.
WIth that said, during one of my son's early checkups, I brought up to his doctor that I was concerned that when my son was nursing, the milk was coming out of his nose -- and not just a drip! It was a stream of milk! He said not to be concerned, that it was actually a good thing because of the healing qualities of milk -- he laughed & said you could put it on anything, including the dog, because of the way it protects.
So if you could figured out a way to safely put liquid in her ear, I would say it's worth a shot!
Good luck -- and know that they eventually grow out of the ear infections!

I've never heard of this before so I won't be much help on your actual question. I just wanted to mention that my daughter had a constant ear infection until she was 2 yrs old. (Very long and painfull) Anyway, my point is, when a doctor finally decided to check, it was because of her tonsils. They were really big and blocking the drainage from her ears so they stayed infected. She had to have them removed imeadiatly, but no problems since!!! She's 10 now! Maybe you could have someone check. Just a thought. Good Luck!

I squirted into my infant son's eyes when he got infections and it worked great, given all the white blood cells. Don't know how it would work on an ear infection, but it's a great panacea for other superficial infections, wounds... Good luck.

The ear infection is behind the tympanic membrane as long as there is no perforation in the membrane the milk would never come into contact with te internal areas of the ear, so technically it would be safe, but if there was a rupture the milk would encourage bacteria to grow in a location that already has an infection...not a good combination. As for the nose , I have used this tactic when my older three children had persistant sinus infections at a young age. the milk should be fresh, when the babe is getting ready to nurse quickly express some milk right under the nose and tip the head back, you night have some run into an eye, but it works for conjunctivitus too, so not big deal.

As to the issue of persistant antibiotics....I am unsure as to why your Ped is insisting on continuing antibiotics when the infection is not responding....it is probably viral, which by definition would not respond to antibiotics. I have used tea tree oil drops (melelucca brand) and garlic/olive oil drops for ear infections when this was the case with my children and it clears the infection up in no time, and it is incredibly soothing to haver the warm oil to coat the membrane and reduce friction from wind and air.

My two daughters both grew out of their constant infections by 13 months, my son however was not so fortunate and still has a suseptibility to sinus problems more than his sisters....the only thing that gave him respite for the infections was him getting tubes at two. It was more invasive than I would have wanted, but it was so easy and after that one time he never had chronic problems with his ears and his hearing is perfect.

If the ear drum hasn't ruptured, then I don't think it will do any harm. If the ear drum has ruptured, it should be kept clean and dry.

If the ear infection is bad enough that you have run through multiple courses of antibiotics, then unfortunately, I think more antibiotics and traditional medical treatment are the remedy.

Most of the ear infection remedies are really about making the child comfortable because in most cases, the child's immune system will take care of the ear infection within a few days. Anesthetic ear drops, olive oil and hydrogen peroxide are all in that vein. However, if the infection is persistent, then antibiotics and possibly ear tubes are the remedy.

I have used breast milk to clear up congestion and a runny nose. I have heard of using it for pinkeye (several moms in my play goup swear by this one). I haven't ever used it for the ears as neither of my boys got ear infections, but I would certainly try it. I don't see where it would hurt.

I would not try the milk but here is a trick even stranger. Cut an onion in half and lay half on the outside of the ear. Tie it on for a few hours. One mother told me it drew the infection out of her child's ear in short order and her boy was cured in a day or two. AF

i've only heard of it for acne.

I've been through the same with my 6 yr old 9 ear infe in one year. Now we go to the Chrioprator(sorry about the spelling) about everyother mth. Its a lot better than a $20 copay plus cost of anti and the effects it has on their bodies. $5 trip to the chrio. it does seem to hurt a little bit but we have not had an infe since. Good luck

My Doc recomended it for an eye infection but not the ear.

So as far as this working, not sure, but I will give you some safety advice. If you put too much of any liquid up her nose, you can drowned her, remember the saying it only takes a teaspoon of liquid. And even before drowning, you can induce seizures (I've seen this happen with a child's saline bulb). As for the ears, if the ear drum has not ruptured, it probably can't hurt it, it may even sooth, I have no idea, but if it has ruptured, then any liquid will get into the inner ear canal and can do serious damage. Also this about this when bathing her, if water gets into an ear with a ruptured ear drum it can help continue a ear infection. You should look into ear tubes, it sounds like your daughter's ears aren't draining themselves. This happened with my son and he got ear tubes, not to fix the infection but to fix the breeding place of the bacteria. Sometimes children ears don't drain normally so when there is a cold or any kind of congestion, the fluid gets in the ear and when it can't drain any bacteria there (there is always some) will breed and cause an infection. Good luck!!