My 13 Month Old Can Not Shake His Cold/ Ear Infection

I know that you may think this untraditional, but what could it hurt to look into? I just got done reading something about the same problem with someone's child and ear infections. They took their baby to a chiropractor and said that it took the infection away almost immediately. It is worth looking into - your poor little guy.

A.,

It is never fun to have a sick child! My daughter who is now 20 months had the same thing. She had 7 ear infections in 6 months and got tubes...which were wonderful. (Sorry to hear yours didn't take, have they fallen out?) She also had RSV, Rotavirus and numerous other bugs. We even were admitted in-patient to Children's for a few nights. AWFUL!!!

We finally had to take her out of the center and she is now doing great at an at-home daycare in my neighborhood. It is the best decision I could have made! She still gets colds here and there which I am fine with...but the intensity and frequency is not as often. It was the best decision we could have made.

If you decide to keep him where he is at, I completely understand. Some recent research suggests that children who are in daycare have a 30% lower risk of developing Childhood Leukemia. Just food for thought. While it is horrible right now, it is so important to stress their immune systems when they are young otherwise they become hyper sensitive and have a hard time fighting infection.

Hello A.,
I wanted to write you because I had a very similar situation as yours. I returned to work when my son was 8 months old as well and he had been sick constantly with ear infections, pink eyes, and so on since he started to go to daycare. He was always on some kind of antibiotics, and eventually we had to put tubes in his ears due to the frequent ear infections. He was also diagnosed with asthma. I was very depressed that my son was sick all the time and felt terrible for him, so I completely understand your concern. One thing I can tell you is that he is building his immune system now. My son is now 2 1/2 and he is completely healthy. He got sick only a couple of times with minor cold for the last 6 months. So I think you son will be healthy as he grows. I know it is very hard for you to see your son being sick now, but please don’t blame yourself. You seem to be a wonderful mom caring about your child so much.
Also, the things worked for my son are wooden floor (no carpet) and humidifier. I guess a wooden floor is easier to keep clean (less dust?) and adequate moisture in rooms is necessary for him to stay healthy.
I hope your son will start getting healthier. Good luck.
Thanks,
N. Hill

I've heard and read so much about milk allergies and ear infections. Try taking all dairy out of his diet for a while and see how it goes. It's easier than it sounds. There are so many milk substitutes out there!
Good luck!

Those first few months in day care can be rough. My son brought home illnesses I had never even heard of. Even though you like his school, could you move him to a smaller day care where he would be exposed to fewer kids and fewer germs? Also, the option wasn't as well known when my kids were in the ear infection stage so I haven't tried it, but some people swear by chiropractic care for ear infections. Good luck.

Go see an alergist if you haven't already. There is a world renowned one here in St. Cloud... Dr. Yassin... best thing I ever did. S.

Have you thought about him having a nasal allergy? When my son came down with his first ear infection I did a lot of reading about how to prevent them. I found in the reading that ear infections can be caused by all the extra fluid due to nasal allergies, and from what I read, ear tubes don't necessarily solve the problem. I found this very interesting, especially since I myself suffer with nasal allergies. My son has not had a recurrence yet, but if we do experience this, I will suggest this to my doctor.

I would be careful with all the cleaning and sanitizing. You may not be helping with all the chemicals. Also I have heard of a link between milk drinking and ear infections. You may want to check out this website - www.karenhurd.com. She is a nutritionist and has some interesting options.

K.

Dear Andrea, I have a lot of answers for you and I have been condensing a three day class I attended about the research concerning recurring infection. The class I teach is one hour. I can teach you some simple things to do for your little one and I need to give you the backround research. Let me know if you want to set a time to consult(phone) K. Joy G. CMT my office is in Burnsville Minnesota and the free class is at 6:30pm this Thursday May 8th. my phone is ###-###-####

I remember going through that with my daughter who is now 12 years old. She eventually built up an immunity by the time she was in Kindergarten but it was a long rough road. My son, 10 years old, also dealt with constant colds, flu, cough, etc. to the point he missed 15 days of school when he was in 2nd grade.
Two years ago my whole family started using Reliv which is a patented nutritional product that gives your body "optimal" nutrition that builds up your immune system.
My 2 year old son has gotten this product since he was 3 months old. The only time he had a runny nose was when his molars came in.
My family came through this winter without a single flu symptom. I am so grateful to Reliv for their amazing product. I share this with others because I feel obligated knowing the health benefits we are seeing.
You can email or call if you want more information.
Blessings,
L.
###-###-####

I am so sorry to hear about you son. Poor little guy! Sounds like you are doing all of the right things at home. It's just hard to control the day care setting.

I am not sure what you do for work, but have you ever heard of Arbonne? www.arbonne.com I work with many women who have been able to replace their current income shortly after starting their home businesses with Arbonne. Check out the website and learn more about the opportunity. Feel free to call or email me. I truly have been given a gift by my friends who introduced Arbonne to me. I am looking for others I can pass the gift on too.

I can second Shelley R's resoponse. My sister has always had quite a few health problems and she started seeing Dr. Yassin and she is much healthier and he even took her off a few meds that she had been taking. He is difficult to get in with, though.

It sounds like his immune system is compromised by something - most likely allergies. They can start at any age, and don't have to be environmental. You don't have to have hives or a visable reaction - ear infections in young are like adults runny nose/congestion with allergies. It could be his milk/formula/or yours if you are still nursing. If you are, you should both switch to Rice or Soy milk for a few months and see if this helps. Or take a bigger step as i did...

We tried this with our son when he was 1 1/2 years old (changed the milk) with no changes in his dimeanor or health. We made doctor visits every 2-3 weeks for an ear or throat infection... By his 4th b-day I had tried everything (as you are - even chiropractic - which I highly recommend) and asked his ped. to test for allergies. Allergies aren't really considered in kids if nothing is visable, but with him allergic to 3 antibiotics by the time he was 3 1/2 - there had to be a reason he was still always getting sick or not getting over the infections!

When the tonils and adnoids came out and tubes went in, they drew blood and found he is allergic to Eggs, Milk, and Peanuts. We have adjusted his diet dramatically and he has been free of ear/throat infections and any other symptom of colds for 8 weeks now - the longest he has been healthy since i stopped nursing at 12 months...

I wish you the best, but if you do find it is allergies and need any help/advice, I will tell you what I have learned so far.

~Mom of 2 boys ages 4 and 2 1/2

Garlic, echinacea (sp?), and elderberry are all natural antiviral herbs. Activated charcoal is a natural antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial remedy (best in ingested as a slurry or 'gray water'). As for dosages for garlic, echinacea, and elderberry, use 1/4 of the recommended dosage 3-5 times daily for 5-7 days. Raw garlic is best, mince and mix with honey, have him swallow it immediately... chase with 100% grape juice (it tastes yucky).

Dairy products inhibit the immune system and create mucus. Sugar does the same thing (especially refined cane and beet sugars, as well as corn syrups). If he is consuming dairy products I would suggest switching to soy, rice or other dairy substitutes. Avoid all refined sugars at all costs (a good practice for everyday living), stick to 100% fruit juice concentrates, 100% honey, 100% molassas, 100% pure maple syrup as sugar substitutes. Avoid products with refined sugars and corn syrups. (Also avoid sugar substitutes like saccarin, asparthame, etc., these cause all sorts of disease.)

Best wishes!

Has your doctor considered any type of allerigies that may be the source. My son is 20 months and is on his second set of tubes and still get ear infections from time to time. My son's ENT put him on D-Allergy which seems to help keep his ears clear and his nosie from runny all the time. I have just come to accept the fact that I have a juicy son and that as he has grown the problems of we had with ilness and ear infections has gotten better. Good luck.

Try taking your son to a chiropractor for a few visits. It really does make a difference in how the body fights infections if it is out of whack. I don't even use antibiotics anymore, I go right to the chiropractor for ear infections.

Usually when a child goes to daycare for the first time, it takes up to six months for them to get adjusted, which means that during that six months, they will probably constantly be sick with something. In addition, if he started in the winter, it can last even longer. It took my daughter almost eight months to get adjusted.

You need to have his upper cervical area checked out by someone that does that. If he has any misalignment in his upper neck, no matter what medication he is on, he will continue to have problems. You can call my husbands office to schedule a time, or to get a closer referral. We don't care where he goes, we DO care that he goes and gets the problem taken care of.
Sorry to be so blunt, but I continue to read the postings on how wonderful tubes have been and just think of how many of them have had them inserted unnecessarily with much more Rx given to later down the road create drug resistance in their future.
Blessings,, C.

We had exactly the same problem when I went back to work at 7 months. My son caught everything and had continuous ear infections and fluid in his ears. We were recommended for tubes at the 14 month stage (Oct. 2004). Instead I took him to a chiropractor. Unbelievable the difference it made. My DS continued in daycare for another 9 months and never had another ear infection and any colds that winter were just sniffles for a day. We also started him on a multivitamin and cod liver oil (only purchase top name brands) for kids.

Chronic colds and ear infections are the result of allergies and lack of digestive bacteria.

1. Your son is probably drinking a formula that is making him sick. Most formulas contain common allergens: corn (corn syrup), milk or soy.

Start by finding a NON-corn syrup based formula (you will find these in the health food stores or health food sections of your grocery) and switch from milk to soy. If he is getting soy already, you won't want to switch to milk as it is heavily mucus-producing and won't help, so stick with the soy for now.

2. Formula doesn't contain the good bacteria that is found in breast milk. Once a child starts bottle feeding, he will need to have this good bacteria supplemented for him.

Acidophilus is sold at all health and natural food stores. It is available in powder form. Put 1/4 teaspoon in his bottle before bed and in the morning until he stops taking the bottle.

Because he is so sick and has been for so long, you will need to continue the Acidophilus as he grows up (there is no harm here) now and then for a month at a time. It is available in chewable form as well for kids and adults.

Most children in our culture don't have good bacteria production in their colons. I was told by a naturepath that each generation of bottle fed babies removes the genetic ability to produce them. He said it is estimated to take 3 generations of breast fed babies to reset the production.

In the meantime, poor bacteria count in the colon produces allergies like your son's. Both of my kids, although breast fed, have the same problem. As long as I keep them on acidphilus and away from excessive dairy and ALL corn syrup, they are fine and rarely get sick.

3. Consider taking him to a chiropractor. Subluxations in the upper spine and neck can keep the sinus's from draining. I would definitely consult a chiro soon.

Good luck ~ A.

Please consider Chiropractic (see archived questions from earlier this week - I think - about ear infections) as many mothers had stories about going to a Chiro. If you live in the Des Moines area, check out Yost Family Chiropractic as they specialize in infants through geriatrics. Chiropractic is a wonderful holistic approach to wellness and sustaining immunity, and at Yost they also are trained in giving nutritional advice. Good luck.

Hello A.

I know how you feel! It sucks having sick kids! I have only two suggestions for you to try...

The first is switching stores. We have seen a dramatic increase in health and a decrease in doctor visits since we started shopping with Melaleuca and cleaned our house of harmfull chemicals. We also now shop for free. I would be happy to share more if you are interested. Our email address is ____@____.com can also visit www.melaleuca.com.

Secondly, have you ever considered bringing your son to a chiropractor. We go to Valeo Health and Wellness in Chanhassen across from the dinner theatre. Aaron Morland is wonderful with our girls (Miriam 6 & Lydia 3) Aaron's kids had chronic ear infections. They were to the point of tubes, but they did not want to go that route if they could avoid it. He started having the kids adjusted and the ear infection and chronic health issues have never returned!

Hope this helps!

K. Erickson
Excelsior, MN

My son had this when he was young His colds and ear infection also went into Broncitis at one point It all stopped when the doctor figured out he was allergic to Milk and then put him on a soy milk I have also heard of this when the child is allergic to gluten in their diet. I really didnt understand how that could be the cause of it but gave it a try and it worked

Where does your son go when you are at work? IF he goes to daycare, are you sure he is not allergic to something there? Have you tried giving him a small dose of Beneidrill (sp?) incase he has allergies? Your son might just be proned to getting ear infections all the time, but with the colds, maybe it is more allergies or sinus rather then an actual cold.

Hi A. ~ I don't have advice, but I can empathize with your situation. My son is 8 months old, and has been sick most of the time since going to daycare after my maternity leave ended. He has had mutiple colds, bronchiolitis, the flu, 3 ear infections in a row, and a viral throat infection (our latest illness which spiked his fever to 104 and caused vomiting). We also love our daycare, but just want our son to catch a break and be healthy for consecutive weeks!

I'm sorry - I wish I could offer you advice, but we have no idea what to do either. Just thought it might help to know that others are struggling with the same issues. Good luck to all of us dealing with consistent illnesses!

A.,
Good luck with this! How frustrating for you all. Try taking your little one off milk products for a couple of weeks - I know it seems extreme with such a young one who practically lives off milk, but it might work. Milk produces excess mucus in many people - it's well known. That could account for stubborn infection that never clears. What do you have to lose at this point?
Make sure that you get some acidophilous for your little guy, too. If he has been on lots of antibiotics, he has lost all the "good bacteria" in his gut and that often causes diahrrea, gas, etc. You can get it in capsule form (That can be dumped in juice or mixed into anything) at Cub by the soymilk.
T.

You seem to know the problem is that you can't stay home with him. I was a sickly child myself, and I learned the benefit from being sick was that I could be with my mother. A good chiropractor can probably help with the ear drainage problem. I wish you well and wish for a humane society that honors the need children have for a parents time, that provides child allowances to families.

My son had the same issue and is finally getting better. He has had tubes again (third time) and just had his adenoids out and this seem to do the trick for him. I would say he has some kind of allergy that is causing this for him. I did see a naturalpathic Dr in Felton, MN who did wonders for me and my son. If you would like informaiton about her please let me know and I can get that for you, my email is ____@____.com

My oldest child Lala 4 years old, had a constant ear infection for over 7 months, than tubes were put in and than only had one or two. However, since than if anyone is remotely sick around her, and she stays at home with me, she will be sick, I started giving both my kids vitamins, to help build there immune system in hopes that they will be able to fight infections like that a little better. It has worked but they still pick up a runny nose or cold once in awhile. The unfortunate thing is that with kids that go to a daycare or a center they are always in contact with sick kids and germs. You are doing everything you can to try to prevent it, I would give the vitamins a try. Hope that helps.