HELP....I Need Some Sleep

Updated on December 08, 2006
L.D. asks from Saint Peters, MO
17 answers

My daughter is 4 months old and was diagnosed with a double ear infection last Friday and prior to this she had Broncholitis. Before getting sick she was sleeping through the night and only up occasionally until this week. All of the sudden she is screaming whenever I lay her in her bed and off and on throughout the night. I don't understand. She is on an antibiotic for her ear infection and her behavior has improved greatly during the day. Everynight seems be getting worse and I have tried everything to make her as comfortable as possible. Holding her doesn't even seem to be helping. I am in desperate need of sleep. I work full-time and am battling a cold myself. What could possibly be wrong with my little angel?

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A.K.

answers from St. Louis on

I think you should try letting her sleeo in the carseat or a swing. When my son had ear infections, he wouldn't sleep laying down either. I would think that this would help her as she should not have the drainage that way.

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A.B.

answers from Tulsa on

Make sure you talk to your doctor. One time with my dauther's ear infection the antibiotic they gave me didn't work for her. There are different ones out there and this one may not be working. My doctor also gave me ear drops and it was to numb the inner ear. I gave her that before bed. Did you get those? Also, I had her on tylenol and then ibruprofin every other 4 hours. You shouldn't have to do that long though. Ususally after 3 days of anitbiotics it should be clearing up. That's why my initial thought is the antibiotic isn't working. And they do come with different directions. Make sure you're giving it at the right times.

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S.P.

answers from Kansas City on

All excellent advice. Meanwhile LOTS AND LOTS of vitamin C for you to ward off the cold! Good luck. We've all been there and feel for you.

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T.H.

answers from Bloomington on

Double ear infection I am so sorry!! OUCH..

Ok.. get a warm up bear that you heat up and kids can hold or put to ear.. Warmth helps the hardend ear wax warm up and it wont hurt their ears....

Also a heating pad.. NOT FOR LONG!!! She is a little thing.. just on low for a min or 2 by hear ear.. Maybe while feeding ok...

Next... Think about this one for sure...

VIRDIGO!!!

That is not fun!!! ever have it... It is when you get off balance like water or something behind the ear... When she goes from your arms to Swish down horizontal on table.. Could cause verdigo.. where her little world is SPINNNNNNNING!!!!!

I sure would cry!!!!

Maybe call dr and ask.. COULD IT be... or tell them what is going on.. I bet they would say hummm verdigo...

I hope she feels better in no time!!!!!

Get well hugs!!!

T.

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T.T.

answers from Kansas City on

Ear infections cause pain and pressure, laying your baby down without elevating her head causes the pressure to build up. I would definately check with your dr because she shouldn't be screaming still after last Fri.

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K.L.

answers from Joplin on

Something that immediately came to mind was a product called and "Ear Wick". It is a long slender cone/funnel shaped with a waxy coating. I cannot remember how this product was used or if it could be used on a child that age. You might search it on the internet to see. One end is about 1/8" and the other is about an inch. It was about 7-8" long and looked like a paper strip that was wound spiraled for the length with the waxy covering. Wish I could remember more about it to share with you. I remember those sleepless nights. I didnt have much help with my kids, living so far away from family, so I know how tough it is !! Good luck to you and the baby.

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P.B.

answers from Peoria on

You know what? my Grandson did the same thing and they ended up having to put tubes in his ears. He was absolutely screaming. Took him to an eye, ear, nose and throat spevialist and they fixed it. He still is very bronchial, but no m ore screaming and restless nights. Let me know what you deceide to do and if it works
Queen

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L.Z.

answers from Peoria on

My son has had many problems with ear infection when you lay the baby down the infection drains into the ear and hurts more. this is what the dr. told me If you can lay the little one in something sort of sitting up that might help. I had to use alex's swing when he had a ear infection. hope that helps

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E.R.

answers from St. Louis on

I would elevate the head of her matress and use warmth on her ear (like a warm rag, or bottle..). Laying down can be very painful when you have an ear infection.
Next.....
I would get her to a chiropractor. I know it sounds crazy...but my daughter (@ 6 mths old) went through a 2 month period of solid ear infections. And after the 4th round of antibiotics i was pretty fed up. My chirpractor wanted to work on her. So she did this thing where I laid down, and the baby laid on my chest face down. The doctor moved her head around and used acupressure (not acupuncture...). After 1 visit she was VISIBLY better...after 2 visits she was fine. I was AMAZED!! It also really helped her goopy eyes (she had blocked tear ducts, also), and we were able to avoid surgery, which is what her ped was wanting to do.
This chiropractor has also helped my migraines and headaches. I have suffered from severe headaches for about 5 years...have seen many docotors and specialist. But this chiropractor helps me stay pain free. She is a miricle worker!!! If you want her name and number, send me a private message.

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D.H.

answers from St. Louis on

Have you tried numbing drops for her ears. They worked for my little boy.

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T.S.

answers from Kansas City on

L., I am so sorry that you are in need of sleep like this... UFF... !!
I dont know what else you could do, but I would recommend giving her acidolphulus (sp)... since she is on antibodics. :) this will help her tummy and keep her from getting a yeast infection.
Good Luck!

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J.E.

answers from Oklahoma City on

The antibiotics might have killed off her natural intestinal flora, making her tummy hurt. I agree with the lady who recommended acidophyllis. Plain yogurt, like Dannon makes would do the trick. Mix it with some bananas to make it yummy. She might be having pain in her ears as well. When my daughter had lots of ear infections, I used warmed garlic-mullien oil from the health store in her ears. It helps them get better sooner, and if she's prone to ear infections, you can give it to her as soon as you think she might be getting one-- before it becomes so bad that she needs antibiotics. My daughter found this to be very soothing, and requested that I put it in her ears even when she didn't have any ear problems.

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M.P.

answers from Bloomington on

It sounds like you have a lot of good advice to try. The only thing I could add is that my daughter used to occasionally sleep all night in her swing. It seems strange to us, but it really helped her sleep, maybe because she could breathe better sitting up. As for you, I think it would be a great idea to get someone to watch your daughter for a few hours so you can take a nap. But to really do this right, you need to be in a different house than she is while you're sleeping... otherwise, any little sound she makes will wake you up. Good luck! I hope you both feel better soon!

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D.T.

answers from Tulsa on

The pressure in her ears and sinuses will increase when you lay her down. She may even have some acid reflux from the drainage. Can you get her to sleep in the car? If she does relax in it. Try putting her in the carseat at home and wiggling it.

My youngest two spent a lot of time in their Carseat/carrier during bouts of bronchitis and ear infections which seemed to alway follow each other. I even attached it to the stroller so I could raise them up to a more ergonomical rocking level.

Rocking the stroller side to side gave us the best result. Make sure she's strapped in and be gentle there's no need to strain her neck trying to get her to rest. Eventually you'll be able to do this in your sleep.

The next step is a decongestant and a pain reliever. Keep them both going until she's clear of all the drainage and her ears are back to normal. Ibuprophen for 6-8 hours then acetomenophin for 3-4, then repeat.

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A.B.

answers from St. Louis on

Try elevating her mattress a little by putting a blanket or something else balled under it. If she has a stuffy nose still, that may help her breathe better. Or you can try letting her sleep in her carseat if that elevates her, or if you have a bouncy seat that vibrates. When my son was a baby he used to always sleep better in weird places when he was sick! You might want to call the doctor about another antibiotic too if she still seems in pain after a week.

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J.Z.

answers from Oklahoma City on

With my son's first ear infection he was the exact same way. I took him back to the doctor and the infection had gotten worse so they switched the antibotic and they also gave us ear drops for the pain and those two things worked beautifully! Good luck and I hope you get some rest soon.

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S.

answers from Kansas City on

Sometimes I have found that the pressure builds up in their ears when they have ear infections, head colds, etc. I would prop up their mattress. I used to put a pillow under the mattress at the head of the crib. (Lowering the mattress all the way so that it is safe) This would keep their head elevated without endangering them with pillows in their crib.

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