Have you heard that antibiotics are the only way to stop your child’s ear infection? That may not be the case.
If your baby is under six months old and gets an ear infection, doctors usually treat it with antibiotics, BUT for kids older than six months who aren’t super sick, don’t have other medical issues, and don’t have a burst eardrum, the American Academy of Pediatrics actually recommends a “watch and wait” approach for the first couple of days (about 48–72 hours).
But as a Mom, you really want to start doing something that helps right away, right? That’s where garlic oil comes in. From the first dose, my kids have immediate relief. And we’ve thankfully been able to avoid antibiotics for all ear infections except for one time when it was already too bad for my firstborn. But there are some things you want to check before administering drops, so keep reading.
My one year old recently had a few viruses in a row that left him with tons of drainage and he unfortunately ended up with a double ear infection. No fun at all!
We took him into our pediatrician to check on him and to make sure his ear drum wasn’t ruptured—if it IS you CANNOT do garlic oil drops. You will need to follow your pediatricians instructions for treatment. You also want to look for signs like leaking or pus from the ears–that would also be another red flag. Bottom line is that you want to consult your child’s Dr. before doing anything.
The good news is, most ear infections in healthy kids — about 80% — actually clear up on their own within a week, but garlic oil drops make sure it’s knocked out very quickly and we have never had to do the drops for more than two days in a row.
Garlic Oil Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2-3 cloves of fresh garlic
- 1/4-1/3 cup of extra virgin olive oil (you want to make sure there is plenty covering the bottom of your pot so it doesn’t burn
Supplies:
-Small pot & spoon to stir
-Glass bottle and dropper (you could also just use a small bowl and a dropper like I did below). I usually like to keep some of these bottles on hand, but you can get droppers at any pharmacy or drugstore. I got mine at my local Kroger.
Instructions:
- Chop up the garlic cloves and mix them into the olive oil.
- Warm the mixture gently over very very low heat for approximately 20 minutes, or until the oil is fragrant. Stir often. Do not let the oil get very hot, as this can cause burns and can burn the garlic. You don’t want the garlic to burn.
- Strain the oil well to ensure no garlic pieces remain in the liquid.
- Store the infused oil in a glass bottle or a small covered bowl in the refrigerator. The oil can be kept refrigerated for 2-3 days, after which a new batch should be made.
Usage Instructions
- Warm the oil to body temperature before use by placing the dropper bottle in a cup of warm water. Do not microwave.
- Apply 1 drop to the affected ear canal every 3 hours, as needed for pain relief. I got my dropper from the pharmacy section at my local grocery store.
- Do not use the drops if you suspect a perforated eardrum or on the day of a doctor’s appointment, as it may obstruct the view of the eardrum.
Disclaimer: These are home remedies for pain control and do not replace professional medical advice. If ear pain persists for more than three days, is accompanied by a fever, or if symptoms worsen, consult a healthcare professional.
Can’t I buy pre-made drops?
You can buy premade garlic oil drops, and many people like to do that, but alot of those drops have herbal blends in them that I don’t feel 100% great about putting in my childs ear–only for risk of an allergy. My kids have no problem eating garlic and so I know that is a safe option. But, alot of people do seem to like these pre-made drops.
Why do I like to avoid antibiotics?
We really like to avoid antibiotics at all costs because I have seen the damage it’s done to my gut when I’ve had to get them. From what I’ve read, kids who get antibiotics early, can often end up with more repeat ear infections later on, and research has even linked early antibiotic use to a higher risk of inflammatory bowel disease down the road. If your child does need them, I would talk to your pediatrician about a good probiotic to take while on probiotics. We have used antibiotics for things like Strep Throat, etc., but highly avoid them if we can do it safely.
Other helpful ear infection tips:
- It helps to rinse your child’s nose with saline spray and suction out the mucus, since keeping their nose clear helps their ears drain better. We love this XClear nasal spray! We use it 3 times a day when sick to help keep sinuses clear. To suction out snot, I used to use the Nose Frida until I found this epic snot sucker…I will never go back! It works soooo well!
- It may be helpful to remove excess dairy for a few days because dairy can cause extra or thickened mucus in some kids.
- We usually use Ibuprofen or something similar to help with pain and inflammation control if it’s bad. Ear infections hurt and you don’t want to keep your child in pain. Dr. Green Mom has a herbal blend called NatureProphen that we really like. We also like Ginger and Tumeric supplements for inflammation for older kiddos.
- If your child’s ear pain hasn’t improved after 24-48 hours — or gets worse even with ibuprofen and nasal care — that’s when it’s time to talk to your doctor about starting antibiotics.
- You can also use this remedy on adults if needed!
-Nicole
Disclaimer: This is not medical advice. This is just my experience as a Mom, and you should consult always your child’s Dr. for medical advice for treating infections properly.
