As the parent of an infant, you'll find few times more exasperating than when you're trying to guess why your baby seems to be in pain. Earaches are a common cause of discomfort in very young children and are most frequently caused by infection---the American Academy of Family Physicians reports that most children have at least one infection by their third birthday. Parents should become accustomed to watching for signs of earache if their baby has been fighting a cold or other respiratory, because such conditions can cause fluid to accumulate in the tube that connects the middle ear with the back of the nose. This fluid buildup creates pressure behind the eardrum, which can become quite painful.
Fever
Next to pain (which your baby can't describe), fever is the most common symptom of ear infection. Dr. Neil K. Kaneshiro of the University of Washington School of Medicine recommends that any baby with a fever should be examined if younger than 6 months old, even if she has no other symptoms. If your infant is older than 6 months, your doctor may instruct you to keep her at home if her fever is less than 102 degrees.
Ear Tugging
For generations, parents have been told that the baby who tugs his ears (or swats at the side of his face) most likely has an ear infection. In recent years, research has shown that this behavior doesn't necessarily indicate a problem because many perfectly healthy babies tug at their ears.
Irritability and Sleep Disturbances
As fluid builds in your baby's ear, so does the pressure---and the pain. While an older child could tell you that her ear hurts, a baby is forced to communicate pain by crying. The pain sometimes comes and goes throughout the day but may occasionally become so severe that your baby seems inconsolable. The pain and pressure may worsen when she lies down, interfering with her ability to sleep. As is often the case with infants who become ill, poor sleep makes the pain more difficult to endure and leads to even more irritability during the waking hours.
Other Symptoms
An ear infection can also lead to decreased appetite and other seemingly unrelated symptoms, such as vomiting and loose stools. As fluid builds up in the middle ear, your baby may also become less responsive to sound or seem to lose his balance more easily. If he becomes listless, or if you notice any kind of fluid draining from the ear, contact your pediatrician to schedule an appointment for a complete examination.
