12 Home Remedies for Ear Pain in Kids

Earache is a common cause of pain and discomfort for everybody. In children, it becomes a bigger cause of worry as the child may be too small to tell the reason for the pain. Therefore, it is up to the immediate caretakers, i.e., parents, to spot the cause of their child’s discomfort and see how the pain can be alleviated. Earaches can happen anytime without any warning. There are many reasons for earaches, such as infection, perforated eardrum, cold, tooth problem, fluid in the ear, boils, allergies, or any injury (1) (2). It is important to identify the cause of the earache and find a suitable remedy for it. Before resorting to any earache remedies for kids, it is essential to consult a doctor to ensure no side effects or further discomfort to the child. Continue reading the post to learn about safe and effective natural remedies for child earache.

Natural Remedies for Earache in Kids

If a child is constantly crying, looks restless, or keeps moving his ears away from you, he could be having an ear infection.

The following are simple home remedies for ear pain in kids.

1. Warm Compress

Use a warm towel compress to reduce pain around the ear and neck area. You can warm up a clean towel or a washcloth by dunking it in warm water, wriggling it, and gently pressing it against your little one’s ear (3). There can be a lot of squirming involved, as your child can find it uncomfortable. Do not get angry or irritated with this, but try to talk him into it firmly to put the child at ease.

2. Cold Compress

If the warm compress is not helping, use a cold compress instead. Be cautious and avoid putting the ice directly on the skin of your child, as it can stop the blood flow. Soak up a clean towel or washcloth in ice water and gently press it against your child’s ear (3).

3. Basil Leaves

It is essential to keep this simple and inexpensive remedy always handy. Basil is known for its unequivocal medicinal properties. Crush the basil leaves; extract its juice and put a few drops in the ear.

4. Ginger

Ginger is known for its anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce the swelling due to earache. You may apply a few drops of ginger juice around the outer ear to get some relief from earache. Remember not to put the ginger juice into the ear canal or do not let it go inside the canal, even accidentally (4).

5. Garlic

Crush a couple of garlic cloves and heat it with some sesame/olive oil. Strain using a clean cloth and apply this garlic oil in and around the affected ear.

6. Eucalyptus Oil and Medicated Cotton Balls

Pour a few drops of diluted eucalyptus oil on a cotton ball and dab it on the infected ear to relieve pain. Repeat this process every day until the pain subsides.

7. Mustard Oil

In most cases, the ear naturally expels excess earwax to avoid a build-up. However, when this doesn’t happen, it can lead to hardening of the earwax. This can cause a blockage and lead to an infection. Put a few drops of warm mustard oil in the infected ear to reduce the blockage; continue this process for a week. Some of the softer wax will come out by itself, and some more oil can be used to remove the rest of the wax. Mustard oil cleans the infected area by removing wax and small foreign objects. You can use a flashlight to inspect the ear and see if it has cleared up. Below are the steps you can follow to remove earwax:

• Pour a capful into the affected ear
• Wait for a few minutes
• Cover your ear with a tissue
• Tilt the head to remove the fluid

8. Eucalyptus Oil Massage

Never use eucalyptus oil in its original form as it is strong and pungent. Dilute it with coconut oil, sesame oil, or olive oil. Warm it slightly using a clean utensil or microwave it. Massage the area around the ear and neck in a downward movement, reheating whenever the oil becomes cold.

9. Breast Milk

This is a good option for lactating mothers. Put a few drops of fresh breast milk into the infected ear. It is a well-known remedy for treating ear infections in infants, as it contains antibodies. Caution should be taken so as not to infect the milk by taking it in a dirty container. Also, it should not be administered directly from the breast as the pressure will be too much to take for an infant’s ear. The best approach is to collect the breast milk in a clean container and use ear droppers.

10. Salt

You can use coarse salt as a home remedy for treating an ear infection in kids. Microwave a cup of coarse salt for a minute. Mix it and reheat for another minute. This can be put in a cotton sock and tied on the open end. Put it over the infected ear for 10 minutes and repeat if needed.

11. Onions

Keep the infected ear in an elevated position to reduce the rush of blood. Chop a small onion or a shallot, heat it over a low flame to soften it, and extract its juice. Put a few drops into the ear. Its anti-bacterial quality will help fight the infection and reduce the pain.

12. Tea Tree Oil 

Tea tree oil is also used for the treatment of an earache in kids. Mix a few drops of diluted tea tree oil with olive oil; warm it till it is at body temperature. Use a clean dropper to put a few drops in each ear. Be gentle and do not use force as the ear is a sensitive organ.

When to Call the Doctor?

The CDC suggests consulting a doctor without any delay if you see any of the following signs in your child (5):

• High fever above 100.4°F (38°C) in babies under three months of age and over 102.2°F (39°C) in babies above three months of age.
• Discharge from ears – pus or blood

Moreover, get immediate consultation for any of the following signs:

• An injury to the ear
• Loss or change in hearing
• Swelling or redness around and behind the ear
• Confusion
• Drowsiness
• Severe headache
• Something stuck in the ear
• The ear seems like it is pushed forward

Continue keeping an eye on your baby’s ear infection symptoms; if there seems no improvement in the symptoms after three to four days of treatment, you should consult the doctor again.

FAQs

1. What should you avoid doing when alleviating your child’s ear pain?

Giving children aspirin for ear pain without a doctor’s consultation, using over-the-counter ear drops or herbal ear drops, and using Q-tips to remove ear wax or anything stuck in your child’s ear should be strictly avoided. All these measures can further put your child at health risk.

2. What else can I do to reduce my child’s ear pain?

Head elevation is a popular home remedy for child ear pain at night. Elevating the child’s head properly with pillows may reduce pressure in the ear by causing the fluid in the middle ear to drain, especially while sleeping (6). However, this method should not be tried for babies under the age of 1. Secondly, if there is ear pain due to fluid or ear pressure, feeding the child plenty of fluid may help, too. Staying hydrated ensures the clearing of middle ear infections faster. Experts suggest giving acetaminophen and ibuprofen to treat mild to medium ear pain in children caused by a middle ear infection or otitis media after consultation (7) (8).

3. How can you prevent ear infections in babies?

Although there are many ear infections that cannot be avoided, here are some steps to reduce the risk of such infections (1):

• Keep your child’s vaccinations, including flu vaccination and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), up-to-date (9).
• Breastfeed for 6-12 months minimum to provide antibodies that help babies fight ear infections.
• Hold the baby in a semi-upright position while bottle-feeding so that the formula milk does not flow into the eustachian tubes. Also, avoid propping up the bottle.
• Do not smoke near your baby. Keep them away from second-hand smoke.
• Ensure a healthy and hygienic environment during peak infection or flu days to keep germs away from your child.

Earache is usually a symptom rather than a malady. Cold, flu, and congestion are the main causes of this pain in children. These are simple home remedies for quick relief, but it is important to identify the cause. The mentioned remedies work well and can also offer instant relief.

However, not all earaches can be solved through home remedies. Issues such as a perforated ear and extensive infection can permanently damage hearing. This is why you should take your child to a paediatrician if the pain is unbearable or continues for more than a week.

References/Resources:

1. How to Handle an Earache; Nemours KidsHealth; https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/earaches-sheet.html

2. Pediatric Otitis Media (Middle Ear Infection); Children’s National; https://www.childrensnational.org/get-care/health-library/otitis-media-middle-ear-infection

3. The Power of Home Remedies: Effective Solutions for Ear Infections in Kids; Penn Medicine Becker ENT & Allergy; https://www.beckerentandallergy.com/blog/home-remedies-ear-infections-kids

4. Home Remedies for an Ear Infection: What To Try and What To Avoid; Cleveland Clinic; https://health.clevelandclinic.org/home-remedies-for-ear-infection

5. Ear Infection Basics; CDC; https://www.cdc.gov/ear-infection/about/index.html

6. What Is the Best Treatment for an Ear Infection for Children?; Scripps; https://www.scripps.org/news_items/6148-what-is-the-best-treatment-for-an-ear-infection-for-children

7. Lieberthal. A. S, Carroll. A. A, et al.; The Diagnosis and Management of Acute Otitis Media; AAP Publications; https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/131/3/e964/30912/The-Diagnosis-and-Management-of-Acute-Otitis-Media?autologincheck=redirected; March 2013

8. Bertin. L, Pons. G, et al.; A randomized, double-blind, multicentre controlled trial of ibuprofen versus acetaminophen and placebo for symptoms of acute otitis media in children; Fundamental & Clinical Pharmacology; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1472-8206.1996.tb00590.x?sid=nlm%3Apubmed; July‐August 1996

9. Coker. T. R, Chan. L. S, et al.; Diagnosis, Microbial Epidemiology, and Antibiotic Treatment of Acute Otitis Media in Children A Systematic Review; JAMA Network; https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/186896; November 2010

Also Read:

Home Remedies for UTI in Kids
Home Remedies for Fever in Children
Safe Home Remedies for Cough in Kids

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