My child has frequent ear infections? What can I do to prevent them?

Despite the fact that some children are anatomically prone to develop ear infections and that they reduce as the child nears 3 years of age, there are several things you can do to minimize the number of ear infections. First, keep your child away from secondhand smoke as it irritates the mouth and nasal passages. Second, breastfeed your baby as it naturally provides a position which reduces ear infections and provides immunity from most illnesses during the first year of life. If your baby uses a bottle, feed him in an upright position, do not prop a bottle, do not give a bottle to them in their bed at night, and wean them to a cup by 14 months of age. Lastly, make sure your child receives the Prevnar vaccination during infancy.

Donna Dixon, HES Extension, College of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia