As a new parent, you may sometimes find yourself feeling as if you are in nonstop panic about their health and well-being. Every little cry, sniffle, or movement they make might send you into a tizzy about whether or not you need to call the pediatrician right away for an appointment. However, as much as you want to protect your child from every illness or ailment, not every little thing should send you immediately to your family health clinic. Ear infections are one of the most common health issues among infants and toddlers but can often be missed by parents or confused with other health issues. Get to know some of the ways you can tell if your child might have an ear infection so you can wait to call the pediatrician until your child really needs it.

They Are Constantly Tugging At Their Ear (But Are Not Teething)

When you see your child tugging at or scratching at one or both of their ears, it can be easy to jump to the conclusion that your child must have a horrible ear infection. In most cases, your child messing with their ear is a sign of an ear infection. However, this is not always the case.

Before you call the pediatrician about a potential ear infection, check your child's mouth. If they are teething, you may see a tooth starting to break through the gums or will notice a great deal of drooling (in excess of normal). Sometimes, when a child is teething, their ears will become irritated as well. There are nerves that run between the ears and the jaw as well as muscles that connect everything together, and children often feel ear pain or irritation when teething.

Your Child Is Crying Constantly With No Apparent Cause

Babies cannot simply tell you what is bothering them and therefore, it often comes down to a great deal of guesswork when trying to understand what your child needs. If you have a baby that is normally happy-go-lucky and is suddenly crying nonstop and is inconsolable no matter what you do, the cause may be an ear infection.

When your child is crying, you should go through your regular routine of trying to help them calm down. See if they are hungry, tired, need to be changed, and of course, look them over to see if they have any noticeable injuries. After going through all of this, you may want to call your pediatrician to get an appointment. Ear infections are often invisible ailments for parents but as soon as a doctor looks in your child's ear it becomes evident why your child has been crying uncontrollably.

With these tips in mind, you can better determine if your child may be suffering from an ear infection. Check with places like Entira Family Clinics for more information.