Many of us as adults have experience the horrible pain of having an ear infection, and also how it affects us in our daily routine. Now I know if I could I would do everything possible to prevent my daughter from ever getting an ear infection, but is there any way possible to even do that?

Scientists have discovered key factors that are leading to the development of an ear infection. Among these factors is ciggarette smoke, second hand smoke actually, the reasoning behind why is quite surprising. In our ears there are tiny hairs that help keep germs and such out, when around second-hand smoke the hairs basically get surpressed and allow germs access to the middle part of the ear where germs and bacteria then begin to form causing a ear infection. Second-hand smoke also is said to supress the immune system and even just a weekend at a smoker's home could put your child at risk.

Every child has their vaccines they hate getting but now such vaccines as the Hib vaccine have said to greatly reduce the amount of ear infections in infants, so be sure to keep baby up to date on the vaccines they need.

Breastfed babies are said to be less likely to develop an ear infection if they are breastfed for the first 6 months of life. This is so because of natural elements in the breast milk that build up a babies immune system early. In formula fed babies the chance of getting an ear infection is almost 70% more than that of a breast fed baby.

We all get a bit lazy here and there and let our children lay down to eat or drink, but this is the main cause of ear infections today. Do not let your baby or child lay down to have a bottle or drink anything as this let's the fluid rest in the back of the throat and potentially into the ears.

For the most part a ear infection will go away on it's own and possibly with the help of antibiotics. Now today most doctors are trying to steer clear of prescribing antibiotics for small children as they could develop an immunity to them. With an ear infection comes pain as well though and no antibiotc takes that away.

For pain that comes with an ear infection you have options:

1. Pour a small amount of Sweet Oil in a table spoon heat it up with a lighter to where it is not hot but warm, pour it slowly into the infected ear and then place a cotton ball in the ear and sit normal.(From experience I know this works)

2. Heat, when applied to the ear it can be very soothing so sometimes laying down on the ear that is infected will ease the pain, or some people have used a blow dryer set on low and blown the warm air into their ear.

3. Small doses of acetaminophen or ibuprofen have been said to ease the pain as well