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Establishing a routine for babies is the key to bedtime. Babies love consistency and establishing routines at a young age will help your baby when he or she gets older. Bedtime is one of the most important rituals to create a schedule. When you put your baby down for bed make sure it is at the same time each night. Try giving him do the same activities. Give your baby a bath, sing, feed or rock your baby right before bedtime to relax him or her and ease the transition into bed. Whatever works best for you and your baby, do those every night so your baby associates the routine with going to sleep. A baby cannot put themselves to sleep or even begin to understand signs of fatigue, so learn to recognize the signs that he or she is sleepy and put him or her down as soon as he or she seems tired.

What are the causes of an ear infection?
An ear infection begins when fluid builds up behind the eardrum which is called the middle ear. When this fluid does not drain that is where bacteria grows. The bacteria then can cause the ear infection

So if your child has one of the following symptoms he or she may have an ear infection

• crying all night
• Does not and will not eat
• Wakes every hour or two
• Runs a fever
• Pulls on his or her ears

Bacteria is the major cause of ear infections. Often antibiotics is use to cure the infection but sometimes does not help. The more you know about ear infection the better you are able to help your child.

If you think your child has an ear infection. What do you do?
If you think your child has an ear infection, call your doctor. Your doctor may write you a prescription for an antibiotic, but don’t push for one. Sometimes it is not needed so let your doctor decide the best way to treat your child.

Do antibiotics work?
Antibiotics can kill and stop the growth of bacteria. They however do not treat colds, viruses or the flu. Your doctor will decide if your child needs an antibiotic and which is the right one for the ear infection.

Does my child need to take all the doses prescribed?
Yes, your child should take all the doses prescribed by the doctor even if he or she is feeling better. If you stop taking the medication early the infection may not be gone and could come back.

Helpful Tips:
1. If you think your child has an ear infection, see a doctor
2. Let your doctor decide how to treat your child.
3. Do not ask for an antibiotic if your child has a cold or flu. These are viruses and an antibiotic will not cure them.
4. Finish the full prescription the doctor prescribes
5. Don’t give another’s child’s prescription to a sibling.
6. Discard medicine after your child takes all the doses prescribed by the doctor.
7. Follow the doctor’s instruction. Make sure to listen to the instructions the doctor’s gives. Give doses at the right time for as many days as needed.
8. Keep medicine out of reach of children.