Comfortable Sleep During Ear Infections: Relief Strategies

Ear infections commonly plague children, and also affect some adults. A cold, cough or allergy can cause the Eustachian tubes of the ear to become inflamed and blocked. As a result, pain and itching can become almost unbearable, causing difficulty sleeping and in day-to-day tasks. If an ear infection is keeping you from getting a good night's sleep, use some of these tricks to ease the discomfort.

Things You'll Need

• Mineral oil
• Pain reliever (Tylenol or Ibuprofen)
• Ear dropper

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Instructions

Sleeping with an ear infection

• 1

  Use a pain reliever throughout the day and before bedtime to ease discomfort. Only follow this step if the individual is older than two years of age.

• 2

  Drink a sip of water before bedtime or upon waking in the middle of the night to clear the Eustachian tubes.

• 3

  Relieve some of the pressure in the ear by pinching the nostrils with your fingers while slowly blowing the nose.

• 4

  Place water in a small bowl. Add a bottle of mineral oil to the water, and let it sit for five minutes. Use an ear dropper to place two to three drops of mineral oil into the ear.