This can help drain the fluid that collects behind your child's eardrums. Tilt your baby's head upward during nursing or feeding. A horizontal position may cause fluid to back up into the Eustachian tubes. Babies who nurse exclusively for four to six months after birth are reported to have half as many ear infections as those who do not. Place a humidifier in your child's room at night.
Dry air can cause congestion and block the Eustachian tubes.
Be sure to clean the humidifier regularly to avoid bacterial growth. Most studies show that decongestants and antihistamines used together or alone do not improve or cure middle ear fluid. There are not yet enough studies to tell whether steroids are effective against ear infections. It is not yet clear whether adenoidectomy improves middle ear fluid in children younger than four years old. But it does seems to help older children.