Ear recheck Your child needs to be checked again to be sure the ear fluid doesn't last longer than 3 months and that it doesn't affect speech development. As long as there is fluid in the middle ear, your child is at risk for having another ear infection. The following list includes ways to help prevent getting ear infections. Avoid tobacco smoke. Protect your child from secondhand tobacco smoke.
Passive smoking increases the frequency and severity of infections.
Be sure no one smokes in your home or at day care. Avoid excessive colds. Reduce your child's exposure to children with colds during the first year of life. Most ear infections start with a cold. Try to delay the use of large day care centers during the first year by using a sitter in your home or a small home-based day care.