Ear pain may continue for one to two days after the antibiotics are started and you may need to continue with the comfort measures. Your child can go outside, and the ears do not need to be covered. Colds are contagious but ear infections are not. Day care is okay once your child is feeling better and has a normal temperature. Don't worry about solid food, but be sure your child drinks plenty of liquids.
Swimming is okay as long as there is no tear in the ear drum or drainage from the ear.
Ask your doctor about diving. A follow up exam is especially important if the eardrum is perforated. If the middle ear is filled with fluid the hearing is muffled. Some children will still have fluid in the middle ear for a month or more after an ear infection. The muffled hearing, if it continues, may affect a child's speech development.