Ear Pain
Is this ear pain something to worry about?
Content reviewed against published AAP, CDC guidelines
Last reviewed:
Key takeaways
- Go to the ER if: call your pediatrician now
- Call your doctor if: call your pediatrician today
- Usually safe to monitor at home: likely teething - monitor at home
- When in doubt, call your pediatrician — they would rather hear from you than have you worry alone
How old is your baby?
This is not medical advice. When in doubt, always call your pediatrician.
Quick Reference Guide
Call 911 / Go to ER
Call your pediatrician now
Fluid or blood draining from the ear can indicate a ruptured eardrum or, more rarely, a serious infection. While a ruptured eardrum from an ear infection often heals on its own, it needs to be evaluated.
- Call your pediatrician immediately or go to urgent care
- Do not put anything into the ear - no drops, no cotton swabs
- Gently place a clean cotton ball at the outer ear to catch drainage
- Note the color and amount of drainage to report to the doctor
- If your child also has high fever, stiff neck, or seems very ill, go to the ER
Go to the ER now
Ear pain combined with a stiff neck, severe headache, or balance problems can indicate a more serious infection such as mastoiditis or meningitis. These need immediate evaluation.
- Go to the emergency room now
- Note all symptoms and when they started
- Do not give any medications unless directed by a doctor
- If there is swelling or redness behind the ear, point this out to the ER team
Call Your Pediatrician
Call your pediatrician today
Ear infections in babies under 6 months generally require antibiotics because their immune systems are still developing. Your pediatrician should see your baby today.
- Call your pediatrician for a same-day appointment
- You can give infant acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain if your doctor agrees - do not give ibuprofen to babies under 6 months
- Hold your baby upright to help relieve pressure in the ear
- Continue breastfeeding or bottle-feeding frequently
- A warm (not hot) compress against the ear may provide comfort
Call your pediatrician now
A high fever with ear pain needs prompt attention. Your pediatrician may want to see your child today or may call in antibiotics.
- Call your pediatrician's office or after-hours line
- Give age-appropriate acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever and pain
- Keep your child hydrated
- If you cannot reach your pediatrician within an hour, go to urgent care
Call your pediatrician today
Recurrent ear infections may need a different treatment approach. Your pediatrician should evaluate and may consider a referral to an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist to discuss options like ear tubes.
- Call your pediatrician for an appointment
- Keep a log of all ear infections - dates, treatments, and outcomes
- Give age-appropriate pain relief (acetaminophen or ibuprofen for 6+ months)
- Ask your doctor about ENT referral if this is the 3rd infection in 6 months
Call during office hours
This likely needs evaluation for a possible ear infection. Many ear infections will improve on their own, but your pediatrician can determine if antibiotics are needed.
- Call your pediatrician during their next office hours
- Give age-appropriate pain relief - acetaminophen for all ages, ibuprofen for 6+ months
- A warm (not hot) washcloth held against the ear can provide comfort
- Elevate the head slightly during sleep
- Do not put any drops in the ear unless prescribed
- Go to urgent care if pain becomes severe or high fever develops before the appointment
Monitor at Home
Likely teething - monitor at home
Ear pulling is very common during teething because the nerves in the jaw and ear are connected. If your baby has no fever, is feeding well, and shows teething signs, this is most likely the cause.
- Offer a cold teething ring or cold washcloth to chew on
- Gently rub the gums with a clean finger
- Infant acetaminophen can help if your baby is very uncomfortable (ask your doctor about dosing)
- Call your pediatrician if fever develops or the ear pulling persists beyond a few days without teething signs
Monitor at home
Brief ear pulling or touching without fever or other symptoms is very common in babies. It may be habit, curiosity, or mild discomfort from pressure changes or congestion.
- Watch for fever, drainage from the ear, or increased fussiness
- If a cold develops in the next few days, ear pain may follow - watch for signs
- Call your pediatrician if ear pulling continues for more than 3 days or fever develops
- Avoid putting anything into the ear canal
Ear Pain — When to Seek Care Decision Guide
Urgency: Emergency / ER
Scenario: Call your pediatrician now
What to Do: Fluid or blood draining from the ear can indicate a ruptured eardrum or, more rarely, a serious infection. While a ruptured eardrum from an ear infection often heals on its own, it needs to be evaluated.
Key Actions: Call your pediatrician immediately or go to urgent care; Do not put anything into the ear - no drops, no cotton swabs; Gently place a clean cotton ball at the outer ear to catch drainage; Note the color and amount of drainage to report to the doctor; If your child also has high fever, stiff neck, or seems very ill, go to the ER
Urgency: Emergency / ER
Scenario: Go to the ER now
What to Do: Ear pain combined with a stiff neck, severe headache, or balance problems can indicate a more serious infection such as mastoiditis or meningitis. These need immediate evaluation.
Key Actions: Go to the emergency room now; Note all symptoms and when they started; Do not give any medications unless directed by a doctor; If there is swelling or redness behind the ear, point this out to the ER team
Urgency: Call Doctor
Scenario: Call your pediatrician today
What to Do: Ear infections in babies under 6 months generally require antibiotics because their immune systems are still developing. Your pediatrician should see your baby today.
Key Actions: Call your pediatrician for a same-day appointment; You can give infant acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain if your doctor agrees - do not give ibuprofen to babies under 6 months; Hold your baby upright to help relieve pressure in the ear; Continue breastfeeding or bottle-feeding frequently; A warm (not hot) compress against the ear may provide comfort
Urgency: Call Doctor
Scenario: Call your pediatrician now
What to Do: A high fever with ear pain needs prompt attention. Your pediatrician may want to see your child today or may call in antibiotics.
Key Actions: Call your pediatrician's office or after-hours line; Give age-appropriate acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever and pain; Keep your child hydrated; If you cannot reach your pediatrician within an hour, go to urgent care
Urgency: Call Doctor
Scenario: Call your pediatrician today
What to Do: Recurrent ear infections may need a different treatment approach. Your pediatrician should evaluate and may consider a referral to an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist to discuss options like ear tubes.
Key Actions: Call your pediatrician for an appointment; Keep a log of all ear infections - dates, treatments, and outcomes; Give age-appropriate pain relief (acetaminophen or ibuprofen for 6+ months); Ask your doctor about ENT referral if this is the 3rd infection in 6 months
Urgency: Call Doctor
Scenario: Call during office hours
What to Do: This likely needs evaluation for a possible ear infection. Many ear infections will improve on their own, but your pediatrician can determine if antibiotics are needed.
Key Actions: Call your pediatrician during their next office hours; Give age-appropriate pain relief - acetaminophen for all ages, ibuprofen for 6+ months; A warm (not hot) washcloth held against the ear can provide comfort; Elevate the head slightly during sleep; Do not put any drops in the ear unless prescribed; Go to urgent care if pain becomes severe or high fever develops before the appointment
Urgency: Monitor at Home
Scenario: Likely teething - monitor at home
What to Do: Ear pulling is very common during teething because the nerves in the jaw and ear are connected. If your baby has no fever, is feeding well, and shows teething signs, this is most likely the cause.
Key Actions: Offer a cold teething ring or cold washcloth to chew on; Gently rub the gums with a clean finger; Infant acetaminophen can help if your baby is very uncomfortable (ask your doctor about dosing); Call your pediatrician if fever develops or the ear pulling persists beyond a few days without teething signs
Urgency: Monitor at Home
Scenario: Monitor at home
What to Do: Brief ear pulling or touching without fever or other symptoms is very common in babies. It may be habit, curiosity, or mild discomfort from pressure changes or congestion.
Key Actions: Watch for fever, drainage from the ear, or increased fussiness; If a cold develops in the next few days, ear pain may follow - watch for signs; Call your pediatrician if ear pulling continues for more than 3 days or fever develops; Avoid putting anything into the ear canal
| Urgency | Scenario | What to Do | Key Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency / ER | Call your pediatrician now | Fluid or blood draining from the ear can indicate a ruptured eardrum or, more rarely, a serious infection. While a ruptured eardrum from an ear infection often heals on its own, it needs to be evaluated. | Call your pediatrician immediately or go to urgent care; Do not put anything into the ear - no drops, no cotton swabs; Gently place a clean cotton ball at the outer ear to catch drainage; Note the color and amount of drainage to report to the doctor; If your child also has high fever, stiff neck, or seems very ill, go to the ER |
| Emergency / ER | Go to the ER now | Ear pain combined with a stiff neck, severe headache, or balance problems can indicate a more serious infection such as mastoiditis or meningitis. These need immediate evaluation. | Go to the emergency room now; Note all symptoms and when they started; Do not give any medications unless directed by a doctor; If there is swelling or redness behind the ear, point this out to the ER team |
| Call Doctor | Call your pediatrician today | Ear infections in babies under 6 months generally require antibiotics because their immune systems are still developing. Your pediatrician should see your baby today. | Call your pediatrician for a same-day appointment; You can give infant acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain if your doctor agrees - do not give ibuprofen to babies under 6 months; Hold your baby upright to help relieve pressure in the ear; Continue breastfeeding or bottle-feeding frequently; A warm (not hot) compress against the ear may provide comfort |
| Call Doctor | Call your pediatrician now | A high fever with ear pain needs prompt attention. Your pediatrician may want to see your child today or may call in antibiotics. | Call your pediatrician's office or after-hours line; Give age-appropriate acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever and pain; Keep your child hydrated; If you cannot reach your pediatrician within an hour, go to urgent care |
| Call Doctor | Call your pediatrician today | Recurrent ear infections may need a different treatment approach. Your pediatrician should evaluate and may consider a referral to an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist to discuss options like ear tubes. | Call your pediatrician for an appointment; Keep a log of all ear infections - dates, treatments, and outcomes; Give age-appropriate pain relief (acetaminophen or ibuprofen for 6+ months); Ask your doctor about ENT referral if this is the 3rd infection in 6 months |
| Call Doctor | Call during office hours | This likely needs evaluation for a possible ear infection. Many ear infections will improve on their own, but your pediatrician can determine if antibiotics are needed. | Call your pediatrician during their next office hours; Give age-appropriate pain relief - acetaminophen for all ages, ibuprofen for 6+ months; A warm (not hot) washcloth held against the ear can provide comfort; Elevate the head slightly during sleep; Do not put any drops in the ear unless prescribed; Go to urgent care if pain becomes severe or high fever develops before the appointment |
| Monitor at Home | Likely teething - monitor at home | Ear pulling is very common during teething because the nerves in the jaw and ear are connected. If your baby has no fever, is feeding well, and shows teething signs, this is most likely the cause. | Offer a cold teething ring or cold washcloth to chew on; Gently rub the gums with a clean finger; Infant acetaminophen can help if your baby is very uncomfortable (ask your doctor about dosing); Call your pediatrician if fever develops or the ear pulling persists beyond a few days without teething signs |
| Monitor at Home | Monitor at home | Brief ear pulling or touching without fever or other symptoms is very common in babies. It may be habit, curiosity, or mild discomfort from pressure changes or congestion. | Watch for fever, drainage from the ear, or increased fussiness; If a cold develops in the next few days, ear pain may follow - watch for signs; Call your pediatrician if ear pulling continues for more than 3 days or fever develops; Avoid putting anything into the ear canal |
Based on AAP and CDC symptom management guidelines. Always call 911 for life-threatening emergencies.
Frequently asked questions
When should I take my baby to the ER for ear pain?
When should I call the doctor about baby ear pain?
When can I monitor ear pain at home?
Bottom line
Most cases of ear pain in babies can be managed at home with monitoring. Seek emergency care if you notice call your pediatrician now. When in doubt, call your pediatrician.
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, reach out to your pediatrician. Worrying about your baby means you care — that is a good thing.
All content follows our editorial policy and is reviewed against published clinical guidelines.
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