You should never place anything inside your child’s ear unless instructed by your child’s doctor. However, it is ok to place a warm, or cold – depending on your child’s preference, compress overtop of the ear. Here are instructions on how to use a warm onion as a drawing agent to help draw the infection out of the ear. Sounds crazy but it works!

Onion Poultice

Cut an onion in half and bake at 350° for 15-20 min or until you can smell the onion cooking.
Alternatively, you can place the cut onion in boiling water for 5-10 minutes.

Hold the hot onion with an oven mitt and place the cut side next to the affected ear(s).  Move the onion closer to the ear as it cools, and once on the ear, leave for at least 10 minutes.  As the onion is being held to the ear, gently massage downward from behind the ear towards the neck to encourage the Eustachian tube to open and drain.  The onion provides soothing warmth, antibacterial oils, and promotes drainage.  Repeat as often as necessary.

For more about ear infections and baby an children’s health, click here.