{"id":32517,"date":"2024-06-07T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-07T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/?p=32517"},"modified":"2024-05-22T18:12:46","modified_gmt":"2024-05-22T18:12:46","slug":"how-to-sleep-with-ear-infection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/how-to-sleep-with-ear-infection\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Sleep Better With an Ear Infection"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s hard to sleep when you\u2019re sick. But there\u2019s one illness that can make it especially hard to fall and stay asleep\u2014and that\u2019s an ear infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is figuring out how to sleep with an ear infection so difficult? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe discomfort and pain from the pressure and inflammation in the middle ear make it challenging to sleep,\u201d says Robert McLaughlin II<\/a>, MD, board-certified orthopedic surgeon. \u201cLying down can exacerbate the feeling of pressure, leading to increased pain, which disrupts sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fevers that often accompany ear infections can also make sleep more difficult. \u201cEar infections often come with fever and overall uneasiness, making it hard to find a comfortable sleeping position<\/a>,\u201d says Paul Daidone<\/a>, MD, board-certified in internal medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cThe discomfort and pain from the pressure and inflammation in the middle ear make it challenging to sleep.”<\/p>\nRobert McLaughlin II, MD<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

So how, exactly, do you sleep with an ear infection? And if you have a baby with an ear infection, how can you help them get the sleep they need to overcome their infection and get better?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to sleep with an ear infection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s start with how to sleep with an ear infection in adults. If you\u2019re an adult, tips for getting the best sleep possible when you\u2019re dealing with an ear infection include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elevate your head<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you have an ear infection, your head positioning can play a major role in the quality of your sleep\u2014and a slightly elevated position could make sleep easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSleeping with your head in a slightly elevated position can help reduce pressure in the ear canal, decreasing pain,\u201d says Daidone. \u201cUse extra pillows or a wedge pillow<\/a> to keep your head elevated above your body.\u201d   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try a warm compress<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another step you can take to manage your ear infection\u2014and get a better night\u2019s sleep in the process? Try a warm compress before bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBefore bed, apply a warm compress to the affected ear for about 10 to 15 minutes,\u201d says Daidone. \u201cThis can help relieve pain and promote drainage of any fluid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just make sure that the compress is warm<\/em>, not hot. <\/em>\u201cBe sure not to make it too hot to avoid burns,\u201d says Daidone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take an OTC pain reliever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As long as you have the OK from your doctor, you might also consider taking an OTC pain reliever before bed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cConsult with a healthcare professional about taking over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen before bedtime,\u201d says Daidone. \u201cThese can help manage pain and reduce fever, making it easier to fall asleep.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best sleep position for an ear infection <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you have an ear infection, some positions will help you sleep better\u2014like sleeping on your back<\/a> and (as mentioned earlier) slightly elevating your head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis position helps minimize pressure in the ear canals, reducing pain and discomfort,\u201d says Daidone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lying on the unaffected side could also help improve sleep quality. \u201cIf one ear is more affected than the other, try sleeping on the side that\u2019s not infected,\u201d says Daidone. \u201cThis can help drain fluid from the affected ear and reduce pressure and pain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to maximize your sleep when navigating an ear infection, then there\u2019s one position you\u2019ll definitely want to avoid\u2014lying directly on the ear that\u2019s infected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLying directly on the affected ear can increase pressure and pain, making it more difficult to sleep,\u201d says Daidone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to help a baby sleep with an ear infection <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ear infections are extremely common in children. So, how do you help a baby with an ear infection get better sleep?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first thing you need to do is reach out to a doctor. \u201cConsult a pediatrician for appropriate pain relief options for babies,\u201d says Daidone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve gotten insights from the pediatrician, some other tips that may be able to help a baby with an ear infection sleep better include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adjust their crib<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Babies generally don\u2019t sleep with pillows like adults\u2014which means you can\u2019t elevate a baby\u2019s head on a pillow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that doesn\u2019t necessarily mean you can\u2019t elevate their head at all; if they have an adjustable crib, then you may be able to create a similar elevation to a pillow\u2014and help the baby get better sleep in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cElevating the head of the baby’s crib slightly can help as it mimics the adult strategy of using pillows for elevation,\u201d says McLaughlin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try a warm compress<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Warm compresses aren\u2019t just effective for adults; they can also be helpful for babies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe use of a warm compress near but not on the ear might also soothe the baby and facilitate sleep,\u201d says McLaughlin.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, just make sure the compress temperature isn\u2019t too hot; otherwise, you risk burning the baby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feed in an upright position<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If your baby struggling with an ear infection is still doing nighttime feedings, then it\u2019s important to make it as easy as possible for that baby to fall asleep after they\u2019re done eating\u2014and that means minimizing any pain they experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFeeding your baby in a more upright position can help ease ear pressure,\u201d says Daidone. When that ear pressure is eased, they\u2019ll experience less pain\u2014making it easier to fall back asleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If they have a hard time falling back asleep? Try comforting them. \u201cRocking, gentle shushing, and soft humming can help soothe a baby struggling to sleep due to ear discomfort,\u201d says Daidone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FAQs <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What side should you sleep on with an ear infection? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you have an ear infection, then you should sleep on the unaffected side\u2014so, if your right ear is infected, you should sleep on your left side (and vice versa).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is an ear infection worse at night? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are fewer distractions before you fall asleep\u2014which can make ear infection symptoms feel more intense. Plus, lying down can increase the feeling of pressure in the ear, making it harder to fall asleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you fall asleep with an ear infection? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While everyone is different, some things that may help you fall asleep with an ear infection include slightly elevating your head, sleeping on the unaffected side, using a warm compress before bed, and taking OTC pain medication (as long as it\u2019s approved by your doctor).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you get sick sleeping next to a sick person? Find out <\/em>whether you should sleep in the same room as someone who’s sick<\/a><\/em>. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s hard to sleep when you\u2019re sick. But there\u2019s one illness that can make it especially hard to fall and stay asleep\u2014and that\u2019s an ear infection. Why is figuring out how to sleep with an ear infection so difficult?  \u201cThe discomfort and pain from the pressure and inflammation in the middle ear make it challenging […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":144,"featured_media":32518,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[389,390],"tags":[],"coauthors":[484],"guest":[],"host":[],"class_list":["post-32517","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sleep-health","category-sleep-tips"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32517","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/144"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32517"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32517\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32521,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32517\/revisions\/32521"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32518"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32517"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32517"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32517"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=32517"},{"taxonomy":"guest","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guest?post=32517"},{"taxonomy":"host","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/host?post=32517"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}