My baby has been niggly for a day or two and is rubbing her ears. What might have caused her to have an ear infection?

Ear infections are extremely common among young babies and have four common causes:

•	Cold virus – the virus affects the Eustacian tube , leading to pain and discomfort
•	Water – it is best to keep baby’s ears dry as water in the ear that can lead to infection
•	Cleaning – earbuds should not be used to clean a baby’s ears as dislodged wax can fall back into the ear and become infected
•	Teething – can cause ear pain

If you suspect that your baby has earache then you should see the doctor as soon as possible in order to establish whether the baby has an infection which needs treating. These infections are best caught early.