Hi Jane --
My second child had  her first bout of otitis media at 5 months (100%
breastfed, never a bottle, never artificial milk) and continued monthly,
weekly, hourly (it seemed) till tubes in at 17 months.   She must hold a
record for antibiotics as lived on Bactrim until became allergic to it one
New Year's Day!.  She had 19 rx in 12 months for 10 ear infections.
 Amoxicillin then Bactrim then Gantrisin (didn't work) then Suprax.  Suprax
was brilliant for her.  Pediatrician quickly gave up on idea of 7-10 days rx:
always 2 weeks, check and continue if needed and until fluid cleared.

The year before the myringotomy was most fraught:  she could go from healthy
to 105 degree fever in 6 hours.  Ruptured ear drum on two occasions.
 Constantly at doctor's office.

Now, to your questions:

I always nursed her on her side, head higher than bottom -- should have been
fine.

As for side effects of all the antibiotic, her baby teeth needed regular
scraping to remove yellow coating apparently typical side-effect of liquid
antibiotics.  (I learned to have her drink water after meds but still much
coating.)  Permanent teeth now coming in and look fine so far.  (She's six.)

The saga didn't end with the myringotomy.  She began u.r.i.'s (NOT ears this
time) after all colds so back on antibiotics about once a month.  At age 4
ear infections returned and ENT told me to have tubes again and remove
adenoids -- persistent fluid in middle ear and sinuses.

I toured two new ENTs and a pediatric allergist in the next 48 hours.  One
ENT agreed with diagnosis.  Other two said there was NO fluid in ears and
surgery would be unethical.  Pediatric allergist became her regular
pediatrician: shrank adenoids through careful use of steroid nasal spray,
cleared sinuses and ears through 6 weeks (!!) of high-dose antibiotics.  We
still see him very regularly but oh what a difference an MD ALLERGIST can
make.  Her allergy "shiners" are gone.  Lovely round, pink cheeks and such
high energy.  And sleeps better!!!  Hard to sleep when you can't breath
easily.  All that bruxism (teeth grinding) dentist et al told me to
ignore...very much reduced.

Blood test at age 4 to check IGE levels confirmed child within range of
normal BUT at top end.

This is a long story to get to the bottom line:  have your mom  go hunting
for allergies.  Now.

Joanna Koch, IBCLC