Sweet Oil for Earaches in Children

Many cooks have sweet oil in their home to enhance recipes and some even use it as a skin softener. Sweet oil is commonly referred to olive oil. Many moms have found that sweet oil has a surprising use --- as a way to ease the discomfort of earaches in children.

Earaches are Common

Earaches are a common complaint in children. According to Familydoctor.org, before their first birthday most children will have had at least one ear infection. Most of them are caused when fluid doesn't drain properly out of the eustachian tubes in the middle ear. The tubes in children are smaller, and this may cause children to have more earaches than adults. If the fluid does not drain, it could cause an infection in the ear.

What Experts Say

While the medical community does not specifically state "sweet oil" is a remedy for childhood earaches, they do recommend olive oil, which is similar. WebMD lists sweet oil as a drug but doesn't give any details. The site urges readers to consult a pharmacy. Some experts do say that sweet oil may temporarily reduce the pain of an earache. However, it is recommended the parents take their child to the doctor to make sure there is no infection.

How to Apply

Sweet oil can be purchased with a dropper so it is easy to put the oil in the children's ears. Only a couple of drops are needed in each ear to be effective in reducing the pain. It is recommended that the oil be warm to be most effective. If the sweet oil does not come with a dropper, one can be purchased at a pharmacy. The biggest problem for parents may be getting the children to stay still long enough for the drops to be inserted.

Other Uses

While medical experts caution against using sweet oil as the sole remedy for earaches, there are other uses for the product, particularly when it comes to solving common children's conditions. Cradle cap, where a baby's head becomes dry and scaly, may be relieved by sweet oil. Sweet oil may also help get rid of lice. Olive oil is also recommended in a healthy diet since it contains the "good" kind of fats. The Mayo Clinic recommends that sweet oil be used within six month to a year of being opened since it can lose some of its health benefits over time.