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Q.

What is the relationship between bottle-feeding and otitis media (middle ear infection)?

Related Topics: Feeding, Middle Ear, Ear Infection
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A.

Bottle-feeding is a risk factor for developing otitis media (middle ear infections). The position of the breastfeeding child is better than that of the bottle-feeding position in terms of function of the Eustachian tube that leads into the middle ear. If a child needs to be bottle-fed, it is best to hold the infant rather than allow the child to lie down with the bottle. Ideally, the child should not take the bottle to bed. (In addition to increasing the chance for acute otitis media, falling asleep with milk in the mouth increases the risk of tooth decay.)

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