These symptoms don't necessarily indicate an ear infection – they could be signs of a number of illnesses or even teething – but they should alert you that something's not quite right with your baby. For a clear diagnosis, take Baby to the pediatrician, who will use a light instrument called an otoscope to examine the outer ear and the eardrum. If the eardrum is inflamed, your child probably has an ear infection.

One reason infants and young children may experience recurrent ear infections is the structure of the ear itself. The Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the nose and throat, is oriented more horizontally than vertically in the ears of children, making fluid drainage more difficult. If fluid cannot drain, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria. Additionally, babies are less able than adults to fight off infections because their immune systems are still in development.

Before you abandon hope that your child can avoid recurrent ear infections, try to prevent them by following a few simple rules.

One is to "limit daycare exposure if possible," suggests Dr. Lori Bowers, assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of South Florida. Children in close quarters day after day tend to introduce bacteria and viruses to each other, causing repeated infections.

Another preventative measure: Don't smoke or allow your children to spend time around smokers. And, just as importantly, breastfeed as long as possible. Breastfed babies receive protective antibodies that reduce the chances of getting colds and subsequent ear infections. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, formula-fed infants experienced a "two-fold elevated risk of first episodes of [ear infections] compared with infants exclusively breastfed for six months."

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