IMO, ALL Dr’s should tell people to take acidolphilus (or probiotic) right along with antibiotics. Antibiotics can kill of good bacteria as well as bad and can weaken the immune system, while acidolphilus helps promote the growth of good bacteria in the gut and helps encourage a stronger immune system. Acidolphilus also helps prevent diarrhea. They sell it in powder (for an infant)or small chewable tablets (for child) at health food stores.
I recently read a book, ’Disease Proof Your Child’ by Joel Fuhrman. He believes that ear infections, allergies, etc can be prevented by eating a better, more nutritious diet. (no dairy, no cheese, no fried foods, less processed, more whole foods...fruits, vegetable, whole grains, legumes, etc..) He does reccomend a mostly vegetarian diet, but it’s a very good book, very informative, makes you realize why a mostly veg diet is best. He also explains why the foods they eat in the first 10 years of life are most important and will effect them for the rest of their lives and determine what diseases/illnesses they’ll get several years down the road.