My daughter pulls her ears when she is a little distressed...I keep getting her checked out for ear infections but they are always clear. She pulls her ears right before she spits up/vomits. Then she stops. So maybe it's just a burp that needs to come out or they are feeling a little uncomfortable in the tum. Docs will say it's nothing to do with that and that they pull their ears as a developmental thing but I noticed in my own daughter that she pulls her ears just before she burps/vomits/spits up. Watch for any patterns developing when they pull their ears. Hope this helps.