Children's ear pain on plane...

[only1alexa]

Can someone, ANYONE help me find a solution to this problem. My two children, DS3 and DD4 get anxious about flying because they get severe earaches during take offs and landings. I know the pressure causes it and I know, as an adult, how to take care of it for myself. I can't seem to find anything to help my two. They are SOOO excited about going back to WDW but it's become an uphill battle getting them to calm down before take offs because they truly do seem to be in more pain than I've ever been once the plane takes off. I've had them drink out of a straw, chew gum, blow out while they hold their nose and mouth closed, etc. We have tried taking early morning flights so they'll sleep through it - not happening. I just don't know what to do. They are truly troopers because they wince and whine but are willing to try anything I ask. A doctor suggested giving them Benedryl but I can't see medicating them to get them to stay asleep - it's just wrong IMO. I have tried giving them a little bit of Tylenol prior to boarding in hopes that it will help with the pain but, other than that, I'm at a loss as to what to do.
Oh, and I know I should stick to driving if I can't find a solution. Trust me, I didn't realize how bad it was until my DD told me this last flight that her "ears hurt so bad I'm gonna to cry if I go on the plane again". I truly thought any of the above would work but it hasn't. Any help would be truly appreciated.

 

[honugirl]

Try a decongestant medication. If that doesn't work, maybe seeing an ear, nose, and throat doc might be good. Maybe they would have more ideas.

 

[buffalogirl]

A friend of my parents just flew back from Aruba with a punctured ear drum.
He used these and didn't have any pain:

http://www.cirrushealthcare.com/EarPlanes-C8.aspx

You may be able to purchase them at your local pharmacy.

 

[yeahdisney]

Our CVS pharmacy carries earplanes around $6-7 dollars. They will order them for you if they are out. Both children and adult sizes. My 3 year old remembered them and asked for them for his second flight. I also have something for them to chew and drinks during take off.

 

[aquaticmom]

I have heard of people asking the flight attendants for two drink cups one for each ear. Supposedly if you hold the cups on your ears they equalize the pressure and help with the ear pain. My daughters ears were bothering her on a flight once and when we asked for the cups the flight attendants knew exactly why we wanted them. She was about 11 yrs old at the time and she said it helped.I have seen people do this on the plane before. Maybe someone else here on the boards can shed a little more light on this subject.

 

[kleubanks]

The previous poster is right..try the paper cup idea. When you put the cups over your ears, you equalize the pressure between you and the cups and the pressure doesn't build up behind the eardrums. (I am an audiologist..) I'd also try the decongestant. It keeps the eustachian tube open so the pressure is equalized in the ear.

A couple years ago we sat next to a Dad with two small kids. His little girl was miserable on the way down. Bless her heart, she sat there with two cups over her ears the rest of the way because it helped.

Good luck!

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

I usually give the kids a decongestant the night before and take one myself. I can sympathize with your kids, when I flew down last January, I landed with ear pain so bad I wanted to scream and it lasted all night.

My DD4 has the most trouble. Since starting the decongestant, it is better, but she still whines a bit. I try suckers, candy, drinks. It seems to be only during landing now, since I have done the medicine.

In May, I am also going to try with the paper cups. I am going to have all 4 kids on the plane, and DS13 gets wicked sinus problems like me, so I will have him try that too....I have a feeling he will have issues, too.

Good luck. For the decongestant, I use Robitussin for the kids and since we fly in the morning, I give it to them before bed the night before. I take Allegra at least 12 hours before we fly because I take Ativan for nerves and worry about mixing the meds.

 

[APB513]

My 19 year old son flew down to Orlando in pain because of his ears. For the flight home he bought ear planes and had no trouble at all.

I found some at Drugstore.com - http://www.drugstore.com/search/sea...=All&srchtree=1&Ntt=ear+planes&Go.x=9&Go.y=16

 

[Teacher510]

Our first WDW trip was Christmas week when DD was 5 (now 23). She had very bad ear pain when we arrived but luckily it cleared up in a couple of hours. Before we left for the airport I gave her Children's Sudafed and she slept most of the way home with no pain. Since then, we both take Sudafed about an hour before the flight. If we are congested before the trip we take it for a few days before.

 

[Tess'smom]

My daughters Pediatrician recommended a decongestant, and gave her ear drops specifically for pain when she was flying with an ear infection to Disney. She also used a prescription nasal spray for her allergies with helped with nasal congestion. She made it down there pain free, thank goodness.

 

[TLSnell1981]

The previous poster is right..try the paper cup idea. When you put the cups over your ears, you equalize the pressure between you and the cups and the pressure doesn't build up behind the eardrums. (I am an audiologist..) I'd also try the decongestant. It keeps the eustachian tube open so the pressure is equalized in the ear.

We did both of these things for our son and it does work.

 

[Laurabearz]

I `give my kids starbursts to eat... That seems to do the trick most of the time.

 

[karliebug]

definitely get the earplanes plugs. They are small rubber plugs that screw into your ear. you put them in before take off, wear them until the plane levels off, and then you can remove them until it is time to land if you want. I used to have terrible ear pain and my 2 girls did to until we tried these. You can get them at a drug store or kmart or walmart. They are especially made for flying, don't just buy any old ear plugs.

 

[only1alexa]

THANK YOU EVERYONE! You are so kind to take the time to help me with this. I can feel my anxiety going down now! I would have never thought paper cups would help and think the kids could have fun with that. I'm going to let DD and DS decorate the outside of a pair of the paper cups as I explain to them how to use them on a plane. Hopefully that will do the trick. I have seen the ear plugs meant for a plane but didn't think they would really work. Thanks to those who have posted their experiences with them; I'm going to buy them each a pair (or two)now.
And I never thought to use decongestant but will certainly pick that up too.
Think my sleepy medicated kids holding decorated paper cups over their ears and speaking loudly because their earplugs prevent them from hearing will garner me strange looks from fellow fliers? LOL. (Just kidding, I know, one method at a time. )

 

[buffalogirl]

Think my sleepy medicated kids holding decorated paper cups over their ears and speaking loudly because their earplugs prevent them from hearing will garner me strange looks from fellow fliers? LOL. (Just kidding, I know, one method at a time. )

Too funny!!!

Have a great trip!

 

[Jaymie]

THANK YOU EVERYONE! You are so kind to take the time to help me with this. I can feel my anxiety going down now! I would have never thought paper cups would help and think the kids could have fun with that. I'm going to let DD and DS decorate the outside of a pair of the paper cups as I explain to them how to use them on a plane. Hopefully that will do the trick. I have seen the ear plugs meant for a plane but didn't think they would really work. Thanks to those who have posted their experiences with them; I'm going to buy them each a pair (or two)now.
And I never thought to use decongestant but will certainly pick that up too.
Think my sleepy medicated kids holding decorated paper cups over their ears and speaking loudly because their earplugs prevent them from hearing will garner me strange looks from fellow fliers? LOL. (Just kidding, I know, one method at a time. )

Just a suggestion, but you might want to use a decongestant that you've used before or try it before the flight to make sure it won't make your kids super-hyper. My DH took Sudafed once and he was like a squirrel on speed!!

I also use the Tylenol Decongestant for our DS on flights, he's never complained about ear pain. Wish I could say the same.

 

[Pokemom]

I'm another fan of Earplanes. My daughter would cry because of the pain in her ears when flying. We tried different remedies, but Earplanes seem to work the best for her. She says her ears don't hurt when she wears them.

 

[LSchrow]

i've found the antihistimine (recommended by our ENT b/c of severe fluid in DD's ears) works best for us. we take one dose about 15 minutes before take-off, & it lasts thru both take-off & landing (2 1/2 hour flight). another advantage is getting to nap on the plane (makes the ride go faster ).
i use earplanes (tho we've found them rather uncomfortable while in ear) in conjunction with the antihistimine, & chew gum.

it's soooooo nice to fly without the blinding pain........

 

[only1alexa]

Just a suggestion, but you might want to use a decongestant that you've used before or try it before the flight to make sure it won't make your kids super-hyper. My DH took Sudafed once and he was like a squirrel on speed!!

I also use the Tylenol Decongestant for our DS on flights, he's never complained about ear pain. Wish I could say the same.

OMG, I SPIT my water on my keyboard when I read that first part.
Thanks for the warning!

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

Just a suggestion, but you might want to use a decongestant that you've used before or try it before the flight to make sure it won't make your kids super-hyper.

My oldest DD14 gets this with Benadryl. My other kids get sleepy. She takes it occasionally for allergies and holy moly.....she talks nonstop and gets all wiggy and fidgety. She had a skin rash from eating a muffin (she is slightly allergic to blueberries, but continues to eat them every couple years hoping it goes away since she loves them). I gave her Benadryl before school and received a call from one of her teachers asking me to please not do that anymore...they sent her to the nurse thinking she took speed or something. Fortunately, the school nurse was aware that Benadryl can cause that reaction in some people.

Sudafed always makes me feel like my heart is racing.