Does my almost-12 yo DS need Earplanes?

[foreverdis]

I've always made him use them, but it's been a few years since he's flown. Just wondering if he'll need them, never had any ear problems, just used them as precautionary measure!

I'm thinking that he will be okay with chewing gum; what do you all think?

Thanks~Lisa

 

[Alesia]

Age doesn't really have anything to do with it.

 

[foreverdis]

I just figured the older we got, the sturdier our ears would be!

 

[sue1013]

My kids never used them they've flown since they were 2 or 3.

 

[dudspizza]

The only way you would know is if you tried not using them.

Honestly, if your child has never had any ear problems, he probably doesn't need them in the first place.

Duds

 

[laughinplace199]

It just depends on the kid, not the age of the kid.

I have 3 kids. DD11 has never had an issue with her ears on planes. Neither has DS4. However, DS9 did have issues a few years ago, so we always get Earplanes for him.

 

[foreverdis]

Gee, I sound like a 'helicopter mom', worried about my almost teen son's ears, lol! His older sister always had many ear infections, so the earplanes were a preventive measure with her and he got them too! He's never had ear problems, in general, and I believe we forgot them at WDW 1 yr and he traveled home without them-no problems!

I'm taking some chewing gum, just in case, and crossing earplanes off my to-do list!

 

[kylieh]

My DH swears by them, they do nothing for me or DD. I have severe sinus issues and start taking meds a few days before I fly. My DH can have blocked ears for days on end without them.

My DD doesn't need them.

 

[Vijoge]

I have flown with my DGDs , 13, 11, and 3, without earplanes and everyone was fine. My former husband's daughter flew cross country multiple times a year beginning at age 5 before anyone ever heard of earplanes. None of these kids experienced any difficulties.

A co-worker, late 40's, won't get on a plane without them.

 

[3happydancers]

I've always made him use them, but it's been a few years since he's flown. Just wondering if he'll need them, never had any ear problems, just used them as precautionary measure!

I'm thinking that he will be okay with chewing gum; what do you all think?

Thanks~Lisa

I did not know my daughter needed earplanes until she few without them. She experienced a great deal of ear pain which now makes me have them for her whenever we fly.

Last year however, even though I had them, she did not want to use them. She still had discomfort but that was her choice. She was 12 years old. This year, I will still have them and give her the choice.

You won't know he needs them until he flies without them to see if he experiences discomfort. My daughter has had ear problems since age 2. If your son has not had these problems, he may be fine without them.

 

[n2mm]

None of my kids, nor any of the grandkids have ever used them. The Grandkids started flying at 3 months old. They fly to wDW with us 3 of our trips a year and they've never used anything like this, nor chew gum. Maybe some folks have issues and others don't. No one in our family. However, I flew with the beginnings of an ear ache once and it did not feel good mid-flight. I always tell my DH we don't have the ear issues because we live in the mountains.

 

[OKW Lover]

Our grandson (who is now 8) has flown from Houston to Orlando multiple times, starting at age 6 months, and never needed them.

 

[deedeetoo]

My kids have also never used earplanes. Both of my kids have flown at least once a year since infancy.

This sounds like another one of those things that people here say are necessary but that I have never heard of outside the disboards. If your child has some special condition that requires them, then get them. Most people don't need anything.

 

[mickeyluv]

What are earplanes? I have a lot of ear problems myself and DD (age 13) always complains of her ears hurting on decent (spelling?). We chew gum and sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't. My ENT doctor told me to use Afrin the day before and the day of our flight but only for that time period, then stop, and to take Sudafed the morning of our flight.

I would really love to know more about earplanes. anything that would help would be great!!!

 

[dudspizza]

What are earplanes? I have a lot of ear problems myself and DD (age 13) always complains of her ears hurting on decent (spelling?). We chew gum and sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't. My ENT doctor told me to use Afrin the day before and the day of our flight but only for that time period, then stop, and to take Sudafed the morning of our flight.

I would really love to know more about earplanes. anything that would help would be great!!!

Simple Google search...... you can buy them at places like Target, Walmart, etc....

http://www.cirrushealthcare.com/faq.aspx

 

[OKW Lover]

What are earplanes? I have a lot of ear problems myself and DD (age 13) always complains of her ears hurting on decent (spelling?). We chew gum and sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't. My ENT doctor told me to use Afrin the day before and the day of our flight but only for that time period, then stop, and to take Sudafed the morning of our flight.

I would really love to know more about earplanes. anything that would help would be great!!!

Sounds like you've already gotten good advice from somebody well qualified in the subject - stick with your ENT's advice.