ds - age 2 on flight - ears?

[pattyT]

My 2 year old DS is to young to chew gum and to old for the bubby-
what can I do to help eleviate the ear pressure on take off and landings?
THanks!

 

[jel0511]

I have to tell you, I've flown with both my kids since they were VERY young (both were 4-6 months) on there first flight. I've never had a problem with ears. I wouldn't worry about it. My kids were 8 months and 3 1/2 on there last flight and neither of them had any problems.

 

[pattyT]

Great to hear! THank You!
I really think he will be to interested in all the new sights around him to notice!

 

[akasleepingbeauty]

When we fly with our dd (now 2), we always give her a sippy cup with water in it for takeoff and landing. Even if she is not real thirsty, she will generally take a few sips which helps equalize the pressure in her ears.

Good luck on your flight!

 

[pixiechick]

There is a product called earplanes that can be bought in drugstores. They are earplugs that somehow relieve the pressure. They come in child and adult sizes.

 

[Lainy67]

My dd 3 has allergies and asthma, and we ALWAYS give her sudafed about 30 minutes before a flight takes off (right before boarding). We also have lil' noses which is a saline spray, if she is really clogged. These were recommended by our ENT and asthma specialist.

The sudafed is non-drowsy. We also have a sippy cup with us, and usually a bottle of water that we can transfer to the sippy cup if she drinks all of it. We give her that on takeoff and landing.(We put her in pull-ups then too, because she is scared of the stainless steel toilet in the airplane.)

We have also had starburst and skittles that we have given her if she is not thirsty and will not drink. They are messy at that age, but we have not had any problems.

Good Luck.

 

[TiggerT]

When our kids were young I packed a few lollipops and gave them to them at takeoff and landing. You just want to get them to swallow to keep there ears clear.

 

[mazzarafe]

Don't forget about fruit snacks. At least they are chewy and not complete sugar shock!

My DD who was 3 when we went last December was tired and falling asleep during takeoff and climbing to our cruising altitude. I tried to have her chew gum which she was just starting to get to have but she wanted no part of it. She slept thru more than 90% of our flight. Needless to say that night she kept crying in her sleep and then woke up in hysterics for a good 5 minutes of crying so hard she almost threw up.

Find a few things that your DS likes to chew on, even a snack , just to have his jaw moving will help him pop his ears and keep him from getting into trouble. I know my DD would never pass up fruit snacks so I'm gonna bring more than one choice for our next trip.

 

[nancy679]

Yawning is what helps me and my kids, dont know if you can get a 2yr old to do that, but it works better for us than chewing.

 

[Simba's Mom]

One flight I saw the cutest thing I'll never forget. Ask your flight attendant for "Mickey Ears". The flight attendant we saw got 2 styrofoam cups, put paper towels soaked in very warm water in the bottom, then put them over the child's ears. The little child stopped crying (I think it had something to do with the steam relieving pressure). He looked so cute too!

 

[*Belle*]

I have used them for my children on our last 3 trips. DS was 2yrs the first time we tried them. They are ear plugs (get the childrens size) at the pharmacy. Your pharmacist will be happy to explain them to you. I always carry 2 pairs for my DS each trip, just in case we loose one. They have a web site. www.earplanes.com

 

[BuzzMe]

We've gone the "wet towels, cups on the ears" route, but Earplanes are the absolute best!

 

[sgtdisney]

We used Earplanes on our trip last year for both my wife and my then 4 year old son. They worked great. My wife almost always has problems with her ears and didn't when she used the earplanes. My son hasn't really had many problems with his ears, but we got some for him as a precaution. Both had great flights. I didn't get any for myself, I don't seem to ever have problems with my ears...

 

[CRCrazy]

I would definitely go for the Earplanes! Two of my three daughters have always had trouble with their ears on flights, The 5 year old uses the children's size, while my 13 year old uses the adult size. Be sure to leave them in for the whole flight - my 13 year old took them out after we reached cruising altitude on her first flight with them, and didn't get them back in until about 15 minutes before we landed, and her ears were hurting!

She always keeps them in for the whole flight now, and hasn't had any more trouble!

Before they had these, I used to go the decongestant route, but it didn't always work, and I don't like to drug my children for no reason! Tootsie Pops are always a big hit too! (But Messy!)

 

[Tess]

Another vote for Earplanes (they look a bit like corkscrews rather than solid earplugs). Like Lainy67 our DD is asthmatic and has spasms in her ears caused by the cabin pressure. We also have been told by the Doctor to do the Sudaphed 1/2 hour before flight times.

We've found she's much more altitude sensitive on the return flight (it has something to do with spending so much time in the pool during the week) and she can be in agony. The Earplanes don't work as well on the return trip, but they do wonders on the flight down.

BTW, our DD is now 11 and has been making this flight almost yearly since age 2.

 

[pattyT]

Earplanes - I can't imagine ds keeping them in! He doesn't like anything out of norm. He is 1 1/2 and has hit terrible 2's early!

dd will do fine though - I will get some for her!

 

[4nana]

Our doctor recommends a small dose of antihistamine
to help tubes open and it seems to work great.

 

[Jen80370]

I have major ear issues...for me the trick is earplanes, sudafed, and starbursts candies. For a two year old I would say chewy granola bars. Plus the snack gives them something to focus on other then takeoff. Good luck!

 

[pattyT]

Thank you all so much for all of your help! I can't wait!
4 months seems too far away!

 

[DeeP]

I had terrible ear problems after a flight in Dec so when I had to fly again a couple of weeks ago I was really worried. My Ears/Nose/Throat Dr recommended earplanes and using Afrin nasal spray and they worked great! My ears never even popped let alone gave me pain like I had in Dec. My Dr also told me to wear the earplanes for the entire flight, I am sure I looked silly with these 2 blue plugs in my ears but they worked so I did not care.