Ear pain during take off and landing?

[slinky101]

hi, last time we flew, my DD's and I had severe ear pain on take off and landing, mine was eased buy sucking a sweet but DD's kept eating theirs! I have seen ear plugs advertised for flying, think they are called ear planes? anyone tried them? are they any different from ordinary ear plugs? any other top tips for avoiding ear pain?

 

[tartangirl]

I take a drink through a straw during take-off. We find it works better than sucking sweets.

 

[Hilary]

DDs have both suffered with this in the past, but now always use EarPlanes (or Boots own brand equivalent) and have had no problems.

The first time they tried them they felt very self-conscious because they thought everyone would be able to see them sticking out of their ears (they're only obvious if you know they're there and have short hair or hair tied back from the ears), but they worked so well they don't hesitate to put them in now

They wear them for take off until the plane reaches cruising altitude, then take them out during the flight, and put them back in about half an hour before landing when the plane starts to descend.

They are different from ordinary earplugs because they have some kind of valve in them which does something or other to the pressure inside the ear which. It's that buld up of pressure which would normally cause the discomfort. I'm sure it's far more technical than that, but that's how I understand it!

 

[uksaint]

We tried them on DS (age 4). He wouldn't leave them in for more than 30 seconds, so I have no idea whether they work or not. Had to resort to the wine gums again. Plus (and don't take this as gospel) I vaguely recall the instructions said you should put them in the ear about an hour before take-off. We didn't even look at the instructions until we were on the plane.

Not much help, I know....but worth considering whether you think your DDs will actually leave them in the ear.

 

[slinky101]

Thanks for the tips, DD's are 7 & 9, they still talk about how much it hurt on the flight so might keep them in if they think its going to help, no chance with an hour before but, half hour on take off and landing might be ok for them. thanks all

 

[Andrea B]

My daughter, aged 9, has always suffered during take-off and landing. Last year i bought some earplugs from Boots (can't remember the name of them). They come in a little plastic box with a lid on it. It worked wonders. They were about £4.99

 

[lagunn]

we all use ear planes or boots own brand.. couldnt go without them...
ooooohhh the pain it is awful.(do not suffer anymore thanks to earplanes)

 

[slinky101]

thanks andrea and lagunn, will definately be off to boots on the weekend to stock up! this might be a stupid question but are they reusable? I mean for the same person to use more than once,not to share of course!...yuk!

 

[brer rabbit 28]

I use them everytime i fly.I have the squishy ones that you have to roll between your fingers into a thin shape,then shove them in quick!They expand to fit your ear shape,they are brilliant.Bought them in Boots two years ago and still have the same ones (eurgh!!!).So yes,they are re usable!

 

[Cochise]

I think ear planes help to equalise the pressure on both sides of yur ear drum Hilary. I did use these for a year or so but dont bother any more, i put up with the agony. I tend to yawn on take off and descent, i think it is better than sweets etc. Its rather funny watching people yawning near you after

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Another vote for Earplane - DD uses them both take off and landing and since using them has had no problems (touching wood . . . ).

 

[slinky101]

Thanks all, hopefully nowDD's will have pain free flight

 

[Hilary]

are they reusable? I mean for the same person to use more than once,not to share of course!...yuk!

It says on the Earplanes box (not the squishy type that brer rabbit mentions) that they can be used for one return trip (i.e. two flights) because the technical bit (thanks for the explanation, cochise ) gets clogged with dust and won't be effective if they're used too many times.

I'm sure this is just a marketing ploy, but they've worked so well for DDs that I'm not willing to take a chance so I just buy a new set for them every trip!

 

[wicket2005]

Thanks for the info here, my son suffered last time.

 

[TinkTatoo]

Another vote for Earplanes - DS used to cry on landing but we used these last time and he was fine - He did have a tendancy to shout though

 

[Hilary]

Another vote for Earplanes - DS used to cry on landing but we used these last time and he was fine - He did have a tendancy to shout though

LOL!!!

 

[slinky101]

Thanks to all the recommendations, went to boots today, bought their own make versionof the ear planes, £3.99 per pack, two pairs in childrens pack, one pair in adults pack and they were buy 3 pay for 2, bargain of the day!

 

[kev kendall]

And another vote for earplanes - put them in about an hour before. DS had no problems this summer!

 

[arieljasmine]

I was really interested in this thread as I suffer very badly myself, think I will have to look into getting some of these earplanes.

Personally, I suck lollipops on the way up and particularly on the way down - they last longer than sweets and because you only have one your teeth don't feel so sugar coated. I find this works pretty well.

ArielJasmine