Experience w/ ear pain on planes

[LisaR]

We have been using EarPlanes for my sons ears since he was 11 months old and had a nightmare flight because of severe ear pain. He is now six. Does anyone know if this problem goes away at some point? On one trip when he was about 3 1/2, one of the plugs came out while he was sleeping (we didn't know this at the time). He woke up screaming in pain. So, I have always used the plugs since. We leave Tuesday and I am just wondering if he will always need these?

Lisa

 

[Otto's Doll]

I have a DS 10 and a DD 8. Both of them experienced ear pain on the trip to Florida. I didn't give them anything on the way down, but on the way home I gave them a decongestant about an hour before the plane left, and both had a much easier time that way.

 

[debster812]

I'm 37, and most airline descents would reduce me to tears. I bless whoever invented Earplanes every time I fly. I also start taking some decongestant about 3 days preflight just to be safe.

Your son's pain may go away, as he grows, but I am not sure. I have a pair already packed for DS in January, just in case.

 

[Kaybee]

How well do those ear planes work? My DS 9 had horrible ear pain on the way down to Orlando last year. I gave him a decongestant on the way back but it made him very sleepy. I just wondered what kind of luck you had with using these on children.We are flying again in May and I want to spare him that pain if I can!!

 

[joyful1nh]

I've not had a lot of luck with the ear planes with my 5 yr old -- she doesn't like to actually position them correctly in her ears, which is key. With her (and myself) I use the earplanes along with a 1/2 dose of decongestant given after the plane takes off (best time is about 90 minutes prior to anticipated landing). The sudafed type decongestants work very well, but are more likely to cause excitability than drowsiness so I find the 1/2 dose works best for us.

 

[LisaR]

The ear planes have worked great for my son. The decongestants have never been enough to help him. The directions say that it is best to leave them in the entire flight but we don't anymore. Once we level out, he can remove them. Then we put them in about 30 minutes before landing. I guess I better take them since this doesn't seem to be the kind of thing one outgrows. The funny thing is, my dd had tons of ear infections until the age of 4 when she had tubes put in. She never had a single problem when flying, even before the tubes. DS has never had an ear infection in his 6 years of life and yet his ears have caused major discomfort when flying. Go figure.

Lisa

 

[Heyyall]

Originally posted by Kaybee
How well do those ear planes work? My DS 9 had horrible ear pain on the way down to Orlando last year. I gave him a decongestant on the way back but it made him very sleepy. I just wondered what kind of luck you had with using these on children.We are flying again in May and I want to spare him that pain if I can!!

You buy a box of earplanes, basically anywhere (we get ours at CVS) and before you take off, you just put them in your ears, and I never had pain using them. I don't need them anymore, but my dad and sister still do, otherwise the pain for them is unbearable. They have special ones just for children. You should try them.

 

[kaygela]

We also find chewing gum or sucking candy or lollipop help to relieve the pressure.

 

[Zephyr]

I'll be using Earplanes this year for my son (4), last year I didn't and he had alot of discomfort. It seemed to help somewhat that he had a drink to sip on (I think the swalling motion helps) and when he ran out of something to drink I kept giving him M&M's to keep him swallowing.

I just hope I'm able to put the earplanes in correctly. Just in case I am taking two plastic cups and hand warmers. If he is in pain I'll activate the fwarmers, put them in the cups and them place on his ears. I think this might help - but not positive.

 

[Gretchen]

This does help, doesn't relieve all the pain, but helps. You look like a total idiot, but who cares! I was flying from West to east coast and the whole side of my face went numb from the pressure. It was the weirdest thing. The flight attendant brought two cups and a cup of hot water with a towel in it. Like I said, it helped buy not a whole lot. They asked the pilot if he could come down in altitude, once he did, the pain and numbness went away. Wierdest thing...I didn't have a cold, no fluid etc. and have flown with my ear totaly blocked before, never happened again.
Gretchen