flying with babies

[SunRay]

HI, does anyone have any advice for making little ones comfortable on the plane. We are flyin g with one and three year old nephews and if they are anything like me I really suffer with my ears and have nose bleeds. I have heard babies screaming on descent and want to try and help. Someone suggeted ear defenders with a wet wipe in, has anyone tried such a thing or anything else that seems to work, would really appreciate any advice, thanks

 

[Disney1fan2002]

How old is the baby? I know when we flew with my 8 month old, we just made sure he was sucking on his "binky" on the way up and the way down. He was fine. Not all kids are uncomfortable, so maybe yours won't be! But just make sure the jaw is going.

 

[kimwim8]

check with their pediatrician. He/she may have some good advice, or may suggest giving them an OTC cold/decongestant medication (like mine did). It helped a lot, my kids didn't have any ear issues on our flight in 2002.

Good luck!

 

[GeekChic]

if either still have bottles/sippy cups you can offer them a couple swallows of something if they start to cry...so that their ears will pop.

the baby likely won't leave them in but for the older boy, my dd swears by Earplanes. She always has ear trouble on anything smaller than an Airbus 320 and she won't fly without her trusty little ear helpers.

good advice about the decongestants too, those can help as well if the doc says that they're okay! check with your pediatrician.

have a great trip!
geek

 

[alohamom]

For sure the sippy cup or bottle but make sure you don't give it to them too early(as I did once and only once!!!)as they will drink it all before you even land. What I do now for my 5 & 7 year olds is give them "push pops" or "baby bottle candy" or those candy necklaces. I know others may not want to fill their kids with sugar because it can excite them but it doesn't really do that too much to mine. I show it to them and make them wait for it so they will really, really want it and use it. Just so long as they swallow to pop the ears. Good luck, you must be a very kind aunt to take the two on a plane ride!

 

[alohamom]

oops! that is assuming you are the aunt-perhaps you are an uncle-either way, a very nice person to your nephews.

 

[SunRay]

Thanks for the advice, we are aunt and uncle actually but all the family is going, I'm the one doing all the planning!!
I managed to get hold of some Earplanes, I usually use earplugs, suck hard boiled sweets shut my eyes and don't speak to anyone , I hate it! But hey no pain no gain right and getting to Disney is definately worth the discomfort, thanks again

 

[eeyore45]

I am devoted to ear planes!! This time I did have problems, one ear plane wasnt in right - ouch, got it in and what a difference!! For the young ones - chewing on tootsie rolls is helpful (esp if they are not gum chewers!) (as an aside our speech patholgist reccommends the tootsie rolls in helping develop the tongue muscle!! Chew with mouth closed!!) Also second the antihistimine!!