Flying with small children

[forgop]

Are there any over the counter type of medicines good for children to make them less likely to have ear pain? We'll be traveling with a 7 month old, a 3 year old, and a 4 year old. I'm not sure about giving our 3 year old gum just yet, but figure giving her a sippy cup might help her in popping her ears on the way up and down.

My wife gets it pretty bad, but I'm more worried about the kids crying right now. Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[disnut1149]

Hi
I've heard people buy ear planes for their kids or themselves. You put them in your ears and you can buy them over the counter. I don't know too much about them. Also, I would check with the pediatrician to see what they suggest. I took my DGD for the first time last August when she was 3 1/2 and she was great on the plane. She chew gummy bears while the plane was going up and coming down. Have a great trip!

 

[dimimi]

I had ear pain once and it was horrible...it didn't get better for days! I had never had this happen before. The doctor said to take a sudafed. (I had to go to an Urgent Care because fo the pain) So...now I take a Sudafed EVERY time I fly and I haven't had any problems.

I always remind the kids to swallow. I give mine a little snack that requires swallowing. Everytime I swallow and feel a pop, I remind the kids since they don't do it instinctively.

Enjoy!

 

[karliebug]

I used to give my kids dimetapp which helped a little. Now we use the earplanes and I wouldn't fly without them. My kids used to cry and scream when they were little with ear pain and I have problems,too. the earplanes work great for us. What really sold me was when I saw our pilots wearing them!

 

[Jenniww]

The sell those ear planes at travel stores (luggage stores) for around $7.00 you can probably get them at the airport as well.

 

[capecoddisneyfamily]

we are bringing juice and lollipops.

 

[lindsmom]

I would highly recommend to plan either a bottle - even if it's water or juice - or binkies / pacifiers for the baby. If you don't use either, definitely a sippy cup, but I would suggest the kind with a straw top. You may have to get them used to the cup now. The idea is to get them sucking and swallowing on the way up and the way down. When we fly with dd starting at age 6 mos to 5 years, we count to ten and have her take a sip, then count again. If you feel your ears popping, count to five. Once you're leveled off they should be okay.

We've also used dimetapp, and I would again but it's controversial lately. Like PP said, check with pediatrician. I haven't seen the earplanes, but I'm going to look into them (DH needs them more - lol!)

If you get up in the air and their ears are blocked (crying, etc), don't panic. Ask the steward / stewardesses for the cup trick. Apparently it involves a coffee / styrofoam cup, put a folded paper towel in the bottom with just enough hot water to wet it and put the cup over the child's ear, hold tight. One on each ear (looks rather silly, princess leia - ish) is supposed to help even out the pressure, moist air helps open up the ear canals? Most flight crews have at least one attendant who knows the trick.

Good luck!

 

[Disneylush]

my kids get suckers and it seems to work just fine.

 

[goofypooh]

My ears hurt really bad when I fly, too. I take sudafed, but have found that if I also take a Tylenol or Advil before the flight, it seems to prevent the pain. So, if you're you're comfortable giving your kids a little Tylenol before the flight, that might help. Good luck!

 

[blessedby3]

The sell those ear planes at travel stores (luggage stores) for around $7.00 you can probably get them at the airport as well.

They also sell them at WalMart- both adult and kids. They seem to be hit and miss with my kids. Sometimes they seem to help and sometimes not. My peditrician said to go the sudafed route last time, but my kids are older (17, 12, 9).

 

[missmun52]

Last time I used ear planes for my 2 year old and myself (you can get the child ones at CVS i could find that size NO WHERE else though they had adult) and i also gave my son a decongestant and candy and took one myself and we were both fine.