Give child Benadryl before flying?

[judykay53]

My grandson who is 9 is not looking forward to flying because he had such a problem with his ears the last time he flew. We had Earplanes and gum and still he was in tears during landing. Has anyone given their child Benadryl or something like it to dry them up not to knock them out (although he might be better off ). We will be arriving after 11pm so they will go to bed right away. What does everyone do to help this situation?

 

[debster812]

I'd have a talk with the pediatrician first to see what they suggest.

DS is also 9, and for his first 3 flights, he had an active ear infection. Yes, I am the mother of the year. Anyway, he was on his antibiotics for the ear infection, Children's Motrin for the pain, and decongestant for a couple of days prior to the flight.

 

[Kae]

We take sudafed both myself & DS9. We have allergies & if we are even a little stuffy it hurts. We start taking it the day before we leave. It does not knock DS out or make him feel funny.

Kae

 

[Music Mole]

If you want a non-medical solution for the ear thing, you could try earplanes. Last I knew (in 2005) you could get them at most drug stores like Walgreens etc. They are specially designed ear plugs that help equalize the pressure in the ear as the plane takes off and lands so that it doesn't hurt the ears.

That being said, I personally am a big fan of decongestants prior to flying. I agree with the person who said to give it a day or so prior so it has time to work.

 

[NotUrsula]

Benadryl alone isn't very likely to help ear pain, though most children will fall asleep after taking it, and sleep helps to prevent ear pain somewhat. Benadryl is an antihistamine -- what he would need is a decongestant or a combination of both. Earplanes *may* help, but they equally might not, especially if he finds them uncomfortable. Drinking during ascent and especially descent usually helps -- the motion of swallowing helps to release the pressure on the eardrums. While gum generates saliva that must be swallowed, it isn't nearly as effective as a bottle of water would be.

His parents should ask his pediatrician for suggestions, and if the ped will give it, also get an emergency-use-only scrip for generic Auralgan. Auralgan is topical anaesthetic eardrops, and will knock out pain in a few minutes if preventative measures fail. (Peds often hesitate to prescribe it because if it is overused it can mask the pain of serious conditions. The trick is to promise on your honor that you will not use more than 2 doses before seeking medical help.)

 

[vacation dreamer]

My grandson who is 9 is not looking forward to flying because he had such a problem with his ears the last time he flew. We had Earplanes and gum and still he was in tears during landing. Has anyone given their child Benadryl or something like it to dry them up not to knock them out (although he might be better off ). We will be arriving after 11pm so they will go to bed right away. What does everyone do to help this situation?

If you do this please try out the meds before you travel. We found out our one dd got hyper from this med.

 

[swillis]

My daughters doctor recommended benadryl for her first flight when she was 3 years old. Not for helping with ear pain, but for keeping her mellow and sleepy on a early evening flight. I was worried about how she would behave on a flight for the first time, and I was going to be alone with her. I did give it to her, but she was (and still is) such a good traveler, that I didn't give it to her on the way home. And frankly I didn't notice a difference.

She does get terrible ear pressure pain on take off and landing, and it will last for a good day afterward. This year I did try the "Earplanes" and they helped...along with giving her 2 pieces of Bubbalicious bubble gum as soon as we started to descend. It helped for sure. She is 12 now, and this was the first time her ear pain didn't leave her on the brink of tears for a full day after a flight.

Now my son has terrible ear infections, he has had major complications from these, and has ear tubes in place (he is 11) He NEVER gets ear pain during a flight, because with the ear tubes, the pressure can't build up, because the inner ear is always open. I guess that's about the only good thing that has come from his frequent ear troubles.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

Its been a while, but I remember the Ped saying give the kids a benedryl and tylenol coctail. Have then sip on sippy cups, bottles, whatever during take off and landing. Now sure a 9 year old would look find of funny with a sippy! but maybe a juice box or something?

 

[judykay53]

Thanks everyone. I know she talked to the doctor before the last trip and I think he suggested the earplanes and gum. We will probably try the earplanes again along with big pieces of bubble gum and maybe have some juice boxes close by. He seemed to have had the most trouble landing at MCO. It seems to be rougher with more turns. The times we have landed at Nashville has been so smooth.

 

[WildGrits]

Judy I can so sympathies with your little buddy. Most landings I have no problems, but landing in Albany NY is the worst.

http://www.upmc.com/HealthManagement/ManagingYourHealth/HealthReference/Diseases/?chunkiid=100687

This link has some information on the subject that I have found helpful in the past.

Good luck

 

[Pixiedust34]

For my dd, we use Sudafed (she can't take Benadryl), Earplanes, and a lollipop to suck on. Ideally, I get her one of those pops that look like a pacifier. If her ears hurt, I have Tylenol ready to go when we land.

My ds doesn't have any problems with flying, but he gets the same treatment as a precaution.

I have had major pain while flying. It's not just my ears--my whole jaw hurts. I do all of the above, with a nasal spray 30 minutes before take off and a Tootsie Pop (if liquids aren't allowed) or a water bottle (if liquids are allowed). I also take Tylonel if I need it when we land.

It's funny--I had a really good flight to MCO in Sept. In fact, it was the best flight of my life. There was a little discomfort, but not the pain. I was SO HAPPY! And, my ears were not even clogged for long. Coming home, I took all of the same precautions and I had a horrible flight. I was near tears in pain, and my ears were clogged for a couple of days. It must vary due to individual cabin pressure.

I hope your flight is good.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Airborn Jr. for almost a week prior to flight to try to help prevent a cold.

If congested absolutely use a decongestant about an hour or so prior to take off. Most 9 yr olds won't BUT if possible use a saline spray to keep sinuses moist. Dry sinuses + cabin pressure = pain & potential sinus infection. Nothing wrong with kids Motrin if needed.

If he has no symptoms at all I would forgo anything (except the Airborn) & see how it goes.

 

[NotUrsula]

I know she talked to the doctor before the last trip and I think he suggested the earplanes and gum.

This would be the time to tell the ped. that those measures did not work, and that she wants to escalate the preventative measures. Some people just have wonkier ears than other people. I've had doctors tell me that it isn't possible for pressure on a commercial aircraft to rupture an eardrum; I guess I'm special, because I've had it happen twice.

Honestly, when preventative measures fail, the emergency Auralgan is a really good idea for people who have severe pressure-related ear pain on flights -- beg if you have to. (In Canada Auralgan is OTC -- Canadians don't have to beg.)

If you don't have Auralgan and your preventative measures have all failed, the last-resort remedy is to ask the FA for cups for the ears -- they will all know what you want. These are styrofoam coffee cups with napkins stuffed into the bottoms, with a bit of boiling water poured on top to soak in. When you get them, it is CRUCIAL to first tip them upside down over the aisle to make sure that they will not drip any hot water -- you don't want burns. Once you have checked for drips, you should place the cups over the ears like earmuffs and hold them there as long as you can stand it -- the steam will help to equalize the pressure and ease the pain. Looks pretty goofy, but almost always works. If you anticipate pain on descent, ask for the cups about 20 minutes in advance -- the FA's won't be able to get up to get them for you once final descent has begun.

 

[judykay53]

Good suggestions. He did not want to fly in the first place. We surprised him and his brother with a trip to WDW and did not tell them until we were in the car. We would ask him ahead of time if he would want to fly to WDw some day and he would always say "NO". When they found out we were going they were so excited and then when we said "and we are flying" he just dropped his head and said "I don't wanna go" It was so sad. Now the pain just compounds the anxiety.

 

[chrismom2005]

maybe try a candy bar for landing. my ds wont chew gum so i've always given him a candy bar to eat during landing. he has never complained about ear pain my dh on the other hand just flew for the first time last year his ear hurt the whole plane ride and for days after so we have to try something for him during the next trip prob earplanes.

 

[mommyoftwinfants]

What over the counter decongestant do you recommend????