Help! Flying with a cold...all of us

[JacobsMommy11002]

Ok, we leave next Friday, and all of us have come down with the cold from hell From what I can tell, it seems to last atleast a week, so I am counting on our still having it Friday. So far its me, DS5 and DD3. i am sure DH will follow. What do you give your kids to try and dry them out for the flight? I am so worried about ears and equalizing the pressure. Help!

 

[Starr W.]

Don't know about kids, but I always take Sudafed before a flight cold or no cold. It helps me stay dried out, as I have a tendency to get sinus infections pretty easy. This has been recomended by my regular doctor and by my sister's ENT. Get the stuff behind the pharmacy counter as the "new" formulation doesn't work as well. I think a child's decongestant would work too. Take it about an hour before take off. Holds me for a 2-4 hour flight.

Bring gum if the kids are older, bottle or pacifier would work for younger kids. Maybe even a sucker. You just want them to swallow as that helps with relieving the pressure. I even chew some gum sometimes.

 

[Ariel8676]

Well you can try Benedryl for the flight..that way ears, nose wil be clear. Our pediatrician recommended this last year when we were flying andone of our dd's had a cold. Give it before you get on the plane, that way by the time you are going down, it will be working to its full potential.
Also try to find children's ear planes (can't guarantee they will keep them in,, but mine do..they were 5 &3 last trip)
You can also try Zicam and airborne for all of you..they have childrens formulas for both.
Hope you all feel better and have a great trip!!

 

[deedeed]

Our kids have both flown with ear and /or sinus infections and we have used Motrin Cold. It has the pain reliever and the decongestant in it. I give it about 1/2 to 1 hour before we take off and it works great! You will all be fine I'm sure! Have a great trip!

 

[LuvOrlando]

Hi there,

THis is what my Ear Nose & Throat Dr told me to do (we all have trouble in my family) and here it is, I included the websites for the products, you should look it all over before using anything:

1 squirt of Afrin in each nostril 45 min before take-off to reduce swelling in the ears (the ear & nose are connected).http://www.afrinsprays.com/product.aspx?prodid=1

1 dose of original Sudafed, its not the new formula and sits behind the counter with the pharmasists(I use the lower dose recommended & have adults and kids versions) 45 minutes before take-off (also for the ears by reducing fluids)http://www.sudafed.com/faq.html

1 dose of Benedryl 1 hr before take-off (again for the ears by reducing fluids)http://www.pfizerch.com/product.aspx?id=247

Earplanes for everyone, although DH refuses to wear them and suffered terribly 2 trips ago...DS followed his lead and suffered too.

Also, I keep perscription strength eardrum numbing drops on hand 'just in case', I needed it once for DS.

So far this works for us (with the exception of DH's stuborness) and I've been collecting all the stuff for our trip late in January. Of course, you should probably test all this stuff before you get into the air to make sure no-one has any weird reactions and check with your Dr & Pharmasist to make sure they won't react with anyone's other meds or conflict with any health conditions before taking any medications. I've found that most Pharmasists are more knowledgable about drug interactions than Dr's but the Dr. can tell you if there are any health concerns.

I really hope you all feel better and won't need this stuff.

Have fun

 

[LuvOrlando]

I'm just curious what you tried, if anything, and what worked, if anything?

 

[JacobsMommy11002]

We ended up using Afrin nasal spray, for the kids, Little Noses, and we all took a decongestant and used earplanes. No problems. Thanks for the advice!