Problems with ears are still the most common complaint. Most of the time they occur during descent, not take-off (or landing for that matter). How many articles out there say to make them suck something on landing? It's too late then. I've been made aware of a number of new products, types of new earplugs. Get your pediatrician to give you the okay on anything you're going to try before bringing it onboard. I would still warn that just because your child didn't have problems, doesn't mean whatever you did or used worked. The opposite logic can also be applied!
Every article on flying says to make sure they have something to suck on during these times. Okay advice but if the child falls asleep, the parents have to debate waking them and that's not actually when this advice should be applied. Pressurization doesn't happen exclusively at these times. It's a slower process. If you've brought a carseat, this is not a reason for removing the child from it during these most dangerous moments of the flight. You can easily breastfeed or wait till the child stirs to give him something during ascent or descent. The plane takes awhile to reach "cruising altitude".
Do try to wake your little ones about an hour before landing. The worst time for ears starts around this time and people actually feel better when 10,000ft (3,000 meters) is reached. The is considered the "final descent" when the no smoking sign was turned on. Now you'll know as it's when everything should be stowed and the F/A's are closing up the galley. We weren't timing things too well when non-smoking flights began! The reason for waking children is if they're moving around, they're less likely to have ear problems. Older children will be able to tell you if something isn't right. Getting back to the sucking on landing advice, it would simply be too little, too late. Tackle it, if it arises, in that last hour (less for a shorter flight).
