Plane tips for child recovering from ear infection?

[dreamingdisney]

Of all things to happen before our first trip to WDW - my DD (4) has an ear infection and is currently taking Amoxicillin.

Luckily she will be all finished with her medicine a couple of days before we take the plane ride over to WDW - but I worried about how she'll feel on the plane. Any suggestions on what I should give her to relief/prevent any pain?

 

[NotUrsula]

Ask your ped. He/she might want to prescribe a decongestant and/or Auralgan pain drops.

 

[720L]

Decongestant and EarPlanes ear plugs and have her chew gum, or have a sucker on ascent and descent.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Our pediatrician recommended giving each child a dose of decongestant (like Dimetapp) one hour before take-off and one dose four hours later. Helped to keep the tubes clear with the changes in altitude.

I don't take any unless I am feeling a little stuffy, but I still give my kids doses when we fly. We also have earplanes to use when we have more than one flight, for some reason it helps when you have to take off and land more than once. We also take a dose of Airborne the morning we fly and every day we're on vacation.

Have a great trip!!

 

[DisneyDotty]

Also had this with my DD11--trip to New Mexico. Ped said to give her acetominophin 30 min. before take-off to help with possible pain. No problems. Good luck!

 

[eeyore45]

Decongestant and EarPlanes ear plugs and have her chew gum, or have a sucker on ascent and descent.

You can get the children's Ear Planes at Wal Mart, they cost under $5, if you read the back of the pkg, you will want to get these!!

I also have dd chew on tootsie rolls, or licorce, sticky, and since she's not a gum chewer, it works the same...

 

[720L]

The Earplanes come in adult and children sizes. Be sure to check you're buying the right size!

 

[golfgal]

On our last flight I sat next to a lady that said she had ear problems and on landing held a plastic cup up to her ear. I don't know what it did or how it helped but she said it does.

I think the Earplanes sound like a good idea. I know since I started wearing hearing aids that I haven't had as many problems with my ears popping or getting plugged on airplanes.

 

[debster812]

My DS is 7, and has made 4 round trips to FL from Mass. On 3 out of those 4 trips he has been in the middle of full blown ear infections. Still taking the antibiotics in fact. Here's what our pharmacist recommended, and was backed up by our pediatricician, and it echos what others have said:

Tylenol or Motrin 45 minutes or so before take off
Sudafed, Dimatapp, or Benadryl the same time frame
Antibiotics as prescribed.

We were also prepared with EarPlanes, but DS just plain does not like how they feel, so we go without.

I would call your pediatrician, as they know your child's ears, but this is what worked for us.

 

[dreamingdisney]

I'm going to use Tylenol for pain - about 40 mins. prior to departure. I'm also going to bring licorice & lollipops and use earplanes as a back up (I've heard a lot about them, so I'd like to give them a try!).

I also called my pediatrician and he said that the liquid Dimetapp might keep DD awake - which isn't good for a redeye flight, so I keep that for our return flight in the afternoon. Thanks so much everyone!