Tips on flying with little ones (ears)

[dkal95]

Does anyone have any advice for flying with toddlers and helping them be able to pop their ears on take off and landing? My DD is 16 1/2 months old.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[mommytotwo]

Have them drink a bottle/sippy cup during those times to prevent it.

 

[My5Mouseketeers]

I'm not sure how good your child is with chewing solids,but my pedie just suggested giving my youngest (just turned 2) a Tootsie Roll to chew on. The older 4 he suggest gum.

 

[mbb]

Tips for ear pain in children

Lots of really great suggestions!!

Have fun...and don't forget to check with your family Dr. regarding appropriate meds for your little one

 

[alloyd1170]

Swallowing is what clears the ears most of the time. I dont drug my child. Instead, I have him eat, drink and when he was younger, just use a pacifier. Be sure to bring along some snacks and have the flight attendant fill up the sippy cup before landing (thats the worst one as take off isnt as bad).

alison

 

[frstimer128]

I started a similar thread over in travel.
I have a 4 y/o and I have the same concerns. I was recommended to get EarPlanes which are special ear plugs for flying. I guess you can get these at the drug store.

 

[cbbi]

We just returned late last night from a flight from Vermont with our 19 month old. My husband and daughters used the earplanes -- husband loved them, 5 year old said they worked great, 11 year old said they didn't work at all. So who knows??? The toddler wouldn't keep them in his ears.

I do bring a sippy cup and a lunchbox with a few favorite treats to encourage swallowing. And we play the yawning game. On the last leg of the return flight he was getting really tired and I knew it was going to be unpleasant so I ran and got a small TCBY frozen yogurt during our layover. There were several screaming toddlers on the next flight but my son was the happiest boy on the planet.... and Mom and Dad were pretty relieved too! Thank God for TCBY at the Cincinatti airport!

 

[Kimmielee]

My DS (5) is very prone to ear infections and my pediatrician suggested giving him a dose of decongestant about an hour or so before take off... clears the passages and helps with pressure!

 

[Mr Poohbrain]

We used a lollipop/sucker for take off and landing when we went to Disney in Sept.

No complaints from our 2 year old DS.

I've heard good things about the earplanes, but he had no intention of letting us stick "those things" in his ears.


Good luck.

Mrs. PB

 

[ahutton]

I've used a little Benadryl about 30 minutes before the flight and have had great success. I also keep Saf-T-Pops and DumDum suckers in the bag, they are great for them and can be good for us too!