What to do for kids ears

[jstbcuz]

We are flying and I cant remember what I should do for my 2 year old to help his ears adjust to the altitude. He doesnt chew gum, and Im not sure I want suckers.......unless a last resort. What else has anyone done that might help?

Should I give him Benadryl or Tylenol before we board to help?

Thanks!

 

[TheDizMom]

Have him drink. It is the swallowing he needs to do to keep his ears open, so anything that will have him doing that will help. Snacking on goldfish would work too. He is more likely to have a problem on decent then ascent. Avoid letting him lie down, I don't know why but lying down makes it worse. I would try and get him to yawn. It really is the best way to make your ears "pop", so if you have him watch you yawn, it will probably make him yawn. I don't know why but whenever you watch someone else yawn it always make you yawn.

If you are going to medicate him to help him you need a decongestant like Dimatap, not an antihistamine like Benedryl. The decongestant is what opens things up. Unfortunately they are now saying children under 6 shouldn't use this, so I would talk to your pediatrician and ask him/her what you should do. If you decide to try it make sure you find out how much to give and give it to him about 30 minutes before you take off. Tylenol won't do anything unless he is having major ear pain. As long as he is healthy the pressure shouldn't cause pain, just discomfort. If worse comes to worse and he starts to cry from it, let him!!. Yes, the people around you won't like it to much, but it will open up those ears !

 

[Best_Vacation_EVER!]

We let our little guy (just about to turn 2) use a soother at take off and landing on our recent trip. From what I read it works the same way as chewing gum does.

 

[laughinplace199]

I'm not sure if your DS is too young, but my DS6 used Earplanes (ear plugs) on our last trip. They worked like a charm! He used to have ear pain so bad that he would cry, and even drinking or swallowing didn't help. My ped also suggested Motrin before the flight to relieve pain, but we didn't end up using it, we just used the Earplanes.

 

[ChillyWilleys]

When I was young I had huge problems with my ears on planes. A flight attendant once gave me two plastic cups that she had put paper towels soaked with hot water in, she told me to hold them over my ears as we were landing. It was great. I remember another time I had asked for that again though and they told me no because they needed all the trash put away, so I guess it depends on who you have, but it works well.

 

[squirrel]

Fruit snacks. I don't know if you let him eat that. I think anything that makes him chew would work.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Dum Dum lollipops work great too.

You "may" have lots of people telling you to give your child Benedryl before a flight...I know I do. Please, please, please don't do this! One, it's giving your child TOTALLY unnecessary medication (most people suggest this to "knock them out" for the flight as Benedryl can be a sleep aid). Two, you don't know how your child is going to react to the medication. My DD needed to have Benedryl (okay'd by Pedi) and we learned that at 2 it could make her quite hyper (doesn't do that now at 4, but it certainly doesn't make her sleepy).

 

[Disneylush]

We have used food, drink, nuks, and smarties non-sticky suckers.

 

[penguinkimberly]

Anything that makes him suck or chew will help. If he has any nasal congestion I would use a decongestant or benedryl (yes it it an antihisimine, but it will help)
because nasal congestion will alter how the pressure balances in the ears. If he is crying alot after and you think he is having pain try massaging just in front of the ears or if he is able to low through a whistle or straw have him do that but plug the end.

 

[sbrotherton]

When I asked my DD's pediatrician about what to do with a 10 month old on a flight, she said "Bendryl" without hesitation. She did add, however, to give her a trial dose one evening to see how it affected her. She said a small segment of the population gets hyper rather than sleepy. It worked like a charm for us. I didn't consider it "unnecessary medication" either...if you've met my child, you'd root for the Benadryl, too if the alternative was her sitting behind you on the plane. I have only given it to her when flying (that would be twice in her life plus the test drive) so it's not like I'm putting tons of drugs in her system all the time. If your ped is on board, I'd go for it. Otherwise you might need the medication .

 

[TruBlu]

EarPlanes are FANTASTIC! Just be sure to read the directions. I think you are supposed to put them in about 30 minutes before the flight.

 

[3happydancers]

EarPlanes are FANTASTIC! Just be sure to read the directions. I think you are supposed to put them in about 30 minutes before the flight.

Do you know where to purchase EarPlanes? I have never heard of them nor seen them but it sounds like my daughter could benefit from this. She has had ear issues since age 2 and every time we fly she suffers. All the obvious solutions do not seem to help (swallowing, sucking, etc).

 

[TruBlu]

Do you know where to purchase EarPlanes? I have never heard of them nor seen them but it sounds like my daughter could benefit from this. She has had ear issues since age 2 and every time we fly she suffers. All the obvious solutions do not seem to help (swallowing, sucking, etc).

We have found them at Wal-Mart, CVS and Harris Teeter. They are in the pharmacy section with the ear stuff - drops, plugs, etc. They really are wonderful.

 

[TruBlu]

They look like this:

Adults:

Children:

CVS has them for $6.99 a pair.

 

[momtosam]

We just gave him his sippy cup.

 

[wildirishrose]

sugar free gummy bears, twizzlers

 

[karliebug]

Another vote for earplanes, just make sure you get the child size. CVS has their own brand. My kids and I have always had ear pain and these are the best, on my last flight I even noticed that the pilots were wearing them!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

When we went to WDW in December my ear made a noise like a grape squishing. It was NOT GOOD. I asked the flight attendant for a cup with a hot, wet paper towel and it really made a HUGE difference. It was nice to have that advice so I knew of something to do!