How can I help ease my child's ear discomfort while flying?

Question

We recently took our 5 yr old daughter on her first flight. She did wonderfully, no fear, she was well behaved and excited. For part of the short flight ( 1 hr 40 min each way) she cried about her ears popping. It hurt her and scared her a little I think. We explained to her what it was and why it was happening and that it happens to everyone and wouldn't hurt her but she cried. She was fine for most of the flight but for even the 15 of 20 minutes she was miserable I just wanted to cry myself. She just doesn't understand. We got her ear planes for the return flight and she used them for a little while but they started bothering her and she took them out. Any suggestions for how to alleviate the discomfort for a child would be very much appreciated. We have several trips coming up and I want her to be able to enjoy the flights.

Answer 1

Chewing gum, chewy snacks, etc. are great. But here is a trick I've used for many years.

It is technically called a "Valsalva Maneuver", and it can be a little tricky to teach. What I do is try to yawn with my mouth closed, exhaling through my nose as I do. This increases the pressure in the Eustachian tubes, thus reopening them, and allowing the trapped air to escape.

I've used it in flying as passenger and as pilot. You can just teach her to yawn, too; and any long, drawn out, wide yawn will help. This is even if she can't quite master the yawning with the mouth closed.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Chew gum! It helps.  

Answer 3

grab yourself a warm paper towel and hold it over her ears,try that

or

tell her to chew gum

or

play her some of her favorite music on a headset and keep it on her until ya'll get off the plane..i know the music player will work,it worked my oldest girl

Answer 4

You did the right thing with the ear plugs but for some people they just don't help.  Chewing gum sometimes works or simply laughing or yawning helps a lot.  Sucking on a lollipop or sucker also helps or for younger kids a pacifier.  As a last resort you could try nose sprays they work miracles for some try a spray like Afrin nose spray.

Hope this helps

Answer 5

Chew gum, tell her to wiggle her jaw, swallow, or plug your nose with your fingers and try to blow out of your nose. It will put back pressure in her ears. All proven methods, it's the same deal with scuba diving. Sudafed may also help to clear up the sinuses.

Answer 6

gum. chew gum and dimatap and drink pop