How can i protect my baby's ears when we fly?

Feed going up/down!: The best thing you can do to decrease your baby's chance of haivng any ear pain during a flight is to time your feedings for take off and landing. If your baby is nursing or taking a bottle during those times, it will help to open the eustation tube to alleviate pressure changes as the plane ascends and descends.

Ear pressure: Everyone has ear pressure while flying. Babies can relieve the pressure easily by crying. Also, if you have the baby suck or drink during take off and landing, it will help to prevent pressure build up.

Sucking: Give your baby something to suck on while the plane is ascending and descending. A bottle, pacifier or breast will help to equalize the pressure in the ears and decrease discomfort for your child.

Feeding may help: The air pressure in the middle ear (on the inner side of the eardrum) can have trouble getting in or out, when the airplane goes down or up. The pressure in the ear causes pain. Swallowing or yawning can help get rid of the pressure, by helping air go in or out of the middle ear through the eustachian tube (which opens into the back of the throat). Pressure may be worse during an ear infection.

Drink or chew: You don't have to "protect" the babies ears since nothing will happen that will be serious during pressurized airline travel. They may have discomfort just like adults do during the ascent and descent phases of the trip. To minimize this, have the baby nurse or take the bottle at these times. By sucking, they will equalize the middle ear pressure which will make it less painful.

Sucking: Sucking something on the way up and the way down seems to help clear the eustachian tubes. Occasionally use of saline nose rops prior to the flight helps.

Suck during descent: Infants and toddlers have difficulty relieving the pressure differences in their ears when flying. This can become very painful. Allowing your child to feed or suck on a pacifier while descending can help relieve ear pressure problems. You can also give your child an appropriate dose of pain reliever, such as Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen prior to departure "just in case" pain develops.

Avoid flying if sick: Avoid flying with a baby with a cold or ear infection that will increase the chances of having ear pain. If you must travel with a sick child, talk to your doctor to see if you can get ear drops to help ease the pain. In any event make sure the baby sucks or drinks as the plane goes up and down, as it is the change in pressures that make us feel pain in our ears.

Pacifier: Your baby will need to mimic swallowing (much like you) when you're flying in order to maintain constant middle ear pressure. Try a pacifier or breast-feed shortly after take-off. If this isn't an option, you can always pre-treat your child with Acetaminophen to ensure your child's comfort.

Suckling: Any sucking manner that allows the baby to swallow with equalize pressure and help the babies ears when flying. Dont worry if they are sleeping often there is no need to do this especially in short flights where the plane doesnt go to high.

Sucking: The concern with babies flying is that they are unable to easily equalize the pressure in their ears with the surrounding air pressure, and this can lead to them being uncomfortable and fussy. The recommendation is that babies suck on something (breast feed, take a bottle, take a pacifier) to help equalize the pressure on take off and landing when pressure changes are greatest.

Swallowing: If you are breastfeeding, most babies will latch at takeoff and landing. If your baby is formula feeding, you can try feeding as well. If baby takes a pacifier, this may stimulate enough swallowing to reduce the pressure behind the ear drums. For older kids, you can bring gum (the dentists like gums with xylitol). Or this might be the time to make an exception and offer a lollipop!

Sucking: Your baby needs to be actively swallowing on take-off and landing to equalize the pressure in his ears, similar to the way you yawn or chew gum and swallow. Your baby doesn't know to do this voluntarily.