Flying can sometimes cause discomfort for your child’s ears due to changes in air pressure during takeoff and landing. This pressure difference can lead to pain, a feeling of fullness, or even temporary hearing loss. To help alleviate discomfort, encourage your child to swallow, yawn, or chew gum, as these actions help equalize the pressure in the ears. If your child is too young to do this, offering a bottle or pacifier during takeoff and landing can also help. In cases of severe discomfort, consult a doctor, especially if your child has an existing ear condition.
How Does Flying Affect Ears?
Most of us experience ear-popping when flying, and for kids, especially babies and young children, this sensation can be strange or even alarming. However, it’s a normal response to changes in air pressure.
Why It Happens:
The pressure changes in the middle ear (the space behind the eardrum) are the cause. The Eustachian tube, a passage connecting the middle ear to the back of the throat, normally balances the pressure by allowing air to reach the middle ear. When we yawn or swallow and our ears «pop,» it’s the Eustachian tubes adjusting the pressure.
In children, however, these tubes are narrower and may not work as efficiently, especially if they are clogged due to a cold, ear infection, or swollen adenoids. This can make pressure changes during a flight more uncomfortable for them.
Whether flying, scuba diving, or climbing a mountain, changes in air pressure can affect the ears. If the pressure isn’t equalized, it causes discomfort as the eardrum gets pushed by the higher pressure on one side. This explains why babies often cry during landing as the cabin pressure increases.
Fortunately, this discomfort is temporary and usually resolves as the Eustachian tubes open and equalize the pressure on both sides of the eardrum.
Important Note:
If your child has an ear infection, it’s advisable to delay flying until the infection clears. Otherwise, the pressure changes might worsen pain or lead to a ruptured eardrum. For kids with ear tubes from prior surgeries, these tubes can help in equalizing pressure more easily.
What Can Help Ease Ear Pain?
To help equalize ear pressure and reduce discomfort during air travel, try the following:
- Drink plenty of fluids: Non-caffeinated options like water help keep nasal passages moist, encouraging swallowing and opening the Eustachian tubes.
- Preemptive pain relief: Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen about 30 minutes before takeoff or landing if your child is prone to ear pain.
- Chew gum or suck on candy: For children over 3, chewing or sucking on something promotes swallowing, helping to equalize pressure.
- Use bottles or pacifiers: Babies can benefit from sucking on a bottle, pacifier, or breastfeeding during takeoff and landing, as the motion helps open the Eustachian tubes.
- Yawning: Encourage frequent yawning to help relieve pressure.
- Stay awake for takeoff and landing: Swallowing happens less frequently during sleep, so staying awake helps with pressure regulation.
- Breathing exercises for older children and teens: Have them practice slowly inhaling, then gently exhaling through a pinched nose with their mouth closed.
In case of persistent pain:
If your child experiences ear pain that lasts longer than a few hours after the flight, you can continue to give pain relievers according to the package directions. If the pain doesn’t improve after several hours, it’s a good idea to contact your doctor for further guidance.
By taking these steps, you can make flying more comfortable for your child, reducing stress and discomfort during your trip.