Exploring Ear Pressure Remedies

Flying free – of pain

Cabin Pressure changes can create great discomfort for babies and children as airplanes ascend and descend. Experts, including over 2,000 flight attendants, offer some suggested remedies to create ear equalization. Babies and children are sometimes affected by more intense pain in their ears than adults, so we have a list of remedies that have been proven effective for every age and every member of your family.

Tender baby ears

As the plane is preparing for take-off, a baby can be given a pacifier to stimulate constant sucking. This balances the pressure in their ears. Breastfeeding and a good cry are also excellent support, or a bottle of milk will do the trick as well. The same strategies can provide relief when applied at the same time the pilot announces the plane’s descent to your destination. Babies can also benefit from some tickling, funny faces, playful laughter, and yawning. Moving your jaw forwards and backward, back and forth, and up and down can also bring out a satisfying yawn for all ages.

For those inclined, chewing gum, or sucking on hard candies and lollipops brings suction to the ears and releases the air blockage. Travel With Your Kids.com offers a suggestion of “lots of hugs to calm a child facing an unfamiliar pain, and help stop the crying that can continue long after the pressure problem has gone away.”

Ears not feeling tip top pre-flight?

Breastfeeding will help reduce infection in infants. For the older set, take vitamin C to boost your immune system, and Zinc to reduce ear infection. Eating a healthy diet with lots of green leafy vegetables will result in alkalizing the blood and providing nourishing calcium and vitamins. Avoid processed foods and hydrogenated oils, and breathing in cigarette smoke from any source as it can block the Eustachian tubes, and wash your hands regularly.

Ear infections combined with air travel are strongly discouraged. A cold or stuffy nose will only compound and worsen the pain with the cabin pressure changes. Decongestant nose drops can help, but a doctor’s pre-flight visit is the best bet to be safe rather than really, really sorry – for your child’s pain, and your 300+ cabin mates’ peaceful flight being shattered by the piercing wailing of your angel seeking relief.

Expert advice from flight crews

Who better to ask than professional flight crews who fly constantly? They know better than anyone the ear pain, pressure and popping that happens in flight. A 2004 survey of 2,620 flight attendants gave these as their top solutions:
53% said yawn, chew or swallow.
36% said to perform the Valsalva maneuver 1
10% suggested over-the-counter decongestant
1% encourage the use of ear plugs
1 The Valsalva maneuver is performed by exhaling while keeping the mouth and nose closed. As a singer, I’ve had singing teacher’s warn me not to push too hard when attempting this maneuver as it can damage the ear drums. A gentle push is best. Plug nose with thumb and forefinger, close mouth, and exhale gently until you hear some release of air inside your ears. Relief will come with a gentle pressure without the need for force.

The good news

You may not need all these hints and tips at all. I have flown around the world five times, beginning at six months of age, and I have not had any experience of severe ear pain ever. I do a fair bit of chewing the air, moving my jaw around a lot, and yawning, to stimulate my ears opening to equalize the pressure. This has always worked well for me. I wish you and your family the same ease in flight. I hope having these remedies brings you peace of mind knowing you have choices, just in case.

Links:
http://www.flyingwithkids.com/travel_health.htm
http://www.travelwithyourkids.com/on-the-plane/airplane-ear-plugs

Healthy Teether & Pacifier Pocket Shopping Guide & other Healthy Child Pocket Guides
http://healthychild.org/live-healthy/pocket_guides/