Flying - need help

[tigilou]

Hi all hope you can give me some help. We are going abroad next month my daughter is 2 and im petrified about her ears popping, is it going to hurt her do you think. I know about sucking a dummy/bottle etc but shes nosey and i cant see her actually doing this there will be too much going on.

Basically im scared to bits this is going to hurt her what do you think

[gazzawazza]

Why worry about something that might not even happen?

I used to hear about this when I was younger, I now think it's quite rare for someone to be unduly bothered by it. I've flown many times now and never heard anyone screaming or even noticed anyone mildly affected, even though my 10 year old nephew suffers from this complaint, he is the only person I've ever heard complain about it.

[Clanad]

Ask a serious question... Tigilou, if your child is not experiencing any symptoms of a cold or other infection related to her ears, you'll have no problems. The aircraft climbs and descends, as far as the cabin pressure is concerned, at a liesurely 500 feet per minute. At maximum altitude the cabin is at a relative 8,000 feet. I've been an airline pilot for many years and we are always quite concerned for the comfort of the passengers. I see small children and babies fly all the time with no discomfort.
Let me add, with no intended criticism, that parents can often induce an air (no pun intended) of anxiety in their children by displaying their own fears and concerns. Try not to do this. Let the child have a wonderful experience.
You could certainly let the child have some candy or other such food that would cause them to move their jaws (chewing gum, perhaps). This even helps for adults if minor blockage is experienced.
Let me wish you and your daughter blue skies and following winds!

[lady_p_gold]

I fly on long haul flights all the time and there are loads of children on them and I have never ever seen one complain they are much too busy looking at everything around them, she will be fine.

[Sparkles3]

another option is to have a supply of jelly tots or other chewy sweets to keep her swallowing. That's my intention when we go next month. Although I took my 8 month old and he was absolutely fine - like Clanad says, unless she has a problem already (in which case seek advice from your doctor), it shouldn't be one! Hope all goes well.

[TopCat1]

Hi tigilou, I understand your concern, I took my little girl (just turned 2) on her first flight 4 weeks ago. The week before it, she developed an ear infection, and I had to bring her to the doctors the day before the flight, it still hadn't cleared, but the doctor said she should be ok to fly.

I was extremely worried, but it went great, she was soooo excited to be on an airplane, and I gave her some chocolate buttons to suck on, and she spent most of the flight (only a short one) looking out the window and making friends.

Hope this helps.