We are planning a trip to Reno, NV flying from the Virginia area and I am trying to figure out if it is okay to take my 9 month old daughter on an airplane. If it is then I just need to find out how I can prepare my daughter for the trip so it can be as comfortable as possible for her. I am concerned because I have flew before for the 1st time and nobody told me that I needed to chew gum and or ware ear plugs to decrease the discomfort of pressure in the ears. The inside of my ears hurt so bad I kept patting the side of my neck because I thought my ear drum had busted and was bleeding. Any helpful advice will be appreciated. Thank you.
2006-12-24 18:28:52 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Air Travel
To relieve the pressure in your ears you need to perform the balsava (sp?) manuever.
Its simple. Close your mouth, pinch your nose and try to exhale from your nose. Don't let any air out of your nose or mouth or it won't work. Your ears will usually pop right away you will usually hear a squeak as it equalizes the pressure. You'll know its time to do it when it starts to sound like everything is sorta muffled.
Ear plugs don't help in my opinion. I flew yesterday and I was chewing gum and leaning the back of my neck on the head rest and I could feel them equalize. But the balsava works best.
The idea is to increase the pressure in the sinus cavities so its greater than the outside air. Usually you will only need to do this as the plane goes up and as the plane goes down.
If kids could do this it would solve lots of problems, but you can't really do it with a infant. Bottles and pacificers help. Also try getting her mouth like she is yawning and tilt her head back a little (kind of how you would give mouth-to-mouth). It seems to open up the sinuses a little bit.
Toddlers might be able to understand it, if you fly when she is older (say 2 or 3) have her practice while you are waiting to board the plane. Make a game of it (monkey face). During ascent I need to clear my ears about once every 5 min or so.
2006-12-26 16:03:49 · answer #1 · answered by soloban 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My son flew for the first time at 3 months.
Ear pressure can often be a problem for babies; the usual solution - which worked for Tom - is to give the baby something to suck on during changes in altitude. If she is breast- or bottle-fed, make sure she's ready for a feeding at those times. The sucking and swallowing will help alleviate the discomfort. If she still has trouble and cries, remember that the pain is not a sign of a permanent injury (as with you) and will dissipate fairly quickly.
2006-12-25 02:40:01 · answer #2 · answered by dognhorsemom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure, just make sure she has a bottle to drink from while taking off and landing, this will help equalize the pressure in her ears and prevent pain.
2006-12-25 02:36:47 · answer #3 · answered by starting over 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Purchase an infant's fare for her which is more expensive than a lap-baby fare but entitles her to her own seat. Then you can carry her car-seat onboard and secure it to the airline seat. This is a much safer way for the baby to travel. Lap babies have nothing to restrain them in turbulence and will have little or no chance of surviving a crash.
2006-12-25 08:39:25 · answer #4 · answered by dcgirl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she is nursing or still on the bottle, have her drink during take off and landing it will keep her ears from hurting.
2006-12-25 02:37:15 · answer #5 · answered by alltheanswers 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the best thing to do is to talk to her doctor. every child is diffrent and you would need to get her a check up to make sure she can travil. i took my son on a air plane at 6 months and just let me say THANK GOD FOR EAR DROPS AND A BOTTLE!!
2006-12-28 00:51:29 · answer #6 · answered by momof2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi!
You can give her soothers instead of milk and keep some cotton in her ear while taking of and landing.
2006-12-25 06:54:34 · answer #7 · answered by Karen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋