Sinus/ear pressure flying - kids help

[keyslover]

We are on vacation (yay!), but it's coming to an end and we need to fly home.
On the way down the kids (8,11) had some sinus and a lot of ear pain.

Chewing gum and drinking/swallowing didn't really help.
Suggestions for the flights home (layover in ATL)?
If otc, dye free preferably.

[puppylove64]

Maybe they have a little congestion that is causing more pain than normal and some Benadryl would help.

[notoriousmeg]

Benadryl may help. My doctor also tells me to use Afrin before flying.

[yaga]

I have constant sinus issues, so I always take sudafed when I'm flying. Not sure if this is an option for kids. (I get the behind the counter kind.)

I get stabbing pain in my ears during the descent and lose some hearing for a few days often when I fly. It's worse if I have multiple flights in a short time frame (layover or a short trip). My doctor also suggested afrin but I keep forgetting to pack it.

[joenali]

I second Sudafed.

[pooh8402]

Talk to their doctor, but allergy meds should help. Benadryl and Zyrtec are both safe (and Zyrtec is non-sedating). I wouldn't do a decongestant like Sudafed until talking to the doctor, but have myself taken Afrin just before a flight. I get the same issues when flying (I have chronic allergy/sinus problems) and I ALWAYS forget gum and end up bumming one from a flight attendant.

[sonrisa]

pinch nose, close mouth, blow. It works better than anything else.

ETA: Or don't - see below.

[devonpow]

My ENT says everyone should take Sudafed and Afrin when flying - I’d ask the pedi about the sudafed obviously (we have it to DS1 starting when he was 11 even though it’s ages 12 and over, but pedi ok’d and he was over 100 pounds etc)

[devonpow]

Jan 27, 2020 11:03:18 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

pinch nose, close mouth, blow. It works better than anything else.

this actually can be bad. Signed someone who ruptured her eardrum multiple times, including once doing this.

[mich1]

Jan 27, 2020 8:06:51 GMT -5 notoriousmeg said:

Benadryl may help. My doctor also tells me to use Afrin before flying.

This is what my doctor suggested when I needed to fly with a sinus infection.  It works well.