Any tips to reduce ear pain on flying for 11yo DD1?

[BarkingHarriet]

We've got to fly next week, and DD1 always suffers with her ears. She's a snotty kid anyway, and we've started her hayfever medication already to see if that helps. I'm going to get her some earplanes, and she's got an Olbas nasal inhaler.

Any other suggestions? Or things not to do?

Thanks

if it wasnt flying I'd suggest lets of fluids, but that can be a bit inconvenient! sucking on those extra strong halls mentholyptus can help but last time we flew the plane took bloody forever to descend and dd completely mistimed sucking on them.
Hope you get some useful advice.

Earplugs.
I wear bilateral hearing aids and just don't suffer with the pressure change like many people.

I use earplanes plugs, and they're great. You can feel a slight bubbling sensation as the pressure is altered in the ear to lots of tiny pops. As DD is only 11, look at the childrens Earplanes in case the adult ones will be too big.

Definitely the earplanes then. Do you keep them in for the whole flight, or just take off and landing?

You should put them in before take off, and keep them in until the plane has got to it's highest altitude, then it's OK to remove. So ideally as soon as you are settled in your seat. You need to get them back in before the plane makes it's final descent. You get a little plastic box to put the plugs in to keep them clean included in the pack and instructions on the box. You can still hear, as they don't block noise.

I've always found the descent worst for ear clearing, but since using Earplanes I've had no bother at all.

Thankyou