Recommended Ear Plugs For Aeroplane?

samarrange · 16/02/2025 18:12

I'm personally a bit skeptical about the idea of mitigating the effects of air pressure changes with earplugs. I think they would have to be very tightly fitting indeed — at some point 25 kPa difference will make itself felt, one way or the other. But then I can afford to say that as I don't generally suffer too much, and I know some people do. 🙏 When our kids were little we just took sweets to chew during the descent and told them that it might hurt a bit. In any case it's mostly on landing — if anything happens on the ascent it's generally just a little pop, like when you drive up a mountain.

With that said, it's like a lot of threads asking for purchase recommendations: I'm not sure that anyone here will have tested 10 brands and identified the best, so probably all you're going to get is two or three people saying which brand they got, if they kept a note. I would just look at some average review scores within your price range and rely on the "wisdom of crowds" effect among the hundreds of purchasers who left reviews.

SheRaaPrincessOfPower · 16/02/2025 19:14

If travelled all over the world with my dc. I give them a lollipop when the wheels lift off the runway.

Wholetthedogsoutwhowhowho · 16/02/2025 19:16

Jaks6740 · 16/02/2025 15:45

Hi, taking my 6yr old away this year, first time being on a plane, can anyone recommend the best earplugs to use to help him on the plane when taking off & landing? Thanks!

Thank you for this thread as I'm also wanting some for my 7 year old ds! He's fine taking off and up in the air, it's landing he struggles with.

Last time we flew a lady in front of us recommended ones she was using, I can't remember the name but she said that they work by twisting them?

Wholetthedogsoutwhowhowho · 16/02/2025 19:17

My son won't eat sweets or suck lollies unfortunately

LadyFlumpalot · 16/02/2025 20:58

Last time we flew my daughter really suffered with the landing. The flight attendant recommended pinching her nose and swallowing to alleviate the pain. That seemed to work quite well.

hampsteadmum · 17/02/2025 01:01

Feed him/her something. Anything. It's the swallowing that helps. My kids travelled on planes 2-3 times per year since they were 2 months old. Take off and landing was snacking or feeding time until they were old enough to chew a gum, which also helps.

If they are poorly or recovering from a cold, give some decongestant before take off and landing too. The pain can be excruciating during landing especially.

reluctantbrit · 17/02/2025 07:59

hampsteadmum · 17/02/2025 01:01

Feed him/her something. Anything. It's the swallowing that helps. My kids travelled on planes 2-3 times per year since they were 2 months old. Take off and landing was snacking or feeding time until they were old enough to chew a gum, which also helps.

If they are poorly or recovering from a cold, give some decongestant before take off and landing too. The pain can be excruciating during landing especially.

This. Sucking from a waterbottle with a sports cap also helps.

SheRaaPrincessOfPower · 17/02/2025 08:06

Wholetthedogsoutwhowhowho · 16/02/2025 19:17

My son won't eat sweets or suck lollies unfortunately

That is unfortunate when the alternative is being in pain. I suppose I'm lucky that my dc do as they are told.

iwentjasonwaterfalls · 17/02/2025 08:22

Sips of water or lollipop/hard sweets - it may not impact him too much, it seems to be down to luck 😏

My ears are incredibly sensitive to any kind of pressure change (the channel tunnel was painful for me, as is going over any kind of big hill in the car).

If he does struggle, the best ones I've ever used for flying are Airdate. They're expensive but they helped a lot for me, they rehydrate the ear drum or something.

Wholetthedogsoutwhowhowho · 17/02/2025 10:08

SheRaaPrincessOfPower · 17/02/2025 08:06

That is unfortunate when the alternative is being in pain. I suppose I'm lucky that my dc do as they are told.

Show quote history

Unfortunately it's not a case of him not doing as he's told, he has special needs, allergies and quite particular about what he eats.

Good idea the sports bottle, I hadn't thought of that thank you!

Natsku · 17/02/2025 10:17

Silicone ear plugs that you can mould to the right shape to completely cover the entrance to the ear canal make a big difference to the pain for me. Doesn't get rid of it entirely though (I'm very sensitive to it though, I end up with ear ache for days after flying if I don't use the ear plugs)

Original poster

Jaks6740 · 17/02/2025 10:24

samarrange · 16/02/2025 18:12

I'm personally a bit skeptical about the idea of mitigating the effects of air pressure changes with earplugs. I think they would have to be very tightly fitting indeed — at some point 25 kPa difference will make itself felt, one way or the other. But then I can afford to say that as I don't generally suffer too much, and I know some people do. 🙏 When our kids were little we just took sweets to chew during the descent and told them that it might hurt a bit. In any case it's mostly on landing — if anything happens on the ascent it's generally just a little pop, like when you drive up a mountain.

With that said, it's like a lot of threads asking for purchase recommendations: I'm not sure that anyone here will have tested 10 brands and identified the best, so probably all you're going to get is two or three people saying which brand they got, if they kept a note. I would just look at some average review scores within your price range and rely on the "wisdom of crowds" effect among the hundreds of purchasers who left reviews.

I never thought for a moment anyone here would have tested 10 brands however I asked as I wanted "real" feedback from fellow Mums. I find a them to be a better judge, as every top 10 brand tests online often have several different web pages, and none of the top 10's marry up.

OP posts:

Original poster

Jaks6740 · 17/02/2025 10:25

Wholetthedogsoutwhowhowho · 16/02/2025 19:17

My son won't eat sweets or suck lollies unfortunately

Mine won't either 🙈

OP posts:

Natsku · 17/02/2025 10:26

Will he drink through a straw? That can help too

Original poster

Jaks6740 · 17/02/2025 10:26

LadyFlumpalot · 16/02/2025 20:58

Last time we flew my daughter really suffered with the landing. The flight attendant recommended pinching her nose and swallowing to alleviate the pain. That seemed to work quite well.

Thank you! This is a great one to know!

OP posts:

Original poster

Jaks6740 · 17/02/2025 10:28

hampsteadmum · 17/02/2025 01:01

Feed him/her something. Anything. It's the swallowing that helps. My kids travelled on planes 2-3 times per year since they were 2 months old. Take off and landing was snacking or feeding time until they were old enough to chew a gum, which also helps.

If they are poorly or recovering from a cold, give some decongestant before take off and landing too. The pain can be excruciating during landing especially.

Thank you so much! I always thought it had to be a boiled sweet, this will make my life easier!

OP posts:

Original poster

Jaks6740 · 17/02/2025 10:29

iwentjasonwaterfalls · 17/02/2025 08:22

Sips of water or lollipop/hard sweets - it may not impact him too much, it seems to be down to luck 😏

My ears are incredibly sensitive to any kind of pressure change (the channel tunnel was painful for me, as is going over any kind of big hill in the car).

If he does struggle, the best ones I've ever used for flying are Airdate. They're expensive but they helped a lot for me, they rehydrate the ear drum or something.

Thank you so much!

OP posts:

Iwontlethtesungodownonme · 17/02/2025 10:29

My ds has a hole in his ear and likes the zoggs silicone ones.

Original poster

Jaks6740 · 17/02/2025 10:29

Natsku · 17/02/2025 10:17

Silicone ear plugs that you can mould to the right shape to completely cover the entrance to the ear canal make a big difference to the pain for me. Doesn't get rid of it entirely though (I'm very sensitive to it though, I end up with ear ache for days after flying if I don't use the ear plugs)

Thank you!

OP posts:

Original poster

Jaks6740 · 17/02/2025 10:31

Natsku · 17/02/2025 10:26

Will he drink through a straw? That can help too

Yes! Thats a great idea, thank you!

OP posts:

Original poster

Jaks6740 · 17/02/2025 10:31

Iwontlethtesungodownonme · 17/02/2025 10:29

My ds has a hole in his ear and likes the zoggs silicone ones.

Thank you!

OP posts:

BumpandBounce · 17/02/2025 20:44

It would never occur to me to use ear plugs and I’ve flown with young children a lot. Breast fed babies during take off and landing so they were swallowing.

Children need to learn how to equalise their ear pressure. It’s a life skill, especially if they ever want to go scuba diving!

Sweets don’t have to be boiled sweets that they suck. Anything chewy like fudge would work, or even Haribo. If that doesn’t work, then swallowing drinks.

Holding their nose whilst they try to blow it. Or pretending to yawn.

If you start fussing about with ear plugs, I imagine your DC will think there’s something to be worried about. Chill out.

Original poster

Jaks6740 · 18/02/2025 20:06

BumpandBounce · 17/02/2025 20:44

It would never occur to me to use ear plugs and I’ve flown with young children a lot. Breast fed babies during take off and landing so they were swallowing.

Children need to learn how to equalise their ear pressure. It’s a life skill, especially if they ever want to go scuba diving!

Sweets don’t have to be boiled sweets that they suck. Anything chewy like fudge would work, or even Haribo. If that doesn’t work, then swallowing drinks.

Holding their nose whilst they try to blow it. Or pretending to yawn.

If you start fussing about with ear plugs, I imagine your DC will think there’s something to be worried about. Chill out.

Wow, "scuba diving" & "Chill out"?? Honestly, was just asking for some advice. Seriously if you can't be arsed to be helpful without a snarky comment, why bother commenting??

OP posts: