Any tips and tricks needed

[Nosleeptheo]

Hi all,

Looking for some advise / experience people may have.

Short story is my 2 year old is constantly getting ear infections which usually turns to a hospital visit as it then travels to his chest. Currently waiting for a ent appointment since last year (10 + infections since the referral). He currently has another ear infection luckily not on his chest atm but have inhalers and antibiotics.

We are due to fly at the end of the month and I am stressing about the flight and his ears. Iv already planned for him to have something to drink / eat when taking off and landing but is there anything else anyone can think of us doing to help prevent ear pressure/pain?

Thank you in advance

Honestly, I just wouldn't. It will probably be agony, stay very pressurised and they'll be very upset for the whole holiday. I just don't think it's worth it.

This did cross my mind but then I would have 2 very upset children, I did ask the GP if he would be okay to fly and she said yes once antibiotics have finished which will be a week before we fly. Ds as well is only taking his antibiotics because the GP told him if he didn't he wouldn't be allowed on the plane. (He never takes medication and has a very restricted diet so this is a massive win) so dont want to disappoint him further. I have considered driving (going to france) but already a stressful driver not sure if can do it but it is a possibility in a worst case scenario

Get the stuff for the water - think it’s called Earol. It was a game changer for my twins to stop the holiday reinfections.

is the dr sure it’s middle or inner and not outer ear infections?

not much you can do about the plane unfortunately. Who are you flying with?

Not everyone can afford to waste thousands of pounds. OP won't get a refund as her DS is fit to fly and a doc had said it's fine..

Not sure about the ear ngl they have never said. Regarding the flight also again im not sure as my step sister did all the booking as there is about 15 of us going we just said yes and paid all I know is its frace 🤣

It's yongest 1st holiday abroad and oldest 2nd

My DD had two burst eardrums and two stays in hospital from ear infections from swimming when we lived abroad. Try Ear band-it band and plugs which made a big difference for her if they can get used to it. Take calpol on the plane.

poor kid, what a worrying situation

Calpol and Ibuprofen

Food for the plane should include chewable sweets like moams something dc can’t choke on. More than you think you’ll need.

My childhood ear problems became ear and sinus problems as an adult. I am terrified of flying if I know I have symptoms. Going up and descending will be the worst times - don’t be surprised if dc screams in pain. I had such horrific ear pain on a flight once I started to panic - had to call the air attendant and remember telling her “I think my ears are going to burst - can we just fly back up again?” We couldn’t, and they didn’t. I sobbed in pain and people thought I had a fight phobia! It seemed to take a lifetime to land.

Absolutely NO swimming whilst on vacation. None at all. I was on 6 month bans for swimming as a child due to the recurrent ear infections (I also had a perforated eardrum at one stage, I remember the agony to this day).

Take a small hot water water bottle and use it on holiday to hold against the most affected ear/neck. You can ask the fight attendants to put some hot water in (hence taking a small one). Warmth is very soothing.

Sleep on side to let ear drain. Don’t over-exert - keep days gentle and cool because you can feel very tired and poorly even after the antibiotics have done their job.

Take a photo of the medicine bottle with you in case you need medical help in France.

if dc sick on holiday you hire a car and drive back.

good luck.

My kids both had to have grommets for glue ear when they were little, and both had bespoke moulded ear plugs for swimming - not the ones that you buy in the shop. They would stop outer ear infections but not inner ear infections though. Can you ask your GP or audiology department about getting them? I'd use them for baths or showers as well as swimming.

You can buy earplug things that stop the pressure - I can't remember what they're called and I'm not sure if suitable for children but they do work. You have to put them in before you take off and keep them in until after you land, so means you can't use headphones (so a nuisance on long haul).

I just Googled and they're called EarPlanes and yes you can get them for children.

Could you go by train? The Eurostar is good, and no more stressful than flying and airports.

The cost and money spent won't change whether she goes or not. Obviously it's nice to have something for the money, but welfare should always comes first. It's great that @Nosleeptheo has a back up plan of driving if needed, or as someone else said getting the train.

Thank you everyone, definitely going to look into the ear plugs as see what works best. Luckily he's fine in his self no temp or anything and even sleeping better (party time). Going to speak to my dad who is already driving with the ridiculous amount of luggage and dog to see if worst case can we jump in the car with him and my step mum to take oldest on the plane for either way.

No swimming would be the hardest part the boy is a magnet to water I swear he can find it in the middle of a dessert during the summer so keeping him out is hard but definitely going to (taking a cannoe) so me and him can do that while the oldest is in the lake doing his swimming lessons with grandad (determined to get 50m to i take him to a water park)