Any way to prevent ears popping on plane?

[tipsycat]

My lovely DS (8) with ASD is getting stressed about our forthcoming holiday because he hates it when his ears pop on the plane.

We've tried sweets, drinks, blowing nose etc , but does anyone have any other hints to avoid this problem?

Thanks.

yawning is a good one - stretches the tubes out a bit

am trying to compile a list myself, as we are off in a couple of weeks too!

have a lot of problems myself so - a decongestant nasal spray used before the flight and again at least half an hour before landing. They are usually small enough containers to go through security OK. Menthol sweets to suck and a bottle of water to swallow. You could also try to get them to pinch their nose shut and blow down it but it's hard to get that right even if you aren't ASD.

karvol (nasal decongestant) drops on a hankie and sniff

Ear plugs help.

You can buy specific earplugs for this. Have a look in Boots. There's a brand called "earplanes" but I think that's just adults - I think a large Boots would do an own-brand kids' version too.

I'd do all the other stuff - sweets, decongestants etc - as well. But the earplugs do seem to work.