Traveling with 2 Year Old

Hi M. - if he can eat some solid food or fruit during takeoff and landing it would help. The important part is to make sure he is 'swallowing' during the change in altitude to release the pressure.

Hi there,
As long as he is swallowing something it will help. Landing is worse than take off, so try Cheerios one at a time during take off and juice for the landing. Take two or three small sippy cups with you as you can only take 3 oz containers on the plane. Another good idea is M&Ms, or gummy bears (both small and very enticing to a two year old).

Hi there,
I have traveled all over with my son (now 4). The only time he had trouble clearing his ears was when he had a cold. Suggestions - practice making a surprised face with a big open mouth before you fly and then do it as you take off a few time. You could try singing to la,la,la and end the last one with a big jaw stretch to pop the ears. Also - try sippy cups or small juice boxes with a straw. Don't fill the sippy cup until after you make it through security and the juice box needs to be the 3oz size and shown at security.
If you are flying in the country, try not to weight yourself down with too much gear - you can always buy what you need at your destination. Good luck!!

At the suggestion of our pediatrician, we always give our kids infant Benadryl about 20 minutes before takeoff. It relieves the pressure in their sinuses so their ears won't hurt when the pressure equalizes. We've used this trick since our oldest was a few months old and it has worked each and every time for us.

The only thing I'd warn about is to know how your child reacts to Benadryl before you get on the plane. It makes my kids fall asleep (hurrah!) but it makes some kids hyper. Good luck with your trip!

I have traveled with my 2 year old and 11 month old by myself on a plane. That was the hardest part, not the ear pressure. Both my kids didn't have any problems. I have heard that going up is not that much of a problem it's coming down. I gave my 2 year old a sippy cup when we started to desend, just for good measure. Maybe you can give him crackers or some sort of snack that keeps his jaw moving. Good luck and have a safe trip.

Sugar free lollipops might help. Or, drinking through a straw.

Have some little snack handy for take off and landing. Either a favorite snack or something brand new so he'll be excited to chomp on it when he needs to.

You really just want him to swallow to relieve the pressure and food does it just as well as drink.

Have fun!