If you’ve ever flown with young kids, you probably know the dread that sets in during takeoff and landing. Little ones can’t always explain what’s wrong, but the tears, the ear pulling, and the sudden crankiness are telltale signs of ear pressure pain. And let’s be honest: it’s hard to enjoy a flight when your child is hurting.

After hundreds of flights with my two little kids, I’ve learned the hard way how to prepare for the possibility of ear pain—and more importantly, how to prevent and manage it if it does happen. Here’s everything I pack in our carry-on, including the medications I bring in case of underlying sinus issues, plus tried-and-true tips for helping kids relieve pressure naturally.

Why Do Kids Get Ear Pain on Flights?

During takeoff and landing, the change in cabin pressure can create a vacuum effect in the middle ear. Adults can usually pop their ears easily by swallowing or yawning, but kids—especially toddlers and babies—often don’t know how to relieve the pressure on their own. This is especially true if they’re congested or have a mild cold or sinus inflammation.

Natural Ways to Relieve Ear Pressure in Kids

Before we dive into medications, it’s worth trying these natural, easy tricks:

• Drinking or Eating During Takeoff and Landing: Swallowing helps equalize pressure. For babies, offer a bottle or nurse. For toddlers and older kids, water, juice boxes, or snacks like fruit snacks or crackers can work wonders.
• Pacifiers: If your baby or toddler uses a pacifier, keep it handy. The sucking motion also helps relieve pressure.
• Chewing Gum or Lollipops: For older kids (usually ages 3+), chewing gum or sucking on a lollipop can help pop ears naturally.
• Yawning Games: Try making silly yawning faces together to encourage yawns. Even fake yawning sometimes works!
• EarPlanes for Kids: These are special pressure-regulating earplugs designed for air travel. They can be especially helpful for kids who are prone to ear discomfort.

What I Pack in Case There’s More Than Just Pressure

Sometimes, ear pain isn’t just from pressure. If your child is already a little congested from a cold, allergies, or sinus inflammation, they’re at higher risk of discomfort or even an ear infection after flying. If at all possible, avoid flying if you’re little ones have any sinus issues going on! It can be extremely painful. I’ve personally experienced flying with a sinus issue that I didn’t know was a sinus infection as it definitely was one of the worst pains I’ve experienced in my life.

If you must fly, here’s what I would pack for kids just in case: I AM NOT A DOCTOR SO PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOURS.

1. Children’s Pain Reliever

This helps reduce both pain and inflammation. If your child starts tugging their ears or seems unusually fussy, this may help with the pain. I like this clean brand. Here is the Infant version and Kid version.

2. Saline Nasal Spray or Drops

Using a gentle saline spray before takeoff and landing can help keep nasal passages open, which makes it easier for ears to equalize pressure. I especially love this for babies and toddlers who can’t blow their nose yet. This is a great option.

3. Children’s Decongestant

For older kids, if they’re battling a cold or allergies before the flight, a pediatrician-approved decongestant can help relieve sinus pressure that might otherwise affect their ears. Sudafed, Mucinex and Hyland’s make a decongestant. Make sure to check the ages on each.

4. Nasal Aspirator (AKA snot sucker)

This is a really cool electric one but it may not be the easiest thing to pack in a carry-on bag so options like this and this one may be easiest to pack with you in case of emergencies.

5. Thermometer

It’s always good to have a travel thermometer just in case your child spikes a fever mid-flight. Fever + ear pain could be a sign of an ear infection developing. I love my Braun thermometer but if you’re looking for a more compact option, go with this one.

6. Pediatrician-Approved Ear Drops

If your child has a history of ear infections or has been prescribed ear drops for pain relief in the past, bring them along. Just be sure you’re not using anything without checking with your pediatrician first.

7. Ear Support

Earplanes are easy to pack and can help so much for little ones struggling with ear pressure while flying since it’s a pressure regulating ear plugs. They also have an adult version too.

Here’s how I would handle a flight in case I needed to fly and my child had some sinus issues:

• I offer snacks or a drink during takeoff and landing.
• If my child has a stuffy nose, I’ll have them drink as much water as possible leading up to the flight and during the flight to help break up mucus.
• If my child seems a little stuffy, I do a saline spray 30 minutes before boarding along with a pain reliever.
• I’ll continue to use the nasal aspirator to keep their airways as clear as possible.

And of course, I keep everything organized in a small pouch in my diaper bag so I’m not scrambling at 30,000 feet.

Want to see all the meds parents typically take when traveling, read this blog post!

Final Thoughts

If at all possible, avoid flying with kids if they are dealing with sinus issues. Some handle it better than others but I would reschedule flights if possible. Some ear pressure is inevitable, but when you know what to pack and how to respond, you’ll feel much more confident boarding that plane.or your family!