Baby Ear Pain on Flights: Prevention Tips | Parenting Hub
Pressure changes during take-off and landing can hurt baby's ears. Feeding, dummies and timing can help.
Sucking helps equalise pressure during take-off and landing. Avoid flying with an active ear infection if possible.
Why it hurts
Rapid pressure changes during take-off and landing pull on the eardrum. Adults can yawn or swallow to equalise; babies need help.
What helps
Time feeds for take-off and landing.
- Breastfeed, bottle-feed or offer a dummy during ascent and descent
- Wake baby for the descent if they're asleep so they can swallow
- Keep baby upright as much as possible
- Talk to your GP before flying with an active ear infection
When to seek help
- Ongoing severe ear pain after the flight
- Discharge or bleeding from the ear
- Hearing change after flying
Common questions
Are special baby earplugs needed?
Not usually — sucking and swallowing are the most effective. Specialised pressure earplugs aren't designed for babies.