Traveling with a baby is an adventure all on its own. Between packing, navigating security lines, and hoping for a peaceful journey, there's one more thing to worry about: protecting your little one's ears from the pressure changes during a flight.

Knowing what to expect with your baby’s ears on a plane means you'll be prepared for smoother flights. Understanding why they might feel ear discomfort and learning a few tricks to help them can make all the difference. 

In this blog, we’ve got the tips you need to make flying with a baby as smooth as possible. Here’s how to keep those tiny ears happy in the sky.

How to Protect Baby's Ears During a Flight

Table of Contents

• How Does Flying Affect Baby's Ears?
• Can Flying Damage a Baby's Ears?
• Symptoms of Ear Pain in Babies
• How to Protect Baby's Ears During a Flight
• How to Prepare Baby’s Ears Before Flying
• Should I Put Ear Muffs or Ear Plugs on My Baby on a Plane?
• How to Ease Baby's Airplane Ears
• How to Pop Baby's Ears on a Plane
• Breastfeeding for Take Off and Descent
• Why Infants and Kids Experience More Ear Pain Than Adults on Airplanes

How Does Flying Affect Baby Ears?

Changes in cabin pressure can make it feel like your ears are blocked or stuffed. It’s not the nicest sensation, even for adults. This happens during the take-off or descent of a flight or when air pressure changes rapidly. The eustachian tubes in our ears can’t react fast enough, which causes the symptoms of airplane ears. For babies, it's even more uncomfortable because their little eustachian tubes are still developing, but by the age of 5, your child’s eustachian tubes will be longer and wider.

Can Flying Damage a Baby's Ears?

Good news: flying does not damage a baby’s ears. The ear pain or discomfort babies feel on planes is only temporary. Still, for children and infants who may be suffering from a cold or ear infection, the change in pressure on an airplane can become even more painful or longer lasting. Delaying travel in a plane is often recommended if your child is experiencing ear pain or infections, as is checking with your pediatrician if your baby isn't feeling well before you fly.

Symptoms of Mild Ear Pain in Babies

Signs your baby might be feeling ear pain on a plane include pulling at their ears, fussiness, and the dreaded crying. While these symptoms are temporary, they can make a flight feel like the longest journey ever. Read on for ways to ease their discomfort when experiencing airplane ears.

How to Protect Baby's Ears During a Flight

No parent likes seeing their baby in pain. Here are some go-to strategies to ease their airplane ears:

• Feeding: Whether your baby is breast or bottle-fed, feeding during the flight can help promote a sense of calm and comfort.
• Using a pacifier: The sucking motion can help to equalize air pressure.

Infant ear muffs or baby ear plugs: These can reduce noise and pressure discomfort, offering effective ear protection for babies.

How to Prepare Baby’s Ears Before Flying

While there are ways to ease your child's ear pain during a flight, prepping before takeoff can have a significant impact. Investing in the best baby ear protection can help your baby feel better and minimize discomfort. Since feeding can help a baby’s ears on a plane, you can adjust their feeding schedule around your flight time. This lets you time their feeding during takeoff and landing when pressure changes can cause the most discomfort. 

If you plan to nurse on the plane to relieve your baby’s ears, enlisting the help of a baby carrier that doubles as a nursing pillow will offer added support. The Tushbaby Carrier can be worn while seated and doubles as a handy nursing pillow with built-in lumbar support for your back. Consider traveling with a Tushbaby to make catching a flight with a baby more manageable for everyone.

Should I Put Ear Muffs or Ear Plugs on My Baby On a Plane?

Travel comes with a lot of noise, from roaring engines to chatty seat neighbors. Worried about the loud sounds on a plane? No stress—there are some safe ways to help block out the racket.

Baby headphones for the plane or cute baby earmuffs can muffle the sound and reduce pressure discomfort—think of them as noise-canceling headphones for your little one. They can also reduce discomfort caused by blocking out some of the noise, so be sure to pack them in your carry-on or crossbody Pack belt bag.

How to Ease Baby's Airplane Ears

To help ease your baby’s airplane ears, try using ear muffs, pacifiers, or breastfeeding during the flight. Tushbaby’s chic clip-on pacifier case, The Pod, helps you keep your pacifier handy for those moments of higher flight pressure. Simply clip The Pod to your Tushbaby hip seat carrier, your Pack, your purse, or your carry-on—this will save you from ruffling through your bags for that binky when you need it most and ensure it’s not somewhere at the bottom with all the gunk. The Pod is a lifesaver when learning how to ease ear pressure when flying for infants. Remember, you can also try using baby ear protection products such as baby ear muffs to help muffle out any scary noises.

Another way to help babies get rid of the pressure or pain they feel in their ears is to allow them to just let it all out. While this one might not be a parent favorite, especially on a plane, allowing your baby to cry can actually help clear up your baby’s ears. When your baby cries, their eustachian tubes open, much like ours do when we yawn or chew gum on a plane.

How to Pop Baby's Ears on a Plane

When we get that magical 'pop' in our ears on a flight, it relieves pressure and pain—and your baby can experience the same relief with the simple methods we’ve gone over. Breastfeeding, using pacifiers, and even letting your baby cry can help their ears pop and feel better during the flight.

Breastfeeding for Take Off and Descent 

Wondering how to ease ear pressure when flying for infants? As we mentioned, breastfeeding is a great way to soothe your baby and prevent pain in their ears on an airplane. By feeding your baby during take-off and descent, you can help ease the pain during the greater pressure changes in the cabin during those times. 

This might leave you wondering how to best breastfeed your baby on a plane. Finding a convenient and comfortable way to feed on a plane can be tricky, but Tushbaby has you covered. Using Tushbaby’s hip seat carrier for breastfeeding support gives your baby a comfortable resting place as you breastfeed at your seat. Not only will your Tushbaby offer excellent support for breastfeeding, but it will also make traveling through airports while carrying your kid much easier. 

For more tips on confidently breastfeeding during your flight, check out our article on How to Nurse in Public.

Why Infants and Kids Experience More Ear Pain Than Adults on Airplanes

Tiny ears and underdeveloped eustachian tubes mean more pressure pain for babies. It’s a new and unpleasant sensation for them, meaning it can be quite scary. Remember, your calmness can help them feel more secure. 

Hopefully, these tips will help you feel better about flying with a baby. From breastfeeding support to carrying convenience, the Tushbaby Carrier makes traveling with your little one less of a juggling act. Order yours today and travel like a pro!