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Air travel is appropriate for most infants. Before you fly with your baby, however, consider:
Your baby's ears. Changing cabin pressure during a flight causes temporary changes in middle ear pressure, which can trigger ear pain. To help equalize the pressure in your baby's ears, offer your baby a breast, bottle or pacifier to suck on during takeoff and the initial descent. It might help to try to time your baby's feedings so that he or she is hungry during these times. If your baby has had ear surgery or an ear infection in the past two weeks, ask his or her doctor if it's OK to fly.
Also, airplane cabin noise levels are loud, especially during takeoff. Consider using cotton balls, noise-canceling headphones or small earplugs to limit your baby's exposure to this noise and make it easier for him or her to sleep.
Don't be tempted to give your baby an over-the-counter medication, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl, others), to encourage sleep during the flight. The practice isn't recommended, and sometimes the medication can have the opposite effect.
With
Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
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