Give your child plenty of fluids during the flight to help unclog the ears. Avoid letting your child sleep during takeoff or landing. Children swallow more often when they are awake. Also, waking up with ear pain can be frightening for your child.

Helping a 3-year-old manage ear pressure during takeoff and landing requires encouraging them to swallow or yawn, which opens the Eustachian tubes to equalize pressure. Unlike infants who can simply be nursed, a toddler might need more interactive methods. Giving them a drink with a straw is highly effective because the sucking and swallowing motion is repetitive. You can also offer "airplane snacks" that require significant chewing, such as gummy bears or fruit snacks, which naturally trigger the swallowing reflex. If they are old enough to follow directions, you can play a game where you both "yawn like a lion" or "blow bubbles" with their mouth closed (the Valsalva maneuver, though this can be tricky for toddlers). It is also vital to keep them awake during the descent—which often begins 30 minutes before landing—because the ears cannot equalize pressure as effectively while asleep. For children with congestion, consult a pediatrician about using child-safe saline spray or a decongestant before the flight to keep the nasal passages clear.