Yes, babies commonly experience ear pain during flights, especially during takeoff and landing. The discomfort comes from rapid changes in cabin pressure that their small, still-developing ears struggle to adjust to. The good news is that simple techniques like feeding or offering a pacifier at the right moments can make a big difference.
Why Babies Are More Vulnerable Than Adults
The key player here is the eustachian tube, a tiny channel connecting the middle ear to the back of the throat. Its job is to equalize pressure on both sides of the eardrum. In adults, this tube opens and closes easily when you swallow, yawn, or chew gum, letting air flow in or out to match the surrounding pressure. Babies have a much harder time with this process.
Infant eustachian tubes are shorter and more horizontal than adult ones, which makes them more prone to becoming blocked when cabin pressure shifts. Because of this anatomy, babies under 2 are especially affected. Their tubes simply can’t neutralize the pressure as efficiently as an older child’s or adult’s can. When the pressure inside the middle ear doesn’t match the cabin pressure, the eardrum gets pushed inward or outward, and that’s what causes the sharp, uncomfortable sensation.
When the Pain Is Worst
Commercial aircraft cabins are pressurized to the equivalent of roughly 1,500 to 2,400 meters (about 5,000 to 8,000 feet) above sea level. That means even though the plane is cruising far higher, your baby’s ears only need to adjust to a moderate altitude change. Still, that shift happens quickly during two specific phases of flight.
Descent is typically worse than takeoff. During climb, air pressure in the cabin gradually decreases, and trapped air in the middle ear expands and usually vents out on its own. During descent, the cabin pressure increases, and air needs to flow back into the middle ear through those small, horizontal tubes. That’s the harder direction for a baby’s eustachian tubes to manage, and it’s when most crying and ear-pulling happens. The final 20 to 30 minutes of a flight, as the plane drops in altitude, tend to be the most uncomfortable window.
How to Relieve the Pressure
Swallowing is the simplest way to open the eustachian tubes and let pressure equalize. Since babies can’t pop their ears on command, you need to encourage swallowing through feeding or sucking. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends having babies nurse, drink from a bottle, or suck on a pacifier during takeoff and landing.
Timing matters more than duration. You don’t need to feed your baby for the entire flight. Focus on the moments when the plane is actively changing altitude: the first 15 to 20 minutes after takeoff and the last 20 to 30 minutes before landing. If you’re breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, it helps to time a feeding session so your baby is actively swallowing during descent. A pacifier works well as a backup if your baby isn’t hungry.
For babies who are old enough to drink water or juice (typically over 6 months), small sips from a sippy cup during altitude changes can also help. The goal is simply to keep them swallowing repeatedly.
What About Ear Infections or Congestion
A baby with an active ear infection or upper respiratory congestion will likely have a harder time on a flight. Swollen tissues and fluid in the middle ear make it even more difficult for the eustachian tubes to equalize pressure, which can turn mild discomfort into real pain. If your baby has been pulling at their ears, running a fever, or dealing with a cold in the days before your trip, it’s worth checking with your pediatrician about whether flying is a good idea or whether any treatment beforehand could help.
Nasal saline drops before the flight can help clear some congestion in older infants, making it slightly easier for air to move through the eustachian tubes. Some parents ask about infant-safe decongestants, but these aren’t generally recommended for very young babies and haven’t been shown to reliably prevent ear pain during flights.
Do Earplugs or Earmuffs Help With Pressure
Baby earmuffs and earplugs are designed to reduce noise exposure, not to regulate pressure changes. They can protect your baby’s hearing from the loud engine hum (which can reach 85 decibels or more on some aircraft), and they may help a noise-sensitive baby sleep more comfortably. But they won’t do anything to equalize the pressure in the middle ear. The pressure issue is internal, happening behind the eardrum, so no external ear covering can address it. Stick with feeding and swallowing techniques for pressure relief.
What to Expect if Your Baby Does Get Ear Pain
Most babies show ear discomfort through crying, fussiness, or tugging at their ears during altitude changes. This is normal and usually passes within a few minutes once the pressure equalizes or the plane reaches a stable altitude. It’s uncomfortable but not dangerous for a healthy baby.
In rare cases, a baby’s ear pain can persist after landing. If your baby is still fussy, not feeding well, or pulling at their ears several hours after the flight, it’s possible that fluid has become trapped in the middle ear. This usually resolves on its own within a day or two, but persistent symptoms could point to a developing ear infection that needs attention.
For most families, a well-timed feeding or pacifier is enough to get through both takeoff and landing with minimal fussing. Planning the feeding schedule around the flight’s altitude changes is the single most effective thing you can do.