ADHD: A Parenting Guide

3 Tips For Flying With A Child On A Medical Flight

Regardless of whether your child is the patient or passenger, if you are going to be flying on a medical flight with your child, you are going to want to make sure that you prepare properly for the flight to ensure your child's comfort and safety on the flight.

Bring Your Child's Car Seat

When you take your child on a flight, you want to keep them safe. One of the best ways to keep them safe is by bringing your child's car seat or booster seat with you on the flight. You are going to want to set up their car seat or booster seat just like you would if you were in your car. This is the safest way for your child to fly. If you need assistance, ask the staff to help you install your child's seat in a safe manner. Sitting in a car seat will not only keep your child safe but can help minimize motion sickness, which can be more common on medical flights as they are smaller than a commercial flight.

Protect Your Child's Hearing

On a commercial flight, the plane is specifically designed to minimize noise. With a private flight, you will be flying on a smaller craft, and it is harder to ignore how loud the airplane is. When you fly with your child, you are going to want to make sure that you take steps to protect your child's hearing, which shouldn't be exposed to loud noises.

You are at the very least going to want to bring along earplugs for your child. You may also bring along noise canceling headphones or ear muffs that are used for construction to buffer against the sound for your child. You can also see if the medical flight will provide you with hearing protection for your child. Remember to protect your ears as well; sounds from the flight are loud for your ears as well as your child's.

Help Your Child's Ears Pop

The pressure that builds on your ears when you fly can be confusing and painful for children. If you are taking the flight with either a baby or toddler, bring along a bottle or a pacifier for your child. Have them suck on it, specifically during take off and landing, when their ears more than likely will need to "pop" to alleviate the pressure. For an older child, you can bring along chewing gum or candy for them to suck on to relieve the pressure. You can also teach your child how to yawn or swallow to pop their ears.

Keep in mind that a medical flight will provide you and your child with a safe flight. However, the flight may be a little louder and bumpier than usual, which is why you need to bring along a car seat, protective ear wear, and something to help your child pop their ears.


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