Hacks
Most of us know that our ears hurting on a flight is due to a sudden change in air pressure. But ask most people to explain what that actually means and they'd be at a loss.
Basically, the air pressure on the inside bit of the ear and the external air pressure are practically the same. So if you were to, say, climb a mountain, the speed at which you were climbing would not be enough to upset the air pressure inside your ears.
But when the change in altitude occurs at a much more rapid rate - such as on a plane soaring thousands of feet up into the air - there is little time for the internal ear's air pressure and the air pressure outside of the ear to equalise.
Credit: CNN
This ultimately means that when a plane is both ascending and descending, the eardrum is stretched as a result, which can go on to cause pain. When this happens, the eardrum is unable to vibrate and so your ability to hear is also affected.
But fret not, because apparently there is one full-proof way that you can fight against the pain, according to one of Etihad Airways' "flight nannies", Denya Glover.
Just for a bit of background information, Etihad Airways' flight nanny service is available on all of their long haul flights. It is literally as the name suggests - nannies are hired to look after children during a flight - pretty damn helpful, huh?
Credit: nourishinglittlesouls.com
Anyway, speaking to Conde Nast Traveller, Glover revealed one pretty clever trick for both children and adults alike to use when sucking on sweets and swallowing saliva have proved ineffective.
"When taking off, many children experience ear pain due to the increase in air pressure. Most parents think that earplugs will solve the problem, but I recommend something else," she explains.
"Ask the flight attendant for some warm water (not too hot, not too cold), a tissue, and a cup. Place the wet tissue in the cup and then over the ear. The steam will relieve the pressure and soothe the pain. Happy children, happy flight!"
So there you go - all those years of flying with unpoppable ears when really the solution was a simple as requesting a cup of warm water and a tissue! You learn something new every day...
Apr 24, 2019
5 mins
Moms Are Going Wild For This $5 Kmart Camping Food Hack
Now that the weather is slowly but surely heating up, many families are taking to the great outdoors. After all, it's usually free, and Mother Nature gives children everything that they need to exercise their imaginations. That's why camping is so popular. If you're anything like me, some of your…
May 30, 2019
5 mins
This Ingenious Parenting Hack Will Ensure Your Kids Always Pick Up Their Toys
The very last thing kids want to do is their chores. They're all about living the most responsibility-free and fun-filled lives possible, and have no time for anything that might sabotage this lax way of living. Children really will avoid doing household chores at all costs, but there is a…
Jun 21, 2019
5 mins
Couple's $50 Costco Wedding Cake Hack Is Beautiful (And A Total Bargain)
Having a wedding is all about impressing your guests by making it the grandest occasion possible. Okay, so there's also the pretty vital 'love' and 'commitment' component to getting hitched - but, that aside, your big day isn't really your big day at all, it's that of your guests. Everything from the…
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive only good things