‘Mum, my ears are sore’ is a complaint you’re likely to hear from your kids when on a flight and of course, there are lots of tips and tricks you can try to help with ear pain.
As we are officially in summer holiday season, there’s lots of advice doing the rounds on social media for travelling with kids but the ‘Hot Cup Hack’ is one you’ll want to avoid.
Why? Mainly because it focuses on hot water/steam which is always going to be a concern around small children.
In case you haven’t heard of it, here’s how it works. Add some hot water to a cup with a paper towel rolled up inside, hold the cup near to the ear and then the steam ‘can’ work to relieve the pressure in the ear.
Mum-of-three Myriam Sandler went viral after a flight attendant told her about the hack and it worked. However, there is little science to make the action up, and it risks burning your child.
Speaking to The Huffington Post, Dr Asiya Maula said that this hack is actually unlikely to have much of an effect so it’s best avoided especially considering it involves hot water near young children.
‘It is unlikely to directly equalise pressure in the middle ear, which is the underlying cause of the discomfort.’
She advised that the warmth and steam may soothe the pain but it’s not actually helping the root cause of the pressure.
‘However, the warmth and gentle steam may have a soothing effect and could help some children feel more comfortable, particularly if they have nasal congestion.
‘Warmth can sometimes help loosen mucus and make the nasal passages feel clearer, which may indirectly help the Eustachian tubes function a little better.’
That said, the doctor warned parents to ‘be careful’ due to the risk of burns from the hot water and steam.
