Infant Has a Cold and Must Travel on an Airplane

I always breastfed my babies on the way and the way down - no issues, even with a slight cold. I also gave them PB8 (by opening the capsule), which helped to boost their immune system...a PRObiotic rather than an ANTIbiotic. Other things we've done include getting our chiropractor to adjust them, which helps the sinuses drain properly and take the pressure off the ears. Also, Respiractin is awesome. we found it locally, but here's what it looks like:
http://www.respiractin.com/new/p_RespiractinChildrens.asp

Hello Ashrowmom,
you can use baby saline nose drops to help clear his sinuses. Also you can skip dairy for a few days. And you can put peppermint oil on a tissue (to help with stuffy nose).--make sure he doesn't touch it or get it to his eyes. I carry a bottle of lavender oil with me all the time. you can drop a couple of drops of lavender oil BEHIND his ears to help with pain. make sure you have something for him to drink during ascend and during landing. ~C.~

Stop by your ped's office... a ruptured ear drum is no fun... they should have either drops to put in your baby's ears before takeoff or be able to prescribe a decongestant.

((Also.. in response to a previous poster... biotics just refers to bacteria. Antibiotics meaning something that kills bacteria, probiotic promotes the growth of bacteria. The beneficial bacteria that we have in our gut that helps us digest food is vastly different than pathogenic bacteria that causes illnesses. Having healthy intestinal flora CAN decrease the number of stomach bugs a person catches in *some* cases -not all, depends on the type of bacteria/virus involved in the illness-... but they will do absolutely nothing for upper respiratory illnesses, head colds, & sinus infections.))

I would talk to the pediatrician to see if there is an infant-approved nasal spray and to make sure there is nothing more than a runny nose. Also, plan to nurse/bottle feed/pacify during take offs and as you feel the plane start to change pressure/altitude prior to landing (it may be awhile before). If your son is sleeping, I wouldn't wake him, babies seem to handle the pressure changes quite well while asleep. Do NOT hold off on feeding a hungry baby to make sure he'll drink when he needs to, a hysterical child is far harder to soothe than a content one.

Look for a product called "earplanes" in the drug store, they are rubber ear plugs that aid in ear pressure relief for flying. They come in different sizes, I'm not sure what the youngest age is. My daughter (6 yo) just flew with a head cold with 3 stopovers and these helped immensely!

And finally, here is a flight attendant method for ear relief, but it is dangerous so they do not like to help you. Get a cup of hot water, a paper towel and a spare cup from the flight attendant. Wet the papertowel with the hot water and put it in the empty cup, hold the cup with the hot towel against your sons head with the ear in the cup, this will help relieve the pressure. It is dangerous because hot water from the paper towel can burn your child, if you are desperate and have cooperative flight attendants, they may let you do this.

Put the tiniest bit of Vicks vapor rub on his chest to help clear up congestion. Nurse/bottle him on take off and landing.