As with any child under 2 years old. Encourage them to suckle or take a bottle during the ascension part of the flight as well as the descension. It keeps a vacuum from forming in their ears causing them pain. Their ears are sensitive due to crying.
Another relief, if a baby is crying during a flight is to ask the attendant for a warm wet washcloth. Hold the washcloth over their ears, the heat calms them and offers relief from crying which makes it worse. If the children are older and their ears hurt, have the attendant put cotton balls into little paper cups then pour enough hot water into the cup to soak into the cotton balls. Let the child hold the cup over their ears while in the sitting position. Not only did it work for one of mine but it worked for me when I cried all night from having to leave one of mine home when I left for a vacation for a week.
